Projecting Sydney Parrish + Chloe Moore-McNeil's WNBA Draft Stock
Even a blind person could see the impact that Indiana's Sydney Parrish and Chloe Moore-McNeil have on winning, yet they are not receiving the type of respect that they deserve among WNBA scouting circles. It is the second consecutive season of professional slighting towards the two alpha's of Teri Moren's wolf pack, with iconic Indianian's Mackenzie Holmes (Round 3, Pick 2: Seattle Storm) and Sara Scalia (undrafted) garnering the disrespect most recently.
Scouring the web for any evidence of Parrish and/or Moore-McNeil's inclusion(s) in 2025 WNBA mock drafts yields nothing. Whether it be simulations that only run through the 1st round or expanded examples that cover multiple rounds, WNBA scouts and analysts alike appear to be snoozing on IU's pair of 5th-year phenoms.
Soon they will have no choice but to awaken from their slumber.
While Parrish and CMM's time at Indiana has been spent filling supportive roles, they have showcased the ability to leave their imprint on the game in a multitude of manners.
In Parrish's case, she is (and has been) among the most versatile wings across the entire NCAA. While she is actually listed as a guard, her 6'2" stature and gritty competitiveness allow her to essentially serve as Indiana's starting power forward. SP's silky outside shot and overall offensive IQ are major features of her repertoire, but it is her willingness to get physical down low (5.6 RPG in her first 2 seasons as a Hoosier) and scrappy on defense (1.3 SPG in the same span) which have made her presence indispensable. When we think about what Parrish brings to the table, former Big Ten opponent and present Las Vegas Aces wing Kate Martin springs to mind as a similar player who does a little bit of everything. Martin has looked like a steal thus far in her WNBA rookie season, something that scouts may want to be mindful of when evaluating Parrish's pro potential.
In the case of Moore-McNeil, you have an unheralded lefty floor general who has held the keys to Indiana's offense over the course of the past 2 seasons. In that time, the Hoosiers have boasted one of the most elite attacks in the NCAA. She has always been known as an immaculate table-setter (4.9 APG in the past 2 seasons), and her shooting stroke appeared to turn a corner last season (40.9% from 3-point range on 2.9 attempts per game).
Her offensive progression has been extremely promising, as she has been better than the last each season she has suited up thus far (we expect that to remain true when we eventually reflect on the 2024-2025 season). However, her point of attack defense is ELITE. You cannot teach her fundamental ability to stay attached to her matchups while also staying so disruptive within the entirety of the team's defense. When you think about the type of success that active WNBA guard DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun) is currently having, it is not difficult to envision Moore-McNeil's skillset translating to the big leagues.
There is still quite a bit of time for these two hoopers to build their buzz within the WNBA realm, but at this time it would not appear that they are on the radar. Do not be shocked when Sydney Parrish and Chloe Moore-McNeil turn some scouting eyeballs in the season to come.
Keep going, Sydney and Chloe!