Aces add 2 high-scoring guards in ‘very successful’ 2025 WNBA draft

Aces president Nikki Fargas led with just two words when asked to describe the 2025 WNBA draft: “Very successful.”

Her team, which was without a first-round pick for the third consecutive season, selected Alabama guard Aaliyah Nye 13th overall in the second round and Harvard guard Harmoni Turner 35th overall in the third round.

“We’re extremely excited that we were able to draft Aaliyah Nye and Harmoni Turner,” Fargas said. “This draft was very talented and very deep.”

UConn star Paige Bueckers went No. 1 to the Dallas Wings. That highly anticipated pick was followed by the Seattle Storm taking 6-foot-6 French standout Dominique Malonga with the No. 2 pick. Malonga, 19, was part of France’s silver-medal winning Olympic squad last summer. The Washington Mystics then took Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron at No. 3 and USC’s Kiki Iriafen at No. 4.

Fargas said the Aces’ goal was to “plug” some holes on the roster after a busy free agent period.

“I think the system that Becky plays, she loves to shoot the three. So we were able to get players that are able to do that,” Fargas said. “I think the one thing that you want every day when you compete here for the Las Vegas Aces is someone that’s a competitor — and that’s what we were able to get.”

Strong production

Nye set the Alabama record for 3-pointers with 111 this season, breaking her own record of 108 from the previous year. She was efficient, too. She shot 45.5 percent from 3-point range last season and shot above 40 percent all three years she was with the Crimson Tide.

Nye transferred to Alabama after two seasons at Illinois. She averaged 12.2 points per game over her five-year college career.

Turner averaged 22.5 points per game last season, which led the Ivy League and ranked ninth in the nation. She also shot 35.6 percent from 3-point range.

Turner averaged 18.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 40.6 percent from the field during her four-year college career.

There were only 12 first-round picks in this year’s draft even though the WNBA expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries. The league rescinded the Aces’ 2025 first-round pick in May 2023 following an investigation that discovered violations of rules related to impermissible player benefits and workplace policies.

Fargas said Nye was “a first-round draft pick” in the team’s eyes, however.

“This is a young lady that comes from a program that has shown that they know how to win,” Fargas said. “You play for (coach) Kristy Curry at Alabama, you know there’s a toughness — there’s gonna be a grit in her players. But most importantly, her players also play defense. And we like that she’s able to play both sides of the basketball.”

“Tremendous story”

Nye, similar to the Aces’ second-round pick last year in Kate Martin, was not invited to the draft in New York by the WNBA. But she was in the audience cheering for Alabama teammate Sarah Ashlee Barker, who was selected ninth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks.

“It’s very nerve-racking. I got very nervous,” Nye told reporters at the draft when asked about approaching the stage from her seat in the crowd. “I’m excited, obviously, to be picked. I’m just very blessed.”

Fargas said Nye was emotional on her phone call with the Aces after she was selected.

“But more importantly, she was grateful,” Fargas said. “You could hear that through the phone. She’s just really excited for this opportunity.”

Fargas, in a funny development, admitted the Aces didn’t get an answer from Turner when they attempted to call her after the pick was in. Turner apologized on social media hours later, explaining her phone was frozen from all the well wishes she was receiving.

“(Turner) has such a tremendous story,” Fargas said. “She’s a three-level scorer. She has the speed, the athleticism, the quickness and she has the court vision you want to see in a point guard.”

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.