October 1, 2025
W Bound

WNBA Rookie Report: The Final Verdict on the 2025 Class

Four months ago, we took an initial look at the 2025 rookie class. Now, with the season complete, first impressions have given way to final résumés.

Some lived up to their lottery-pick billing, others exceeded all expectations to become cornerstones, and many solidified their roles for the future. From franchise-changing talents to key contributors, our final rookie review breaks down how each team’s draft picks performed in their debut season.

Atlanta Dream

🔗 Read the Atlanta Dream Draft Tracker here

Te-Hina Paopao was a revelation for the Dream in her rookie season. After stepping in for an injured Jordin Canada early in the year, she never looked back, providing a steadying presence at the point guard position all season long. Her playmaking was solid and her shooting was stellar, finishing the regular season at an efficient 44% from the field and 38.6% from three. Paopao elevated her game further in the postseason, shooting a blistering 53.3% overall and 37.5% from deep, proving she is a keeper.

Meanwhile, Taylor Thierry struggled to find a consistent role and continued to play limited minutes throughout the season. While her defensive energy flashed in spurts, she remains a developmental project. Overall, Atlanta’s draft class was a success, landing a dependable contributor in Paopao.

Chicago Sky

🔗 Read the Chicago Sky Draft Tracker here

The Chicago Sky’s rookie class had an eventful first season. As expected, Ajša Sivka deferred her debut, with the Slovenian forward set to play in the 2026 season.

Meanwhile, after Courtney Vandersloot’s injury, the anticipated increase in minutes for Hailey Van Lith never materialized, and her role remained inconsistent throughout the season. She finished her rookie campaign averaging 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Expect a leap from the young guard next year.

The biggest surprise came from Maddy Westbeld. After playing sparingly for most of the year, injuries to teammates propelled her into the rotation late in the season, and she responded. In that stretch, Westbeld averaged 9.0 points while shooting an incredible 53.3% from three, highlighted by a 25-point, 7-rebound performance where she shot 5-of-6 from deep in the season finale. Her strong finish was a major bright spot and provides optimism for her future role with the team.

Connecticut Sun

🔗 Read the Connecticut Sun Draft Tracker here

The Connecticut Sun’s 2025 draft class finished the season as one of the league’s most promising groups.

Aneesah Morrow overcame an early-season injury to become a significant contributor. Her persistence paid off late in the year when she was inserted into the starting lineup, providing a major boost with her energy and rebounding. She finished the season averaging 7.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, highlighted by a 20-point, 11-rebound performance.

Saniya Rivers built on her strong start and continued to impress all season with her versatile, all-around game. She solidified her role as a key do-everything guard, consistently making an impact with her defense, playmaking, and scoring.

Perhaps no rookie made a bigger late-season impact than Leila Lacan. Missing the first 17 games of the season, the French guard was a revelation. Her suffocating on-ball defense and dynamic offensive play immediately energized the team. The prospect of a future backcourt featuring the lethal combination of Rivers and Lacan is a major reason for excitement in Connecticut.

Meanwhile, Rayah Marshall played limited minutes and remains a long-term developmental project for the Sun.

Golden State Valkyries

🔗 Read the Golden State Valkyries Draft Tracker here

The Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural season was defined by stellar play from a pair of rookies who weren’t even from the 2025 draft class.

The undisputed breakout star was Janelle Salaun. The undrafted rookie from France played with the poise of a seasoned veteran, becoming a key part of the Valkyries’ rotation and earning a selection to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. She finished her debut season averaging an impressive 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Joining her in making a major impact was Carla Leite, the No. 9 pick from the 2024 draft who made her debut this year. The guard impressed all season with her aggressive drives and dynamic playmaking, quickly establishing herself as an exciting foundational piece for the franchise’s future.

Meanwhile, 2025 first-round pick Justė Jocytė officially deferred her rookie season. The Lithuanian phenom is expected to join the Valkyries in 2026, adding another high-level talent to this already promising young core.

