How Long Does the WNBA Draft Go For?

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The 2024 WNBA season must have excited you. Don’t worry, many fans tuned into WNBA in 2024 – that’s the ‘Caitlin Clark effect’ for you. Millions of fans are now WNBA regulars and now know that Monday, April 14, will be the date for the 2025 WNBA draft.

So, you’re gearing up for the 2025 WNBA Draft and wondering, “How long is this thing gonna last?” Good question.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan tuning in for your favorite college stars or a casual viewer just getting into women’s hoops (welcome, by the way!), this guide will surely give you in-depth and firsthand info.

Let’s dive into it—from format to timing, and a few behind-the-scenes nuggets you might not know. For starters, the WNBA Draft typically runs about two to three hours. If you compare it to the NBA draft, the WNBA draft is a tightly run event. Yet, it’s efficient, focused, and packed with excitement. Now let’s get into more details about the WNBA draft.

The WNBA Draft Format

The WNBA Draft consists of 36 picks spread over three rounds, so each round consists of 12. Moreover, each of the 12 teams gets one pick per round, but a lot depends on the trades made prior to the draft night. The teams are on the clock for just a few minutes per pick—generally about 2–3 minutes in the first round and less time in rounds two and three.

Though 2-3 minutes would feel like a short period considering the players’ emotions, fans’ reactions and of course the photos on the dias. But believe it, everything runs smoothly with each draftee getting their moment.

But if we do the simple math, 36 picks and three minutes per pick comes out to be 108 minutes – tops 120 minutes, that’s two hours. But there are a few in between events that extend the whole draft night period. Here’s what a typical WNBA Draft night looks like.

Also Read: WNBA Draft 2025: Full List of Prospects Invited to 2025 WNBA Draft

2025 WNBA Draft Schedule

Teams draft rookies: The commissioner walks out, makes a brief speech, and then boom—we’re off. Picks start rolling in. The first round gets the most attention. Players are often in the building or Zooming in live, and we get the emotional interviews, family celebrations, and big reactions.

Later rounds – round two and round three move faster. The deeper the draft class, it will have more TV time.

Wrap-Up: A three-hour marathon will conclude after the final pick, number 36, is confirmed and analysts are recapping who won the night. Later, behind the scenes trades might be breaking as teams look to make final tuning before the start of the season.

There you go, a plain and player-centric draft will keep you all entertained. Long enough to feel like a proper event, short enough not to lose steam. And for the athletes, it’s all emotional. For fans, it’s their favorite team or player’s future on the line. Overall, everyone is winner in the draft.

Where to watch 2025 WNBA Draft?

Date: Monday, Apr. 14

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Location: The Shed at Hudson Yards, NYC

TV channel: ESPN

Streaming: ESPN+, DirecTV, Fubo

Kushal

Passionate about the game and driven by storytelling, Kushal is a seasoned sports news and analysis writer with a knack for breaking down the big plays and spotlighting rising stars.

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