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Delayed, Not Denied: The WNBA's Other Rookies

Part I: The WNBA Draft and Stash Rookies

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2025 wnba draft and stash rookies

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on July 7, 2025, to include Connecticut Sun rookie Leïla Lacan, who was recently activated and made her WNBA debut.

This is the first installment in a three-part series about the WNBA’s rookies who have taken unconventional paths to the league. These players did not follow the traditional route of being drafted and immediately starting their careers. Instead, their debuts were delayed by overseas commitments, injuries, or other circumstances. This series profiles their journeys.

 

Part I: The Draft-and-Stashers

The “draft-and-stash” pick, where a player is selected and then allowed to continue developing overseas, is a common strategy among WNBA teams. For the teams, it provides roster flexibility and allows a young prospect to gain valuable professional experience without using up a roster spot. For the WNBA draft and stash rookies, it offers more opportunities to get playing time against high-level competition, an opportunity they might not get immediately on a veteran WNBA roster. The 2025 WNBA season features two rookies who fit this model: Golden State guard Carla Leite and Dallas center Luisa Geiselsöder.

 

Carla Leite (Golden State Valkyries)

Carla Leite was selected 9th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. Following the draft, Leite remained in Europe for the 2024-25 season with the French club Villeneuve d’Ascq. Her strong play overseas was highlighted by averages of 16.1 points and 5.0 assists in the French league, and 17.6 points and 5.2 assists in EuroCup play, where she led her team to a championship and earned Finals MVP honors.

In December 2024, she was selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft, joining the league’s newest franchise instead of Dallas for the 2025 season. Through the first month and a half of the WNBA season, Leite has been a solid contributor for the Valkyries, averaging 6.9 points and 2.2 assists per game and showing flashes of the dynamic playmaking that made her a top prospect.

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Leila Lacan (Connecticut Sun)

Leïla Lacan was selected 10th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun.  Following the draft, Lacan remained in France for the 2024-25 season, playing for Basket Landes in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB). In EuroLeague Women play, she averaged 8.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. In the French League (LFB), she averaged 13.2 points and 2.1 steals per game, helping lead Landes to a championship. After her team’s season concluded, the Sun activated her on July 2, 2025, waiving center Kariata Diaby to create a roster spot.  Lacan made her WNBA debut on July 6 against the Las Vegas Aces, scoring 5 points with 1 assist in 24 minutes of play.

 

Luisa Geiselsöder (Dallas Wings)

The path for German center Luisa Geiselsöder was even longer, stretching five years after she was drafted 21st overall by the Wings in 2020. Her debut was delayed by a combination of factors. The initial decision to stay in Europe was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic; widespread global travel bans and quarantine rules led to a general understanding that most international draftees would remain in Europe for the 2020 season. The following year, an ankle injury just before the 2021 training camp prevented her from coming over.

 

Geiselsöder continued her professional career in Europe, culminating in a French League Championship with her club, Basket Landes, in May 2025. Through her first month of play with the Wings, she has been a steady contributor in the frontcourt, averaging 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

NEXT UP IN “DELAYED, NOT DENIED”: Part II, the “Global Grinders,” profiling rookies who, after going undrafted, built successful careers in international leagues to earn their way into the WNBA.

 

 

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Delayed, Not Denied: The WNBA's Other Rookies

Part II: The Global Grinders

2026 WNBA Global Grinders Rookies

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in our annual three-part series about WNBA rookies who have taken unconventional paths to the league. These players did not follow the traditional route of being drafted and immediately starting their WNBA careers. Instead, their debuts were delayed by overseas commitments, injuries, or other circumstances. This series profiles their journeys.

Part II: The Global Grinders

Draft night isn’t the only entry point into the WNBA. For players who go undrafted, the path to a roster spot requires packing bags and heading overseas. They must prove their value across international leagues before earning a training camp invite with the WNBA. Part II of our series tracks five rookies who took the long route before getting their opportunity on a WNBA court this season.

