The WNBA Finals are in a tight race to the end, as the Las Vegas Aces currently lead the New York Liberty 2-1 in the series. These players are big-time stars, and it's hard to picture them on the NCAA stage. However, most of these players were stars at the college level as well. Here is a list of 8 WNBA Finalists and where they went to college:
New York Liberty:
1. Breanna Stewart: UConn
It's hard to picture that the 2x WNBA Champion and 2x WNBA MVP ever played at the collegiate level. At the University of Connecticut, Breanna Stewart was predictably dominant. She won awards such as the Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy, and the Wooden Award. Oh, and not to mention how she won the NCAA Championship Every. Single. Year. She ended up as the first overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm.
2. Sabrina Ionescu: University of Oregon
Sabrina Ionescu's impact on the WNBA didn't come from nowhere. Ionescu was a star player at the University of Oregon in her college years. In the NCAA, Ionescu became the first player (man or woman) to have over 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in a single college career. She still holds the NCAA record (man or woman) for career triple-doubles with 26. She also racked up the awards. As a senior, Sabrina Ionescu earned 6 National Player of the Year awards, including the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, and Wade Trophy Winner. Unsurprisingly, Sabrina Ionescu was the first overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty.
3. Jonquel Jones: George Washington University
Jonquel Jones was a standout player at George Washington University. Jones played for Clemson for one season before transferring to George Washington. She was a 2x All-Amerian honorable mention and the Atlantic 10 Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Jonquel Jones was selected sixth overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
4. Courtney Vandersloot: Gonzaga
Courtney Vandersloot was a superstar at the Gonzaga University. She was a 3x West Coast Conference Player of the Year, Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner, first-team All-American, and the Nancy Lieberman Award winner. Vandersloot was also the first player in Division I history to have over 2,000 points and 1,000 assists in a college career until her teammate Sabrina Ionescu broke her record. Courtney Vandersloot was the third overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky.
Las Vegas Aces:
5. A'ja Wilson: University of South Carolina
A'ja Wilson is one of the best to come out of the great University of South Carolina basketball program. She was a consensus National Player of the Year and she won awards like the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy, and Honda Sport Award. She was also a 3x first-team All-American and a 3x SEC Player of the Year. In the 2018 WNBA Draft, A'ja Wilson was the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces.
6. Kelsey Plum: University of Washington
As dominant as Kelsey Plum is in the WNBA, she was equally impressive in college at the University of Washington. Plum still holds the NCAA all-time scoring record with 3,527 points. She also broke the single-season NCAA scoring record with 1,109 points in 2016-17 and broke the NCAA career free-throw record with 912 made free throws. She also collected awards such as the Dawn Staley, Ann Meyers Drysdale, and Nancy Lieberman awards, the Naismith and Wade Trophy, Pac-12 Player of the Year, unanimous first-team All-American, and espnW and AP National Player of the Year. Kelsey Plum was the first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars.
7. Chelsea Gray: Duke
Chelsea Gray is one of the best playmakers to come from Duke University. The point guard was a 2x All-American, ACC Co-Player of the Year, and a 2x first-team All-ACC. She also set a school record for most assists in a single season with 201. In the 2014 WNBA Draft, Chelsea Gray was the eleventh overall pick by the Connecticut Sun.
8. Jackie Young: Notre Dame
Jackie Young was a standout player for the University of Notre Dame. She was a third-team All-American, ACC Tournament MVP, and was a second-team All-ACC selection. Young was the first overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces.
Image Credit: University of Oregon Athletics/UW Tyee Club/UConn Athletics/Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
