The players in this year’s WNBA Finals each took a unique path to reach the biggest stage. In this article, we’ll explore their journeys prior to making it in the W.
Here are some interesting facts regarding the players’ club careers:
- 1 player did not play club basketball (not including the International players)
- 8 players did not play high school basketball in the United States
- There are more players on rosters who were NOT ranked by ESPN (4) than were ranked in the Top 10 of their respective recruiting classes (3).
Here are the college programs represented:
- Arkansas (Marquesha Davis – transferred to Ole Miss)
- Clemson (Jonquel Jones – transferred to George Washington)
- Colorado (Jaylyn Sherrod)
- George Washington (Jonquel Jones)
- Gonzaga (Courtney Vandersloot)
- Iowa State (Bridget Carleton)
- Louisville (Myisha Hines-Allen)
- Marquette (Natisha Hiedeman)
- Maryland (Diamond Miller)
- Notre Dame (Kayla McBride)
- Ohio State (Dorka Juhasz – transferred to UConn)
- Ole Miss (Marquesha Davis)
- Oregon (Nyara Sabally & Sabrina Ionescu)
- Rutgers (Betnijah Laney-Hamilton)
- South Florida (Courtney Williams)
- Stanford (Alanna Smith)
- UCLA (Kennedy Burke)
- UConn (Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier & Dorka Juhasz)
- USC (Alissa Pili – transferred to Utah)
- UTEP (Kayla Thornton)
- Utah (Alissa Pili)
Only UConn (3) and Oregon (2) have multiple players playing in the WNBA Finals.
Below you can find each player’s club, ESPN Rank, and college program.
Minnesota Lynx
Napheesa Collier
Club: Missouri Phenom
ESPN Rank: 2015 #6
College: UConn
Kayla McBride
Club: Western PA Bruins
ESPN Rank: 2010 #20
College: Notre Dame
Courtney Williams
Club: FGB
ESPN Rank: 2012 Not Ranked (89 Rating)
College: South Florida
Olivia Epoupa
Club: International – France
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: N/A
Diamond Miller
Club: Team Miller
ESPN Rank: 2019 #17
College: Maryland
Natisha Hiedeman
Club: Wisconsin Playground
ESPN Rank: 2015 Not Ranked (88 Rating)
College: Marquette
Myisha Hines-Allen
Club: New Jersey Sparks
ESPN Rank: 2014 #34
College: Louisville
Bridget Carleton
Club: International – Canada
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: Iowa State
Alanna Smith
Club: International – Australia
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: Stanford
Cecilia Zandalasini
Club: International – Italy
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: N/A
Dorka Juhasz
Club: International – Austria
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: Ohio State / UConn
Alissa Pili
Club: Alaska Hoops / Stars
ESPN Rank: 2019 #41
College: USC / Utah
New York Liberty
Breanna Stewart
Club: Philly Belles
ESPN Rank: 2012 #1
College: UConn
Jaylyn Sherrod
Club: All Alabama
ESPN Rank: 2019 Not Ranked (89 Rating)
College: Colorado
Kennedy Burke
Club: Cal Storm
ESPN Rank: 2015 #15
College: UCLA
Marquesha Davis
Club: Arkansas Banshees
ESPN Rank: 2019 Not Ranked (90 Rating)
College: Arkansas / Ole Miss
Kayla Thornton
Club: N/A
ESPN Rank: 2010 Not Ranked (No Rating)
College: UTEP
Nyara Sabally
Club: International – Germany
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: Oregon
Leonie Fiebich
Club: International – Germany
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: N/A
Ivana Dojkic
Club: International – Serbia
ESPN Rank: N/A
College: N/A
Sabrina Ionescu
Club: Cal Stars
ESPN Rank: 2016 #4
College: Oregon
Courtney Vandersloot
Club: Puget Sound Flight
ESPN Rank: 2007 #63 (Scout)
College: Gonzaga
Jonquel Jones
Club: Boo Williams
ESPN Rank: 2012 #17
College: Clemson / George Washington
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
Club: NYC Gauchos
ESPN Rank: 2011 #11
College: Rutgers
