Meet eight WNBA rookies, from their college teams and hometowns to the people and goals shaping their move into the league.
Eight new WNBA players are beginning the next stage of their basketball careers, bringing championship experience, varied paths to the league and plenty of curiosity about what comes next. Their draft-night reflections offer a personal look at the transition: excitement about joining new teams sits alongside an awareness that learning the professional game will take time.
The class arrives during a period of change for the WNBA, with a new collective bargaining agreement bringing attention to salaries, benefits and the league’s long-term investment. Those broader developments frame the rookies’ first seasons, but their comments focus on the immediate work: finding their place, learning from experienced teammates and adapting to a higher level of competition.
New teams, familiar support
Olivia Miles, who attended Texas Christian University and is from Phillipsburg, New Jersey, is joining the Minnesota Lynx. She described feeling grateful and overwhelmed as the opportunity became real. The team’s winning culture and the chance to play alongside established stars appealed to her. Her approach to game day is simple: keep working and trust the preparation. After a game, she’s most likely to choose pasta; before one, she likes “Too Much Sauce” by DJ Esco.
Lauren Betts is moving from the University of California, Los Angeles, to the Washington Mystics. A Centennial, Colorado, native, she reflected on the sacrifices involved in pursuing a national championship with her college team. Winning the title and reaching the professional league made those demands feel worthwhile, she said. Her game-day reminder is “Look at the flowers,” and house music helps her get ready to play. For a postgame meal, her pick is an In-N-Out burger.
The path from overlooked prospect to professional player is part of Flau'jae Johnson’s story. She played for Louisiana State University, comes from Savannah, Georgia, and will join the Seattle Storm. Johnson said she was not highly ranked early in her basketball journey, which makes reaching the league feel especially meaningful. She’s looking forward to meeting new people and settling into a new community. Her game-day mantra is “You are what you tell yourself,” and her current hype track is “Woah,” by Flau'jae Johnson. After a game, she favors stuffed salmon with alfredo.
Learning from teammates and carrying a wider community
Raven Johnson is a University of South Carolina guard from Atlanta, Georgia, who will play for the Indiana Fever. She said she’s eager to learn from veteran players, including Caitlin Clark, and wants to contribute to a winning team in whatever role is needed. Her game-day routine includes gospel music and a faith-based mantra drawn from Philippians 4:13. Her postgame favorites are sour straws, Airheads and spaghetti.
For Madina Okot, joining the Atlanta Dream connects a new professional opportunity with a sense of representation. She attended the University of South Carolina and is from Mumias, Kenya. Okot said she’s excited to learn from experienced players, including Angel Reese, and to represent both her home country and Africa. She also spoke about the young girls back home who may see her career as a possibility for their own. Gospel music and the same verse from Philippians 4:13 help set her game-day mindset; her comfort foods include pasta alfredo and ugali.
Gianna Kneepkens, from Duluth, Minnesota, played at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is headed to the Connecticut Sun. She sees the move as a chance to grow and test herself. Having teammates going through the same transition has helped, she said. Coming off a national championship has given her confidence, while she’s also thinking about the balance rookies need: trusting their preparation, staying humble and continuing to learn. Her mantra is “Find a way,” her pregame pick is “Gang Gang” by Chef Boy, and she reaches for a burger after playing.
A new league home, with ties across the map
Marta Suarez is joining the Golden State Valkyries after playing for Texas Christian University. Originally from Oviedo, Spain, she said it’s an honor to enter the league at a significant time for women’s basketball. Suarez spent several years in California and is looking forward to reconnecting with people there. She also has a favorite Chinese restaurant in San Francisco to revisit. Her game-day cue is “Patience and faith,” Bad Bunny is her go-to music, and she likes salmon with sweet potato mash and vegetables after a game.
These players’ stories show how many routes can lead to a professional roster: a championship season, years spent building a game outside the spotlight, or an opportunity to represent a home community far from the team’s city. Their first seasons will bring new demands and a steep learning curve. For now, the rookies are arriving with distinct sources of motivation—and a shared focus on growing into the work ahead.
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