Jovana Nogić (Phoenix Mercury)

The Journey: Undrafted in 2019, the Serbian national team guard had a standout collegiate career at Providence, finishing as the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers (323) before honing her game across Europe and South America. Her professional resume includes back-to-back Serbian Player of the Year honors (2024, 2025) and a Russian Super Cup MVP title in 2025 before her breakthrough with the Mercury this season.

The Game: A 6-1 shooter with excellent perimeter range. Nogić stretches defenses as a constant threat off the catch and also utilizes a quick pull-up jumper.

Early 2026 Status: Nogić logged a strong opening week in Phoenix, scoring 19 first-half points in her official debut and later putting up a 27-point performance in a win against Chicago. She has established herself as a major contributor early this season, averaging 13.3 points and 1.7 assists while shooting a blistering 51.0% from three-point range and 90.6% from the free-throw line.

Pauline Astier (New York Liberty)

The Journey: Undrafted in 2024, Astier built her resume in France and the EuroLeague. Her decorated international run includes winning the 2023 EuroLeague Young Player of the Year award and claiming MVP honors at the 2025 FIBA Europe SuperCup before signing with the New York Liberty.

The Game: An electric, 5-foot-11 guard who does not play like a typical rookie. Astier attacks the defense with a fearless driving game, while hunting her own outside shot with confidence.

Early 2026 Status: Thrust into the starting lineup due to early injuries to the Liberty, Astier has capitalized on the opportunity. She is averaging 12.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, highlighted by back-to-back 20-point games against Portland.

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Laura Juškaitė (Toronto Tempo)

The Journey: Undrafted in 2019, Juškaitė navigated a multi-country path through Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Italy, and Turkey. Her resume includes a domestic LMKL MVP award (2018) and two EuroCup championships—most recently capturing the 2026 title with ÇBK Mersin before signing with Toronto this spring.

The Game: A 6-4 stretch forward. Juškaitė impacts the floor by spacing out to the perimeter for catch-and-shoot looks while using her length to defend multiple positions.

Early 2026 Status: Juškaitė has already earned a spot in the starting lineup. She is averaging 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 16-point, 4-assist, 4-steal performance against Los Angeles on May 15.

Teja Oblak (Portland Fire)

The Journey: The veteran guard spent over a decade playing in the EuroLeague, capped off by winning the EuroLeague championship in 2025 with ZVVZ USK Praha. Signed by the expansion Portland Fire, her arrival this spring makes her officially the oldest rookie taking the floor in the WNBA this season at 35 years old.

The Game: A reliable, experienced playmaker with an exceptionally high basketball IQ. Oblak manages the floor with a steady, controlled pace, focusing on settling the offense and finding open teammates in the half-court.

Early 2026 Status: After missing the opening games due to injury, Oblak was activated on May 21 and made an instant splash off the bench. She is averaging 5.3 points and 3.8 assists per game, highlighted by a spectacular 9-assist performance in just 17 minutes in her official WNBA debut on May 23.

Sydney Taylor (Chicago Sky)

The Journey: Undrafted in 2024 after finishing her collegiate career at Louisville, Taylor spent a season tearing through Poland and Lithuania—averaging 22.8 points per game for Polish club MB Zagłębie Sosnowiec—before returning stateside with Chicago this spring.

The Game: An athletic, 5-9 guard who plays with a high motor. Taylor can create her own shot off the bounce and displays confident, deep range out to the three-point line.

Early 2026 Status: Playing increased minutes due to early injuries to the Sky, Taylor has made the most of her opportunity, highlighted by a historic May 27 performance against Toronto, where she exploded for 27 points to become the fastest rookie in Chicago franchise history to cross the 25-point mark.

COMING SOON IN “DELAYED, NOT DENIED”: Part III, the “Comeback Kids,” are the rookies who overcame significant injuries or other major setbacks to finally make their WNBA debuts.

 

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Delayed, Not Denied (2026): The WNBA's Other Rookies

Part I: The WNBA Draft and Stash Rookies

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2026 wnba draft and stash rookies

Editor’s Note: This is the first installment in our annual three-part series about the WNBA’s rookies who have taken unconventional paths to the league. These players did not follow the traditional route of being drafted and immediately starting their WNBA careers. Instead, their debuts were delayed by overseas commitments, injuries, or other circumstances. This series profiles their journeys.

