One of the things I've tried to do with my Be In The Know articles is highlight important aspects of the game that might get overlooked. At some point this off-season, the league and the Players' Association will agree on a new collective bargaining agreement, and then it will be full speed ahead to the draft lottery, expansion draft, and free agency. That makes now the perfect time to look at some forgotten players from the 2025 WNBA Draft.

One of the highlights of this past season was the play of the rookies, especially those drafted in April. Despite what wasn't considered a particularly strong draft class, we saw three rookie All-Stars for the first time since 2011. What makes this draft class even more impressive is that three of the 13 first-round picks didn't even play in the league last season. Before they get lost in the shuffle with the 2026 draft class, I want to take this opportunity to look at what we can expect from these players when they make their long-awaited WNBA debuts.

Juste Jocyte, Forward, Golden State Valkyries

Golden State’s run to the playoffs in their inaugural WNBA season was made even more impressive considering they did it without their first-round draft pick. Jocyte opted to skip the 2025 WNBA season, but she is expected to play for the Valkyries in 2026. She is currently playing alongside the Valkyries’ Laeticia Amihere for Spar Unigirona in the Spanish LF Endesa. Jocyte has helped lead Girona to a league-best 4-0 record and a 3-0 record in Euroleague. After watching her Euroleague tape, it looks like Jocyte should fit Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase’s system perfectly.

Jocyte is a 6’1” wing, and while a couple of sites list her as a guard, I think she’s going to have to play small forward in the WNBA. Jocyte is shooting 50 percent on 6.3 threes per game in all competitions, and while she is unlikely to shoot that well the rest of this season or in the W, she is a bona fide floor spacer who moves well without the ball. The Valkyries lead the league in three-point attempts per game despite finishing 11th in three-point percentage. Jocyte should bring up that percentage while getting shots up at a high rate.

Jocyte isn’t just a jumpshooter, however. She is comfortable attacking closeouts and is a solid finisher around the basket. She is a willing passer with good vision, swinging some impressive passes with her left hand.

I think the swing skill for Jocyte is going to be her ability to get to the basket. I believe she has a good enough handle, but it remains to be seen if she has the quickness and athleticism to beat WNBA wings off the dribble. She has shown that ability at times in the Euroleague, especially on the pick-and-roll. She will go hard to the basket when she gets a step, and she is great at reading the defense. If she draws hep, she’ll find the open teammate.

Joycte is a willing defender and rebounder who is strong enough to hold her ground at the point of attack. Much like on the offensive end, I think her biggest question mark defensively is quickness. One reason I think she’ll be a forward in the W is that she lacks the quickness to stay in front of WNBA guards. I don’t think she’ll be a liability on that end, but beyond that, it is hard to say. I expect Jocyte to be a valuable part of Golden State’s rotation in 2026, with the upside to be an All-Rookie selection.

Georgia Amoore, Guard, Washington Mystics

Amoore was selected one pick after Jocyte, Washington’s third pick in the draft. She did not play in 2025 due to a torn ACL suffered during training camp. The 5’6” guard out of Kentucky could form the backcourt of the future with All-Rookie selection Sonia Citron, though it is difficult to know what to expect from Amoore in her rookie season, coming off her injury.

Amoore was a career 35.6 percent three-point shooter across five college seasons, though her percentages dipped as her usage and attempts increased. At the very least, she should get guarded out there, and opponents won’t be able to go under screens consistently. She should be a consistent floor-spacer next to Citro,n who can run the offense at times when Citron sits. Unless the Mystics add another point guard, I would expect Amoore to take over the Jade Melbourne role as the backup point guard off the bench.

The biggest problem for Amoore on both ends is her size. She shot just 40.3 percent from the field in her career, though she did shoot a career-high 42.3 percent at Kentucky as a Senior. We have seen a lot of small guards struggle in the WNBA in recent seasons, especially if they’re not able to score efficiently. As we have discussed a lot of late, I don’t think there are enough quality point guards to go around with the league continuing to expand, so Amoore should be a rotation player for years to come. Perhaps with better teammates and more floor spacing she can become a more efficient scorer, in which case she could be a starter at some point.

Ajsa Sivka, Forward, Chicago Sky

Like Juste Jocyte, Ajsa Sivka sat out the 2025 WNBA season but is expected to play in 2026. She turns 20 next month, four days after Jocyte. Sivka currently plays for Joventut Badalona in the LIGA ACB, where the 6’4” power forward is second on the team in points and rebounds per game. She also leads her team in three-point attempts (27) and makes (13) through four games. She shot 38.3 percent on threes for Slovenia at the U20 Eurobasket, and the three-point shot is a real weapon. She has a quick release, and she can get her shot off in the pick-and-pop, as a trailer in transition, or coming off screens off the ball. She moves well for her size and can attack off the dribble. Slovenia used her in inverted ball screens, and she can use the threat of her three-point shot to get an advantage going to the basket.

Sivka should be good as a floor spacer, especially in the pick-and-roll, right way. I think she’ll be good in transition, both running the floor and as a trailer walking into open threes. I think the biggest question is how much her other skills translate to the WNBA. I would probably rather have Sivka handle the ball than Angel Reese, but that isn’t setting the bar particularly high. If she can actually grab-and-go in transition and attack the basket off the dribble, she could be very, very good. Sivka didn’t shoot the ball as well while playing for the senior national team, but she looked very good playing next to Jessica Shepard. Her spacing allowed Shepard to play closer to the basket, and both players moved well without the ball. If Angel Reese doesn’t force her way out of Chicago, I think Sivka would be a perfect third big, capable of playing next to either Reese or Kamilla Cardoso.

Defensively, I think we’ll just have to wait and see. I don’t think Sivka is strong enough right now to bang with most fives on the interior, but I don’t know if she can chase around quicker fours, either. Though at her age, there is plenty of room for growth. Given the uninspiring direction of Chicago’s leadership since their title run, I would say the Sky’s best chance to make the playoffs in the next couple of years is to hit a home run on Sivka or their 2026 lottery pick. After seeing her tape, I feel like Sivka has the upside to be very good right away. Now we just have to see if she can hit that upside.