overtime | clark & martin

thirty-nine.

One Year Later
The 2025 WNBA Draft
Brooklyn, New York

Jessica sat in a chair while people worked on her hair and makeup, she was staring at her phone screen as she had been since she landed in New York. She was scrolling through many different news sites looking at the mock WNBA draft, trying to figure out where they had her going. Several had her going in the first round, which was good enough for her. ESPN and CBS had her in the top two.

The politics of the draft was really interesting. The Los Angeles Sparks had the first pick in the draft, but they had traded it to the Golden State Valkyries to keep their core in Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, and Aari McDonald. The Las Vegas Aces had traded to get the Mystics's second pick in the draft.

So, the Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream, and the Indiana Fever had the first five picks in the draft and in the mock drafts, the first five picks were interchangeable between five people, Paige Bueckers, Jessica Williams, Azzi Fudd, and Kiki Iriafen, and Aneesah Morrow.

The door to her room opened and she looked up to see Paige and Azzi walking in, both dressed for the evening. Azzi smiles at her as she comes and leans over Jessica's shoulder and lets out a loud laugh.

"Jessica for the last three days you have been staring at those mock drafts," Azzi says as she takes Jessica's phone, "I promise you, nothing is going to change."

"Azzi, you don't understand," Jessica says as she reaches for her phone, but Azzi yanks it further away, "I cannot go to Dallas."

"You're not going to Dallas," Paige tells her, "They drafted a guard last year."

"What if they want another guard?" Jessica asks shaking her head, "It has to be one of you, I can't do it."

Paige laughs, "Are you ready yet?"

"Am I ready?" Jessica asks as she looks over her shoulder at the people doing her hair and makeup.

"You've been ready for a while Jessica. We told you, but you were so into your mock draft."

Azzi hides her laughter behind her hand and Paige looks at Jessica amused. Jessica blushes as she stands from her seat. She looks at Paige and Azzi sheepishly. Azzi holds Jessica's phone out to her and throws an arm around Jessica's shoulder.

"Okay first we have the Vogue interview," Jessica says, "And then we have to take Buzzfeed quizzes and then ESPN and CBS, and then Aliyah is interviewing us."

"Thank you for keeping track of our schedule," Azzi says.

"You're welcome!" Jessica says with a smile as she leans over and kisses Azzi on the cheek.

Paige leans over, "Where's my kiss?"

"Slap!" Jessica says as she gently pats Paige's cheek.

Paige frowns, "That's cold Jess."

"When will you learn to not be so thirsty?" Azzi asks, "You attract by keeping your cool."

"Exactly," Jessica says as she looks at Paige, "That's why Azzi and I are together."

Azzi looks at Jessica with a smile as she gently grips Jessica's chin before dramatically saying, "My love."

Jessica and Azzi burst out laughing.

"You two would be perfect for Siblings or Dating," Paige says.

"See, now you're just being racist," Jessica tells Paige and Azzi chuckles.

Ever since Jessica had gotten back from playing overseas in Turkey, she'd been with Paige and Azzi. In fact Jessica had won the EuroLeague championship and had flown to the United States to see the Final Four matchup between UCONN and South Carolina. UCONN ended up winning and so Jessica was also there to see them win the championship against USC.