Dallas Wings

🔗 Read the Dallas Wings Draft Tracker here

The Dallas Wings hit the jackpot with their 2025 draft class, headlined by a truly historic rookie campaign from Paige Bueckers. Stepping in as the team’s primary playmaker from day one, Bueckers was sensational, earning a WNBA All-Star selection and running away with the Rookie of the Year award. She finished the season averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting an efficient 47.7% from the field, 33.1% from three, and 88.8% from the free-throw line.

The supporting cast also showed significant promise. Aziaha James‘ minutes fluctuated throughout the season, but she proved to be an instant-offense weapon, showing she can score in bunches when given the opportunity.

JJ Quinerly also played well in her role and was impressive enough to start in 13 games for the Wings. Unfortunately, her promising rookie season was cut short when she missed the final month with an injury. Overall, the Wings’ draft was a successful one, landing a franchise cornerstone in Bueckers and two promising guards.

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Indiana Fever
🔗 Read the Indiana Fever Draft Tracker here

Opportunities were scarce for the Indiana Fever’s 2025 rookie class.

Makayla Timpson continued to play limited minutes. While her athleticism and shot-blocking instincts were evident in her brief appearances, she remained a developmental project.

The story was similar for Bree Hall, who struggled to find a consistent roster spot. After being waived mid-season, she was picked back up by the team late in the year but saw minimal playing time.

Overall, the Fever’s 2025 draft class remains a group of long-term prospects whose future roles are still to be determined.

Las Vegas Aces
🔗 Read the Las Vegas Aces Draft Tracker here

With Harmoni Turner waived before the season, the Aces’ 2025 draft class consisted of a single player in Aaliyah Nye.

Over the course of the season, Nye carved out a consistent role for herself in the Aces’ rotation. She earned steady minutes, including 2 starts, as a 3-and-D guard, spacing the floor on offense and providing solid effort on the defensive end. In doing so, Nye proved to be a natural fit within the Aces’ system and a valuable addition to the team.

Los Angeles Sparks
🔗 Read the Los Angeles Sparks Draft Tracker here

Sarah Ashlee Barker was a key contributor early in the year, starting a handful of games and providing steady, mature play while the team dealt with injuries. However, as the roster returned to full strength, her role reduced significantly, and she saw limited minutes in the second half of the season.

The team’s other draft picks struggled to make an impact. Liatu King was ultimately waived, and Sania Feagin saw only limited minutes throughout the year, remaining a developmental project.

While Barker’s early season play showed promise, the season ended with questions about how the Sparks’ rookies will fit into the team’s long-term plans.

Minnesota Lynx
🔗 Read the Minnesota Lynx Draft Tracker here

Anastasiia Olairi Kosu remained a long-term project throughout her rookie season. She saw very limited minutes, and while her raw tools are intriguing, she continues to adjust to the pace and physicality of the WNBA.

As expected, forward Aubrey Griffin missed the entire season while recovering from surgery. The team’s other pick, Dalayah Daniels, was waived before the season began.

Ultimately, the Lynx’s 2025 draft class provided minimal immediate impact, and its true value—centered on the long-term potential of Kosu and Griffin—remains a question for future seasons.

New York Liberty
🔗 Read the New York Liberty Draft Tracker here

As expected, the New York Liberty’s 2025 draft class had no impact on the 2025 season.

Their lone selection, French center Adja Kane, was a draft-and-stash pick who did not join the team this year. The Liberty are allowing her to continue playing overseas while they retain her rights.

Phoenix Mercury
🔗 Read the Phoenix Mercury Draft Tracker here

Phoenix’s approach of relying on undrafted rookies paid off significantly, with several players becoming key contributors throughout the 2025 season.

The biggest discovery was guard Monique Akoa Makani, who stepped up amidst early-season injuries. She started 40 games as a rookie, providing solid defense while averaging 7.7 points and 2.7 assists.

Kathryn Westbeld also carved out a place in the rotation, shining in a limited but impactful role where she provided timely shooting and smart team play off the bench.

Meanwhile, Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa, who both performed well and played significant minutes at the beginning of the season, saw their roles reduced as the roster got healthier and the rotation tightened for the playoffs.

