“At a time when the passion and excitement surrounding the WNBA has never been higher, we continue to focus on creating elevated events that WNBA fans won’t want to miss,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. The most-awaited WNBA drafts are just around the corner. All eyes have been on the drafts ever since the NCAA Division I season ended with the UConn Huskies‘ championship victory on April 06, 2025. This year marks the 29th season of the women’s basketball drafts, which will take place across 13 pro teams in three-round picks.

“The tremendous fan engagement we enjoyed at the draft last year was a precursor to a season in which we ultimately set records for viewership, attendance, digital consumption and merchandise sales. Now, on the heels of an interesting free agency period and with the draft serving as the official start to the upcoming WNBA season, we look forward to welcoming in a new set of WNBA rookies in a memorable way,” Engelbert added.

The Golden State Valkyries is the latest team to join the WNBA with their first year of WNBA drafts. They will go 5th in the first draft pick, whereas Dallas Wings will start the first draft pick round. It will be interesting to see how the drafts turn out, especially with players like Paige Bueckers, Georgia Amoore, and Shyanne Sellers and international talent like Juste Jocyte and Dominique Malonga ready to become pros.

This year’s venue is as unique and accommodating as WNBA’s teams and policies. It will be interesting to watch where and how the drafts take place this year. Meanwhile, let us understand more about this year’s draft location while discussing the possible reasons for selecting the venue.

What is the WNBA draft venue for 2025?

The 2025 WNBA Draft will be held at The Shed in New York City. The Shed is a non-profit cultural organization that is located in the Hudson Yards area of Manhattan. A very artist-inclusive space, the Shed is known for commissioning and renting spaces to other organizations or independent artists and helping them grow and engage with their respective audiences. 

According to Artistic Director and CEO Alex Poots, “As a commissioning home for artists from the worlds of performance, visual arts, and pop, The Shed is a place for all artists and all audiences to meet.”

Designed by lead architect Diller Scofidio + Renfro, this visually breathtaking infrastructure is known for its innovative architecture. The Bloomberg building of the Shed is a 200,000-square-foot (18,500 m²) structure that can be physically transformed to accommodate huge crowds and support large-scale and multi-disciplinary events, all at once, thanks to different venues designated for specific events.

What makes the shed a unique WNBA draft venue?

The Shed features a telescoping outer shell that transforms the building for various event sizes and functions. Like a sci-fi film, the Shell can quite literally detach from the Bloomberg building and be used as an extra space for events. It can be used for docking and undocking stuff as well. The building has 8 levels, each dedicated to special events.

Comprising a jaw-dropping 16,600 square feet in area, the McCourt undeniably is the largest space in the Shed. With a 114′ ceiling height, the McCourt is formed when the outer shell detaches from the main building and is rolled above the plain court, thereby covering the entire space to create an enclosure.

The climate-controlled, multipurpose hall space can be used for large-scale events, theatre performances and art installations by accommodating 1,200 seated or 2,700 standing guests at a time. Meanwhile, the primary program spaces include expansive galleries on the second and fourth floors. These column-free galleries are spread across an area of 11,500 square feet and 6,700 square feet, respectively, and encourage easy audience engagement.

On the other hand, the versatile Griffin Theatre can hold up upto 500 people at once. Spanning 10,600 square feet, the soundproof theater can be divided into two smaller halls for hosting intimate events. The space even boasts of the Tisch Skylights on the topmost floor. The Skylights can be doubled as a rehearsal space, an event gallery, and even as a lab for artists

Therefore, looking at the vast spaces and the opportunity to host events of a multitude of natures, such as the drafts, makes the Shed  ideal for the WNBA. The venue’s flexibility makes it ideal for the WNBA Draft, which will be broadcasted by several channels like ESPN while hosting a live audience in large numbers.

Why was the shed chosen as the WNBA draft venue?

The Shed’s state-of-the-art infrastructure supports live performances, media coverage, and public engagement all at once. The vast space makes it an ideal venue to run the event. It also ensures that the space is equally comfortable for players, the audience and the media. It will also help in avoiding issues of a cluttered and crammed space that usually arise while hosting monumental events like the drafts. 

Besides, being located in a vibrant area of NYC, between lanes 10 and 11 of the Hudson Yards, the Shed aligns with the WNBA’s goal to promote visibility and cultural relevance. The venue’s modern design and adaptable space reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of women’s basketball.

Hosted in a cultural hotbed like New York, this venue is a symbol of empowerment for young females who have been following their favorite college athletes so far. This venue stands as an indicator for inclusivity and making positive and transformative changes through basketball into common lives.