39 Big Ten Conference Alums on 2026 WNBA Opening Day Rosters

ROSEMONT, Ill. – With the 2026 WNBA season starting on Friday, a total of 39 standouts from Big Ten Conference institutions secured spots on opening day rosters, with eight additional alums serving on WNBA coaching staffs, including two head coaches. The combined total of 47 Big Ten representatives in the WNBA includes former student-athletes from 14 of the conferences’ 18 member institutions, with UCLA (12) pacing the contingent. 

Atlanta Dream
Brionna Jones (Maryland)
Naz Hillmon (Michigan)
Holly Winterburn (Oregon)
Jordin Canada (UCLA)

Chicago Sky
Rachel Banham (Minnesota)
Jacy Sheldon (Ohio State)
Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)

Connecticut Sun
Diamond Miller (Maryland)
Kennedy Burke (UCLA)
Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)
Charlisse Leger-Walker (UCLA)

Golden State Valkyries
Kaila Charles (Maryland)
Veronica Burton (Northwestern)
Natalie Nakase – Head Coach (UCLA)

Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark (Iowa)
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (Maryland)
Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State)
Stephanie White – Head Coach (Purdue)
Monique Billings (UCLA)

Los Angeles Sparks
Chance Gray (Ohio State)
Erica Wheeler (Rutgers)
Ebony Hoffman – Assistant Coach (USC)
Kesley Plum (Washington)

Minnesota Lynx
Janel McCarville – Assistant Coach (Minnesota)
Lindsay Whalen – Assistant Coach (Minnesota)
Nia Coffey (Northwestern)

New York Liberty
Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon)
Satou Sabally (Oregon)
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (Rutgers)
Rebekah Gardner (UCLA)

Phoenix Mercury
Shay Ciezki (Indiana)
Tangela Smith – Assistant Coach (Iowa)
Alyssa Thomas (Maryland)
Kristi Toliver – Associate Head Coach (Maryland)
Kahleah Copper (Rutgers)
Sami Whitcomb (Washington)

Portland Fire
Megan Gustafson (Iowa)

Seattle Storm
Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana)
Grace VanSlooten (Michigan State)

Toronto Tempo
Nyara Sabally (Oregon)
Kiki Rice (UCLA)
Sadie Edwards – Assistant Coach (USC)

Washington Mystics
Lucy Olsen (Iowa)
Lauren Betts (UCLA)
Angela Dugalić (UCLA)
Michaela Onyenwere (UCLA)
Kiki Iriafen (USC)