The 2025 WNBA draft is now over, and some of the best players in women’s college basketball have been selected to start their professional careers. Thirty-eight players were selected by WNBA teams on Monday night.
However, not everyone who declared for the draft heard their names called by the commissioner. Some of the best-known players in college sports were unselected, including Sedona Prince, Deja Kelly, and Diamond Johnson.
Can Undrafted Players Still Play In the WNBA?
The draft is generally the gateway to professional basketball in the U.S., but going undrafted doesn’t necessarily signal the end of a playing career. There are alternative routes for undrafted players, offering them hope for a career in professional basketball.
Some undrafted players choose to stay connected to the sport by participating in open tryouts, which allows them to remain active in the basketball community and potentially catch the attention of scouts.
Some will receive training camp invites from WNBA teams, where they’ll have the chance to make a roster. Training camp is an opportunity to perform well and show teams what they missed by passing up on them.
Another option for undrafted players is to play overseas. Leagues across Asia, Europe, and Australia offer professional basketball and offer players the opportunity to earn money while playing the sport they love.
An undrafted player cannot be allowed to “re-enter” the draft free to negotiate with multiple teams after the draft has concluded but may only sign one- or two-year minimum contracts. They are called “undrafted free agents.”
It is not uncommon for an undrafted player to later have a successful career in the league. Such is the case of Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon. Hammon was undrafted in the 1999 WNBA draft, but she signed with the New York Liberty as a free agent.
Also Read: Top five Underrated Players in the 2025 WNBA Draft Class You Need To Know
Hammon went to three WNBA finals in her first four seasons with the Liberty. She was named a WNBA All-Star in 2003, 2005-07, 2009, and 2011. She spent 16 years in the league, spending her last eight in San Antonio.
Currently in charge of the Las Vegas Aces, Hammon led the team to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame on Aug. 12, 2023, and has also been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
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