Overall, the Mercury’s 2025 rookie class was a resounding success, proving that value can be found outside the draft.

Seattle Storm
🔗 Read the Seattle Storm Draft Tracker here

While the Storm’s 2025 draft class thinned out early, their lone remaining rookie, Dominique Malonga, finished the season as one of the most exciting young players in the league.

As the WNBA’s youngest player, Malonga began the year as a raw project. However, she showed significant growth in both her game and confidence, particularly toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, where her elite athleticism and size started to translate into consistent production.

The future is incredibly bright for the young center. After a stellar finish to her rookie season, expect Malonga to become a starter next season.

Washington Mystics
🔗 Read the Washington Mystics Draft Tracker here

The Washington Mystics’ 2025 draft class wasn’t just impactful; it produced two WNBA All-Stars who look like franchise cornerstones for years to come.

Sonia Citron was spectacular, earning an All-Star nod as a rookie Her shooting efficiency was truly elite, finishing the year with incredible shooting percentages of 47% from the field, 44.5% from three, and 87.2% from the free-throw line, coming remarkably close to joining the coveted 50/40/90 club that few players have reached.

Her running mate, Kiki Iriafen, was equally impressive in the frontcourt. Also named a rookie All-Star, Iriafen was a durable and consistent force, starting all 44 games and averaging 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting an efficient 48.8%.

While the Mystics’ other picks had quieter seasons—Georgia Amoore missed the season due to injury and Lucy Olsen had a a smaller role off the bench—the emergence of Citron and Iriafen made this arguably the best draft class in the league and a home run for the franchise.

Final Thoughts

With the 2025 season complete, the rookie class has proven to be one of the most impactful in recent memory.

Stars like Dallas’s Paige Bueckers (Rookie of the Year) and Washington’s Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen not only lived up to the hype but exceeded it, earning All-Star nods in their first year. They were joined by pleasant surprises like Golden State’s undrafted forward Janelle Salaun, who played her way onto the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

Beyond the award winners, the class demonstrated remarkable depth. Phoenix’s Monique Akoa Makani started 40 games, Atlanta’s Te-Hina Paopao became a reliable contributor, and Seattle’s Dominique Malonga finished the year as a player on a clear star trajectory.

📲 Want the full breakdown for each team? Check out the individual team pages!

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June 22, 2026

WNBA Rookies - Tracking the Class of 2026

A month into the season, early sample sizes are beginning to crystallize, offering a clearer picture of how the WNBA rookies are adjusting to the professional pace. While some first-year players have instantly cemented themselves as foundational pieces, others are navigating shifting roles, fluctuating minutes, and early injuries. We break down the developments, trends, and roster moves shaping their impacts across the league.

Atlanta Dream
🔗 Read the Atlanta Dream Draft Tracker here

Isobel Borlase and Madina Okot are both making the most of their time on the floor, providing solid production in about 9 minutes per game off the bench. Okot is shooting an efficient 54% from the field with 3.3 rebounds, while Borlase is converting at a steady 53% clip while taking care of the ball, averaging just 0.3 turnovers.

Meanwhile, Indya Nivar is seeing limited minutes early on as she adjusts to the pro pace.

Chicago Sky
🔗 Read the Chicago Sky Draft Tracker here

Gabriela Jaquez started the season as one of the most reliable rookies, averaging 11.5 points per game on stellar shooting splits. However, after she missed four games with a minor knee injury, a clearly less than 100% Jaquez is now averaging 9.6 points and seeing her turnovers rise to 2.0 per contest.

The silver lining during this recent stretch has been the explosive play of Sydney Taylor, who has established herself as a microwave scorer off the bench. Taylor is averaging 11.2 points in just 15.6 minutes, highlighted by massive scoring outbursts of 27 and 30 points. On the wing, Aicha Coulibaly is using her long, active frame to provide energy and tough defense. Saylor Poffenbarger, signed as a hardship exception to help cushion the roster’s injury hits, has seen limited court action so far.