Part I: The Draft-and-Stashers

The “draft-and-stash” strategy—where a WNBA franchise selects a prospect but delays signing them to an active contract—remains a vital developmental pipeline. For franchises, it allows a young asset to gain high-level professional experience overseas without taking a roster spot. For the players, it offers invaluable minutes against top-tier international competition. The 2026 WNBA season features a new wave of rookies who spent time honing their craft abroad before making their highly anticipated debuts.

Nyadiew Puoch (Portland Fire)

The Journey: The Atlanta Dream drafted her 12th overall in 2024, leaving her to spend two developmental seasons home in Australia’s WNBL. After she was left unprotected ahead of the 2026 season, the expansion Portland Fire snapped up her stashed rights to bring her to the United States.

The Game: A 6-foot-3 athletic forward built for the modern, high-tempo game. Puoch excels at running the wings in transition and finishing at the rim. Defensively, she uses her long stride and lateral mobility as a versatile disruptor while her offense develops.

Early 2026 Status: Puoch has instantly carved out a role, starting for the Fire and averaging 22 minutes and 5.4 points per game through the first two weeks of the season as she adjusts to the speed of the league.

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María Conde (Toronto Tempo)

The Journey: Drafted in the third round way back in 2019 by the Chicago Sky, Conde’s rights took a wild journey through TWO different expansion drafts—from Chicago to Golden State in 2024, then from Golden State to the Toronto Tempo in 2026—while she spent seven years in the EuroLeague before finally making the leap.

The Game: A skilled, 6-foot-1 forward with good playmaking instincts. Conde operates as a secondary facilitator out of the pick-and-roll and features a polished mid-range game. Her high basketball IQ allows her to play across multiple perimeter positions seamlessly.

Early 2026 Status: Conde has stepped into heavy minutes for the Tempo, averaging 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 23.6 minutes early on, anchored by a stellar 16-point performance against Seattle where she went 4-of-8 from deep.

Isobel Borlase (Atlanta Dream)

The Journey: Selected 20th overall in 2024 by Atlanta, she spent two additional seasons developing at home in Australia, culminating with a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and securing the WNBL MVP award before reporting to the Dream this spring.

The Game: A strong, poised 5-foot-11 guard. Borlase uses her frame effectively to absorb contact on downhill drives and finish through traffic in the paint, balancing her scoring instincts with smart kick-out passing vision.

Early 2026 Status: Borlase is finding her footing in a deep Atlanta backcourt. She is primarily playing limited rotational minutes but recently showed her poise by hitting a clutch fourth-quarter three-pointer off the bench to help trigger a late rally against Phoenix.

Justė Jocytė (Golden State Valkyries)

The Journey: Golden State selected her 5th overall in 2025 as the franchise’s first-ever draft pick. She spent last season stashed in Europe to fulfill Lithuanian national team commitments and play for Spain’s Uni Girona before the Valkyries activated her rookie contract this spring.

The Game: A crafty, 6-foot-0 scoring guard. Jocytė excels out of the pick-and-roll, using her length and IQ to manipulate defensive spacing while hunting her own pull-up jumper.

Early 2026 Status: Jocytė made her debut on May 25, logging five points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting performance—including a three-pointer—along with two assists in five minutes off the bench in a win over Connecticut.

NEXT UP IN “DELAYED, NOT DENIED”: Part II, the “Global Grinders,” profiling rookies who went undrafted but built overseas resumes to finally earn their WNBA arrivals this season—including Phoenix’s Jovana Nogić and New York’s Pauline Astier.

 

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WNBA Draft Battleground: Angela Dugalić vs Janiah Barker vs Justine Pissott

The Series: WNBA Draft Battleground

Angela Dugalić vs Janiah Barker vs Justine Pissott

In this series, we go toe-to-toe with the toughest evaluations in the 2026 class. In this installment, we’re going with a three-headed matchup: three 6-foot-4, versatile prospects who play like guards and are projected in the late first to second round.

