The 2020 WNBA draft brought both a sense of closure and uncertainty to its 36 draftees. After having their final college seasons cut short, the draft officially brought their amateur careers to a close. And yet because it’s still unclear when or if the upcoming WNBA season will begin, these draftees’ dreams have been put on pause as they wait to suit up with the pros. Below, we spoke with six WNBA rookies about their draft day experience and how they’re handling the present situation.

Your NCAA senior season was cut short. How did you handle that emotionally? 

“It broke my heart because the year before that I broke my hand and I missed the tournament then too. I was so excited for this year. When I found out that we weren’t going to finish our tournament, it shut me down for a while. I thought that I needed the tournament to really push my name up in the draft. I was devastated, for sure.” – Kamiah Smalls, JMU, drafted 28th overall to Indiana Fever 

“I was pretty hurt about it. We didn’t even get to play in our Big 12 tournament. We worked so hard our senior year and in past years to get to that point, and then to not get to finish the season was pretty heartbreaking. I didn’t handle it too well. But then I had to realize that our health is more important than anything, so it’s an understandable situation.” – Sug Sutton, Texas, drafted 36th overall to Washington Mystics

“Our ACC championship happened before the cancelations, and we lost to NC State. We were so close to being the first in Florida State History to win an ACC Championship. It was a tough loss, but it helped me add a bit of fuel to my fire. I was excited for the NCAA Tournament and unfortunately it ended up that no teams got an opportunity to play in it. I still have that feeling where I want to just go hard and get excited and get back out on the court.” – Kiah Gillespie, FSU, drafted 32nd overall to Chicago Sky

“There were a lot of emotions. Our team was poised to make it into the tournament, and it would have been my first experience playing there. On the one hand, you understand there’s a pandemic going on, but on the other hand, it’s your senior year. Everything builds up to that season, and there was no just closure with the way it ended, which made it really sad. Unfortunately with college, you don’t get to retire when you want. You only have four years and then you’re done.” – Haley Gorecki, Duke, drafted 31st overall to Seattle Storm

“We were supposed to play Texas in the Big 12 tournament. At first, there was a decision to continue with the tournament without an audience, so we were preparing for that. Then they just canceled it all together and that was it. We were in Kansas and had family members flying in to see us play so everyone had to cancel their flights and hotel reservations. It was kind of crazy and disappointing, but at the same time, it was a little relieving to know that it wasn’t just us. This was worldwide. So it is what it is. This is happening all around the world, and health is way more important than entertainment and sport.” – Tynice Martin, WVU, drafted 34th overall to LA Sparks

“We played in the Pac-12 tournament before any cancellations and ended up losing to Stanford. Losing in general always sucks. Not being able to go on to play against Oregon in the championship was tough, and I think that if we would’ve known that that was going to be our last game together, we would have maybe approached it a little differently and left it all out there. But it is what it is.” – Japreece Dean, UCLA, drafted 30th overall to Chicago Sky

What were your expectations entering the draft?

“None. I was just praying that I got drafted, just because of how the season went. I know I didn’t perform how I had wanted to. So I was questioning if I would even be drafted. Ahead of the draft, a lot of people doubted that my name would be called.” – Japreece Dean

“I was up and down with my expectations for the draft. because I didn’t have a really good senior season like I did my junior year. I struggled with an injury my senior season. I didn’t really know if I would get drafted or not. So I just left it in God’s hands, and luckily I got drafted.” – Sug Sutton

“Honestly, none. I wasn’t expecting my name to come up on ESPN. I wasn’t expecting the WNBA or anyone to owe me anything from a season cut short. I was just hoping that somebody saw the fight and will in me. Just because I played at a mid-major college, doesn’t mean I can’t hang with the big dogs. It wasn’t about the expectations for me. It was more about seeing who believed in me.” – Kamiah Smalls

“Honestly, I felt like I should have been drafted second round at the latest, but I ended up going late third round, which is still a dream come true, but I was definitely confused about my draft level. Anyway, I’m just excited that I got the experience. A lot of players didn’t get drafted, so I’m grateful.” – Tynice Martin

“Prior to the draft I had received a lot of phone calls from coaches in the WNBA expressing their interest so that made me feel a lot better. I felt like I was being looked at as a real prospect, but I was definitely nervous because of the limited spots on rosters.” – Haley Gorecki

Draft day. You hear you name called. What is that moment like? 