Connecticut Sun
🔗 Read the Connecticut Sun Draft Tracker here

Charlisse Leger-Walker has been a solid presence in the backcourt, even stepping into the starting lineup for a stretch to lead the last-place Sun to a victory while Leila Lacan was away with overseas commitments. On the wing, Nell Angloma has made an impact by playing active defense and finding opportunistic scoring with her slashing game.

Meanwhile, Raegan Beers and Ashlon Jackson (signed to a developmental contract) have seen sparse, limited floor time. Most notably, first-round draft selection Gianna Kneepkens has seen very minimal action. While her defensive consistency and slower shot release are concerns, the more troubling trend is her uneven minutes; she has bounced between drawing occasional starts to playing five minutes or less, and even played 0 minutes during one game before being inserted solely for the final 10 seconds.

Dallas Wings
🔗 Read the Dallas Wings Draft Tracker here

No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd played her first six games as a reserve before being inserted into the starting lineup on May 28. As a starter, she is averaging 13.9 points on 46.8% FG and 35.6% 3PT as Dallas is playing some of its best basketball of the season. She is impacting the game with more than just elite shooting, displaying excellent defense while averaging 1.5 steals and 1.2 block per game.

Costanza Verona, signed to a developmental contract, is little used. When on the floor, the 5’6″ guard utilizes elite speed to push the pace in transition.

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Golden State Valkyries
🔗 Read the Golden State Valkyries Draft Tracker here

Drafted last year as the franchise’s first-ever draft pick, Juste Jocyte made her debut for the Valkyries on May 25 after arriving late due to overseas commitments. Golden State is bringing the rookie along slowly, but she has already displayed her shooting prowess by knocking down 38.5% of her three-pointers across seven games. Whether operating as a scorer or a facilitator, she plays with a deliberate pace, and while her defense could improve, that is to be expected of a first-year player.

On the fringes of the roster, Miela Sowah continues to see very limited action in her role as a developmental player. Major roster movements have also reshaped the team; Marta Suarez—who the Valkyries initially acquired in the draft after trading away the rights to Flau’jae Johnson—was waived. Later, Ashten Prechtel was signed to a developmental contract after being picked up from the Mercury, while Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, who had been signed to a hardship contract, has since been waived.

Indiana Fever
🔗 Read the Indiana Fever Draft Tracker here

Raven Johnson put together a strong string of performances during the preseason, but she has seen far less action since the regular season officially tipped off. Despite the drop in minutes, she continues to showcase a solid all-around game when given the opportunity, making her presence felt primarily with her pesky, disruptive perimeter defense.

Frontcourt depth looks slightly different following recent roster shuffling; the Fever signed Grace VanSlooten to a rest-of-season contract after she was waived by the Storm. She has seen sparse floor time early on, while Justine Pissott continues to occupy the team’s developmental slot. Meanwhile, third-round draft pick Jessica Timmons was waived ahead of the regular-season opener.

Las Vegas Aces
🔗 Read the Las Vegas Aces Draft Tracker here

The star-studded roster has made minutes hard to come by for the defending champs’ No. 29 overall selection Janiah Barker, whose transition to the pros had an early setback. The 6’4″ forward missed the start of the regular season after landing in concussion protocol following a blow to the head in a preseason exhibition against the Japan National Team. While she has since been cleared to suit up, she has yet to see game action as she waits for an opportunity behind a dominant, veteran-heavy post rotation. Meanwhile, the team’s other draft choice, Jordan Obi, was waived during training camp.

Los Angeles Sparks
🔗 Read the Los Angeles Sparks Draft Tracker here

On a veteran-heavy roster, the Sparks’ rookies are not getting much run early on. Chance Gray has seen the most floor time of the group, averaging 11.0 minutes across 14 games. Ta’Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring during the 2024-25 college season with 25.2 points per game, has only appeared in 8 games, averaging 5.1 minutes per contest, while international rookie Jihyun Park is logging 6.6 minutes.

The remainder of the Sparks’ rookie class, third-round forward Amelia Hassett, was waived toward the end of April.