Round 7: Angela Dugalić vs Janiah Barker vs Justine Pissott

When drafting in this range, teams aren’t expecting to draft a franchise cornerstone. They are looking for players who can fill a specific need or offer undeniable upside. We pit their different playstyles against each other to answer the question: Which of these players projects as the best pro?

We break down the matchup ⬇️

Prospect Profile: Angela Dugalić
The Case For

Versatile Skillset: Angela Dugalić is a polished, two-way forward who  can operate as a stretch four due to her three-point shooting. Beyond spacing the floor, she has the handle to bring the ball up the court and act as a secondary playmaker.

Defensive Connector: She fills necessary gaps—using her length to guard multiple positions, securing the glass, or providing minutes as a backup center.

The Case Against

The Age Factor: As a sixth-year college player, the biggest question mark is simply how much upside she has left to unlock.

Athletic Limitations: She lacks the elite, explosive athleticism often needed at the next level.

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Prospect Profile: Janiah Barker
The Case For

Elite Athleticism: Janiah Barker is one of the most athletically gifted players in this draft class. At 6-foot-4, her pure physical tools give her a sky-high ceiling at the next level.

Dynamic Versatility: She can do a little bit of everything, especially when it comes to dominating the glass. Offensively, she creates constant mismatches because she can put the ball on the floor, post up smaller defenders, and stretch the floor with three-point shooting.

The Case Against

Decision-Making: While her physical talent is undeniable, her overall feel for the game is still a work in progress. She can be overly aggressive at times, leading to rushed reads and sequences where she plays faster than she processes.

Turnover Prone: Her raw potential is sometimes offset by mistakes with the ball. She has a tendency to follow up a spectacular highlight with an unforced turnover, meaning she will need significant polish and coaching to translate her physical gifts into reliable, night-to-night production.

Prospect Profile: Justine Pissott
The Case For

Shooting Specialist: Pissott brings one of the most highly coveted skills to the next level: pure, translatable perimeter shooting. At 6-foot-4, she is a jumbo guard in the mold of Katie Lou Samuelson.

Offensive Spacing: She doesn’t need the ball in her hands to make an impact. She provides immediate value for any team looking to fill a specific roster need with a specialist who can hit open shots.

The Case Against

Limited Versatility: While Dugalić and Barker can shift between multiple roles, Pissott is heavily reliant on her one elite skill. She doesn’t offer the same level of rebounding, defense, or dynamic playmaking as her peers in this matchup.

Defensive Matchups: Finding a clean defensive assignment for her at the pro level could be a challenge. She’ll likely struggle to stay in front of WNBA guards, and she lacks the physicality to consistently battle traditional post players in the paint.

Angela Dugalić Janiah Barker Justine Pissott Advantage
Height 6'4" 6'4" 6'4" Tie
Draft Age 24 22 22 Barker & Pissott
Athleticism Functional Elite; explosive Lacks explosiveness Barker
Shooting Inside-Out Threat 3-Level (Post, Drive, 3PT) Pure Catch-and-Shoot Barker
Defense High IQ; positional Disruptive but developing Vulnerable to mismatches Dugalić
Decision Making Low mistakes (high usage) High turnovers Low mistakes (low usage) Dugalić
WNBA Readiness Pro-ready rotation player Long-term project Pro-ready specialist Dugalić

The Verdict: Who Projects as the Better Pro?

When navigating the later rounds of the WNBA draft, front offices aren’t typically swinging for superstars—they are searching for reliable rotational players. While the baseline expectation is finding a high-floor rookie, a prospect’s ability to stick on a roster is dependent on filling a specific gap for the franchise that drafts them.

If a front office desperately needs perimeter spacing, Justine Pissott is the pick. If a team has a longer development timeline and wants to swing for a sky-high ceiling, Janiah Barker’s elite physical tools make her the obvious choice.

However, because landing a dependable rotation piece is the primary goal, the edge goes to Angela Dugalić by a very slim margin. She lacks Barker’s explosive upside, but her high basketball IQ, positional defense, and inside-out game make her the most likely to fit the exact bill of a WNBA rotation player. Her polished, versatile profile makes her the safest bet to carve out a reliable, long-term pro career.

Winner: Angela Dugalić

Final Call: Dugalić wins the matchup.

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