“All me and my family did was scream because we were so excited. It felt like we had just hit the lottery. I wasn’t expecting it, so my reaction, my enthusiasm and my excitement were just through the roof! It had me thinking: Smalls, you did it, you brought your dreams to life. You might be helping another little girl right now feel like it’s possible to go big when you might be seen as small.” – Kamiah Smalls

“Oh, it was unreal. Just to see your name come across the screen after not knowing when it’ll happen. It was very nerve-wracking but it was exciting to have everybody around me be super happy and excited. I think that was the best part about it all, just how genuinely happy everybody was for me.” – Kiah Gillespie

“I just couldn’t believe it. When my name came across the screen, I just jumped up and started running around and screaming. It took me a few days for it all to sink in.” – Sug Sutton

“When it got to the third round, my heart was beating and my toes were curled. They got to number 30 and my name wasn’t called yet. My heart started sinking into my chest. When I finally saw my name, I literally took a deep breath and was able to relax. Right after I was selected, my phone started blowing up with messages and calls.” – Tynice Martin

“As picks were being announced, it was very nerve-wracking because from talking to coaches, I wasn’t projected to go in the third round, it was always early in the second. Then I finally saw my name come across the TV and I just thought, thank God.” – Haley Gorecki

How are you prepping physically and mentally given the uncertainty surrounding the start of the season? 

“Chicago has two point guards on the roster already. I’ve already connected with Courtney Vandersloot, one of our guards, just to get to know her and to pick her brain. I am trying to learn as much as possible and soak in as much as I can. I think it gives me an advantage to already be attempting to figure out the Chicago system and playing style. Physically, I am trying to stay in shape and weight lift at least three times a week. And then mentally, I’m just staying confident. I have to go into this as humble as possible, but I’m also here for a reason.” – Japreece Dean

“My mentality is still the same. I’ve been working hard my whole life. This pandemic isn’t going to slow me down. It’s not going to stop me. You find ways to stay in shape and to make sure you’re just up to par when it’s time. I’m going into this thing with an open mind. I’m a people’s person. I think my teammates are going to love me. I think I’m going to love them. I think my coaching staff is going to love me and I’m just going to give them my all.” – Kamiah Smalls

“I’m super competitive, so I am just ready to get to work. Playing for Seattle is an amazing opportunity for me to learn from some of the best players. Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, and so many other legends are on the team. Once I get to training camp, I plan to just be a sponge, taking in everything I see, hear and learn. Physically I have been working with my trainer over zoom. I also try to get ball handling in and I do a lot of lifting, core and band work just to stay strong.” – Haley Gorecki 

“I’m just keeping myself ready. I’m staying in shape. I run miles every day and I do yoga. And my eating habits have gotten a lot better now that I’m transitioning to my professional career. And then on the mental side, I’ll watch a lot of basketball and film. I’ve been talking to Ariel Atkins. We overlapped at Texas and are now teammates again. I try to pick her brain because we are really close and she is an incredible player.” – Sug Sutton

“I am just trying to stay in shape. I know that I’ll be a rookie all over again. I am mentally preparing for that and trying to scout out the team to see what exactly they need. It’s all business now, and understanding that is the hardest part. Coming from college, especially at WVU where our team was very family-oriented, I have to eliminate that mindset and stick to strictly business. Now I will be playing against and with the big dogs. And they want your spot. This is the same talk that I had with myself freshman year, but like I said, money is on the line now, so it’s a lot more competitive, it’s a lot more cutthroat and I have to understand that going in.” – Tynice Martin

“I won’t really know where I stand until I am able to play with my new teammates and test it all out. But I still have the opportunity to stay in the best possible shape I can and to try everything I can to be at the level my coaches and teammates will need me to be at. In a sense, it’s all about staying ready so you don’t have to get ready when the time comes.” – Kiah Gillespie

The PWHL is racking up milestones, with the second-year pro women's hockey league officially passing the one-million-fan mark on Sunday.

