Most WNBA Draft picks won’t make their opening day rosters. Here’s why.

New York City – The dishes of the beloved university basketball players heard their names on the night of the WNBA Draft. Some, like Harvard’s Harmoni Turner, held from home, surrounded by his family for the transcendental occasion.

Others, such as the UCONN shipowner, Kaitlyn Chen, experienced the only moment in person, joined with teammates. Chen was in Manhattan to encourage his friend and alleged No. 1 chooses Paige Bueckers when he realized that his dreams would also be done. She was chosen in general by the Golden State Valkies, and went to the stage to hug the commissioner Cathy Engelbert, all while her teammates get used to the margin.

The highlights of South Carolina, Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall and Sania Feagin, were all selections of second round, written 18, 20 and 21, respectively. The University of the University of Iowa, Lucy Olsen, was selected 23 by the Mysics of Washington.

The bases of university fans of each of these players celebrated those selections, eager to see that the stars of their school would begin their professional basketball careers.

But reality will hit in just a few weeks, when the teams will end their lists in May, before the progress of the regular season. Many of the fans who were recruited will receive the difficult news that they did not make the list of the team that selected them; In fact, last year, of the 36 WNBA players who were recruited, 13 made their chart lists. The previous year, only 15 did.

The WNBA draft includes three rounds of 12 players each. Being recruited outside the first round does not mean that players cattle Make the opening day lists. But significant reduces his chans. With the exception of foreign players who have not yet made the trip to the WNBA, all of the first round of last year found a home in the WNBA in year 1. But only a few round selections or later could secure list points.

There are places on the Feer list in the WNBA that in the NBA

The WNBA sacrifices up to 156 places, and the league will probably use, even FEER players than that. While the teams can take up to 12 players on their list, most choose to have 11.

The 156 points mark an increase of 12 points compared to last year, thanks to the addition of the Valkyries as the new league expansion team. By 2026, the WNBA will have 180 points on the list, thanks to the fact that the teams in Toronto and Portland are scheduled to join the League.

Meanwhile, the NBA sacrifices 450 standard list points and 90 bidirectional contracts more than three times the number of opportunities on the women’s side.

There are also no national alternatives for players outside the WNBA. Players can continue their careers abroad, but unlike the NBA, there is no development league such as the G League that allows players to continue working in their game in the United States.

It is unlikely that the second and third round selections Forjen WNBA races, but it is possible

In 2024, Kate Martin was selected 18th in general, reaching the headlines because Owa’s star was there to support her teammate Caitlin Clark, but finally had the emotional moment on stage. Martin not only made the Las Vegas Aces opening list, but also obtained minutes of rotation and was selected by Golden State Valkyries in his expansion draft in December.

In total, around 25 players who listened to their names called in the second or third round of the draft in the last decade are currently rotation players in the WNBA.

That list includes:

1. The Minnesota Lynx Druka Juhasz striker (selected 16th in 2023)

2. Atlanta Dream Forward Naz Hillmon (selected 15 in 2022)

3. Connecticut striker Sun Olivia Nelson -ododa (selected 19 in 2022)

4. Phoenix Mercury Forward Amy Atwell (selected 27 in 2022)

5. The Washington Mystics Jade Melbourne guard (selected 33rd in 2022)

6. Dallas Wings Dijonai Carrington (selected 20th in 2021)

7. The Guard of Las Vegas Aces Dana Evans (selected 13 in 2021)

8. New York Liberty Leonie FEBICH striker (selected 22 in 2020)
9. MiSTICS Guard Sutton (selected 24 in 2020)
10. Indiana Sophie Cunningham fever guard (selected 13 in 2019)
11. ACES MEGAN GUANFSON striker (selected 17 in 2019)
12. Lynx Natisha Icdeman Guard (Selected 18 in 2019)
13. Sun Marina Mabrey (Selected 19 in 2019)
14. Lynx Forward Bridget Carleton (Selected 21 in 2019)
15. Liberty Kennedy Burke’s guard (selected 22 in 2019)
16. Los Angeles Sparks Monique Billings striker (selected 15 in 2018)
17. The winging striker Myisha Hines-Ffairs (selected 19 in 2018)
18. Sparks Mercedes Russell (selected 22 in 2018)
19. Sun Guard Lindsay Allen (selected 14 in 2017)
20. The Valkyries striker Temi Fagbenle (selected 35º in 2016)
21. Liberty Guard Natasha Cloud (selected 15 in 2015)
22. Forward by Liberty Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (selected 17 in 2015)
23. Aces Center Astou Ndour (selected 16 in 2014)
24. The Valkanie Talbot (Selected 33rd in 2014) striker in 2014

It is a list of impressions full of prominent. Natasha Cloud, for example, is one of the best two -way guards in the game. Dijonai Carrington could be the best player of that 2021 draft class, establishing himself as one of the best defenders on the league and winning the most improved players trophy last season. Leonie Febich has already shown that it is one of the most versatile young wings in the League.

Most teams begin the training camp next week, with the official of the regular season from Friday, May 16. By then, we will know what outstanding university students can play for a WNBA team this season, and which will have bone in the bell. As the league expands, the opportunities will continue to increase, but in the average, fans will soon be beaten with the sobering reality that most of the names called on the night of the Draft will not play in the WNBA this season.

And, the same players who only a few weeks ago rejoiced, will receive the news that their life of a lifetime is being stopped.