Minnesota Lynx
🔗 Read the Minnesota Lynx Draft Tracker here

The Lynx are off to a surprising 13-4 start, a mark few expected with Napheesa Collier sidelined by offseason injuries and most of last year’s starters departing in free agency.

A big reason for that success is Olivia Miles, who has emerged as the heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year by averaging 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while shooting 53.8% and 35.2% from deep. Minnesota’s other rookie standout, Emma Cechova, was also playing well to start the season—averaging 8.3 points and 3.7 rebounds—before her year was cut short by a torn ACL.

New York Liberty

🔗 Read the New York Liberty Draft Tracker here

Pauline Astier has stepped up as a major contributor for New York, starting 13 of 17 games as the Liberty were hit with a wave of injuries. She is averaging 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting a whopping 57% from the field and 44.0% from three-point range.

The rest of the team’s rookies are finding it much tougher to crack the rotation on a deep roster. Both Alex Fowler and Marine Fauthoux have been rarely used early on, seeing sparse action at the bottom of the depth chart.

Phoenix Mercury

🔗 Read the Phoenix Mercury Draft Tracker here

The Mercury are leaning heavily on international newcomers to fill out their rotation. Jovana Nogic has been a major floor-spacing threat, averaging 10.4 points over 16 games while knocking down a sharp 42.1% of her three-pointers in 20.2 minutes per contest. Noemie Brochant has also carved out a steady role, logging 21.7 minutes across 16 appearances while averaging 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Marta Suarez found a landing spot in Phoenix after being waived by Golden State, appearing in 3 games and averaging 2.0 points in 10.0 minutes of action. To further round out their depth, the front office signed undrafted rookie guard Shay Ciezki to a player development contract following training camp cuts.

Portland Fire

🔗 Read the Portland Fire Draft Tracker here

Nyadiew Puoch leads the rookie contingent in floor time, logging 17.8 minutes over 16 games while averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds. Teja Oblak has given the backcourt highly efficient production in 14.4 minutes per game, averaging 6.5 points and a team-high 3.7 assists while shooting a blistering 56.3% from three. At 35 years old, Oblak also holds the distinction of being the league’s oldest rookie.

In the frontcourt, Frieda Buhner has provided 4.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 13.2 minutes over 14 contests. Originally signed to a developmental spot ahead of opening night, Buhner was converted to a standard active roster spot in late May. Meanwhile, Serah Williams has carved out a regular depth role, averaging 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.9 minutes.

Toronto Tempo

🔗 Read the Toronto Tempo Draft Tracker here

Kiki Rice was playing exceptionally well for the expansion franchise, averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 26.7 minutes over 10 games before being sidelined for several weeks with an ankle injury. She was highly efficient before the setback, shooting 53.3% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range while taking care of the ball with just 1.3 turnovers per game.

Laura Juskaite has also been effective, logging 22.5 minutes and averaging 9.0 points and 4.3 rebounds. On the wing, Maria Conde provides steady shooting and playmaking, averaging 8.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and shooting 40% from three as a floor spacer. In the frontcourt, Teonni Key is contributing despite limited minutes but is making her defense felt, averaging almost a block a game across 15 appearances.

Seattle Storm

🔗 Read the Seattle Storm Draft Tracker here

The youth movement is underway, starting 20-year-old Awa Fam alongside fellow 20-year-old Dominique Malonga in the frontcourt for the last 6 games. Fam’s minutes have steadily increased to 28.1 per game, and she is averaging 10.3 points and 5.4 rebounds since her late arrival.

On the perimeter, Flau’jae Johnson has been a fixture in the starting lineup, averaging 11.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26.8 minutes. She is every bit as electric as expected, though she has struggled with efficiency. Meanwhile, guard Taina Mair remains a developmental player, appearing in just 2 games after being selected as the 14th overall pick.

