‘Georgia Amoore is box office!’ Analysts, fans, teammates react to WNBA draft
It’s official — Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore was selected sixth overall in the first round of the 2025 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics, and basketball fans everywhere are buzzing.
Amoore was drafted sooner than most projected — she was predicted to go either seventh to the Connecticut Sun or 10th to the Chicago Sky — and her potential impact in D.C. is massive. Amoore was one of five picks made by Washington on Monday night, joining Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron (third), USC’s Kiki Iriafen (fourth), Iowa’s Lucy Olsen (23rd) and Alabama’s Zaay Green (32nd).
Upon WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s reading of Amoore at No. 6, ESPN commentator Ryan Ruocco called Amoore “one of the most electrifying players in the country,” having found success during her four seasons under Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech, including a career highlight Final Four appearance in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, and having built upon that foundation with a showstopping graduate season with Kentucky.
ESPN analyst Andraya Carter, who called Amoore “a true point guard” in a pre-draft media availability last week, doubled down on her compliments after the selection, saying “the way she creates space with the ball in her hands, to me, she is going to be an excellent pro. This is a great pick for Washington.”
“The way that Georgia Amoore elevated and expanded this past season at Kentucky in the SEC,” Carter said. “One thing that Washington wants to do is play fast. And Georgia Amoore is incredible at playing fast, but also playing under control. She has such a great ability to manipulate the defense; she doesn’t just react to the defense, she makes the defense shift where she wants them to. And she can find her teammates, she creates her own shot.”
ESPN analyst and 1999 WNBA All-Star Rebecca Lobo agreed with Carter’s assessment, and dismissed the common criticism of Amoore’s height possibly standing in the way of her finding success in the WNBA.
“The knock on her is that she’s only 5-6,” Lobo said. “But she was able to get her shots off against some of the bigger defenders in the SEC this year. Had career highs in assists per game, points per game, field goal percentage, as well, and you see the Washington Mystics draft room, and you look at the three picks that they took already here in the first round. All three of those players could potentially start for the Mystics this season.”
Winsidr analyst Rachel Galligan went to social media to disregard the “too small” naysayers.
“Amoore to Washington is a perfect fit,” Galligan wrote. “I have never been a fan of the ‘too small’ narrative and completely disagree with it. Amoore will have a long and successful WNBA career.”
Tyler Byrum, Mystics reporter for Monumental Sports Network, quickly put forth a potential Mystics depth chart via social media.
Media members weren’t the only ones chiming in on Amoore’s selection. Fans took to the Internet to comment on various aspects of the former Kentucky point guard’s draft night.
Several Virginia Tech fans joined in on the online fun, too, and took the time to celebrate Amoore moving a little bit closer to Blacksburg.
Several fans posted about Amoore’s draft look, which featured a collaboration with NBA star Russell Westbrook and his label Honor the Gift.
Amoore even got a celebratory shout-out from the official Basketball Australia account.
And, of course, Amoore’s fellow Wildcats back in Lexington rejoiced at her selection.