Washington Mystics

🔗 Read the Washington Mystics Draft Tracker here

The Mystics are fielding the youngest team in the league, navigating their rebuild with a roster that at one point featured eight rookies. Among them is Georgia Amoore, who was selected in last year’s draft but had her debut delayed to this season following an ACL injury. Currently logging 23.9 minutes over 15 games, Amoore appears to still be adjusting to the blistering pace of the WNBA, occasionally struggling to find clean looks and orchestrate playmaking for others. Alicia Florez has stepped up to provide solid contributions in moments as the backup point guard, averaging 4.7 points and 3.4 assists in 19.0 minutes. Conversely, fellow guard Rori Harmon saw regular rotation minutes early in the season but has since fallen out of favor, playing very little lately.

In the frontcourt, the young trio of Cotie McMahon, Angela Dugalic, and Lauren Betts are maximizing their opportunities and giving the Mystics decent production despite limited floor time. Dugalic offers steady all-around play, averaging 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest. McMahon has adjusted well to a reserve role, providing an energetic spark off the bench with disruptive defense and timely shooting. Meanwhile, Betts anchors the interior with her size and highly efficient scoring, averaging 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds while knocking down 54.8% of her looks from the field. Even though she was the 4th pick in the draft and delivers solid production, Betts ranks just 18th in minutes among rookies with a seemingly short leash in the rotation.

For Cassandre Prosper, playing time has steadily declined over the course of the season. Her diminishing role raises the question of whether Washington would be better off moving her to a developmental spot, which would free up a standard roster slot to sign a much-needed veteran point guard. As for the rest of the rookie class, Darianna Little-Page Buggs continues to fill a developmental role for the franchise, while guard Alex Wilson has since been waived after appearing in just four games.

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Delayed, Not Denied: The WNBA's Other Rookies

Part III: The Comeback Kids

Editor’s Note

This is the third and final 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 III: The WNBA’s Comeback Kids

For prospects entering the league, a draft-night phone call is supposed to signal the immediate start of a professional career. Instead, an unexpected physical setback can alter that entire timeline, transforming a highly anticipated rookie season into a year or more of rehab. The final chapter of our series looks at two players who had to wait to finally step onto a WNBA floor.

Georgia Amoore (Washington Mystics)

The Journey: The Australian point guard built a decorated collegiate resume across the ACC and SEC. She became Virginia Tech’s all-time assists leader (656) and anchored their historic 2023 Final Four run before transferring to Kentucky for a graduate season, where she averaged a career-high 19.6 points and 6.9 assists per game to earn First-Team All-SEC honors. Selected 6th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Amoore’s highly anticipated rookie campaign was halted when she suffered a right ACL injury during training camp. After undergoing surgery and a year of rehabilitation, she returned to the court with the Mystics this season.

The Game: A dynamic, 5-foot-6 guard who plays with exceptional pace. Amoore is a high-volume playmaker who uses a quick handle to collapse defenses, while remaining a dangerous perimeter threat off the bounce or pulling up from deep.

Early 2026 Status: A starter for the league’s youngest team, Amoore is averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 assists per game, highlighted by a season-high 13-point, 6-assist performance against Seattle on May 24.

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Aicha Coulibaly (Chicago Sky)

The Journey: An All-SEC selection out of Auburn and Texas A&M, the Mali native averaged 12.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks during her final collegiate season. Selected 31st overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, Coulibaly suffered a severe knee injury in January 2025, prior to the draft. She entered training camp this May fully recovered. She was waived in training camp but was subsequently picked back up by the Sky and signed to a developmental roster spot just three days later.

The Game: A physically imposing athlete with lateral quickness who projects as a 3-and-D wing.

Early 2026 Status: Providing the Sky with consistent bench energy and tenacious defense on the wing. She has carved out a steady role off the bench, contributing a season-high 9 points and 2 steals rebounds in 18 minutes against Toronto on May 27.

From players dominating international leagues to resilient competitors overcoming severe injury, the paths of this season’s unconventional rookies are as diverse as they are inspiring. Their journeys prove that the road to the WNBA is rarely linear, and that timing and persistence can matter just as much as talent when it comes to breaking through onto the world’s biggest basketball stage.

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Delayed, Not Denied: The WNBA's Other Rookies

Part II: The Global Grinders

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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