The record-clinching game came during the league's penultimate 2025 Takeover Tour matchup, after 14,288 fans turned up to Detroit's Little Caesars Arena to see the New York Sirens take down the Minnesota Frost 4-1 on Sunday.

To honor the milestone, players tossed signed special "PWHL One Million Fans" pucks to fans during a commemorative timeout during the game's first period.

After averaging around 5,500 fans per game last season, the league has seen a 7,000 attendance average so far this season, resulting in the current all-time official tally of 1,001,648 fans.

Across its 70 completed second-season games, the PWHL has already racked up 518,118 attendees, surpassing the league's total attendance of 483,530 fans from all 85 games last season — inclusive of the PWHL's first-ever playoffs. 

"This is truly a 'pinch me' moment," said PWHL EVP of business operations Amy Scheer. "The overwhelming support from fans, the energy in the arenas, and the league’s rapid growth all highlight how much people are connecting with the PWHL."

"Today is a moment we’ll always remember, and we’re grateful to the fans of Detroit for celebrating it with us in such a big way."

Detroit makes a case for PWHL expansion team

Sunday's special out-of-market matchup also set a new US attendance record for pro women's ice hockey, further boosting the city's case to claim a PWHL expansion team.

“It's another extremely big win for the sport globally,” Frost forward Kendall Coyne Schofield told reporters after Sunday’s game. "It’s important to tip our hockey helmet to Detroit."

Detroit's new US record comes one year to the day after the Michigan metropolis set the then-national attendance record at the league's first-ever Takeover Weekend, when 13,736 fans watched Boston defeat Ottawa 2-1 on March 16th, 2024.

With the PWHL eyeing expansion, announcing last November that it intends to increase from its current six-team roster to eight teams by the time the puck drops on the 2025/26 season, the enthusiasm of Detroit hockey fans could put the city at the top of the league's potential market list.

"To see the league grow so rapidly is a reflection of the dedication of our players, who demonstrate their world-class talent every day, as well as the countless individuals behind the scenes who work relentlessly to ensure the league's success," said PWHL EVP of hockey operations Jayna Hefford.

"The passion and support from our fans has been incredible, and this is only the beginning." 

Welcome to another episode of Sports Are Fun! presented by TurboTax.

Every week on Sports Are Fun!, co-hosts soccer legend Kelley O'Hara, sports journalist and basketball expert Greydy Diaz, retired NWSL great Merritt Mathias, and JWS intern BJ serve up their hottest takes all things women's sports. And in today's episode, the crew is taking the NCAA selection committee to task as they hash out this year's March Madness bracket and everything that went down on Selection Sunday.

"We had selection Sunday yesterday, that was very exciting," O'Hara said, introducing the topic to the group. "So the overall number one seed was UCLA, correct? Is anyone surprised about that?"

"Yes," Mathias answered immediately. "I just think it's interesting that USC drops to like the fourth number one seed when they gave UCLA both their losses. The math's not adding up."

"Did you see coach Dawn Staley's reaction?" asked Diaz. "She didn't agree. There were many coaches who didn't agree with their own standing."

"Honestly — and I've said this before," said BJ. "I don't understand how they do this. I looked into it too last night and I was like, This is still not making sense to me. Let's just play basketball.'"

The one thing they can agree on? UConn potentially meeting USC in the Elite Eight would be an electric matchup.

"I think USC-UConn in the Elite Eight is going to be absolutely electric," said O'Hara. "

"Oh yeah," agreed Mathias. "That's like a semifinal. That's like a Final Four moment."

"And UConn being a No. 2 seed, they're like, 'Yeah give it to us. Let's freaking go,'" O'Hara continued. "You know they're probably ready to absolutely demolish people along the way. And USC only beat UConn by two points earlier this season."

The co-hosts additionally tackle the NWSL's opening weekend, Natasha Cloud's trade to the Liberty, Just Women's Sports' NWSL x WNBA jersey mashups, Unrivaled's championship match, and so much more!

Texas star Madison Booker talks March Madness on 'Sports Are Fun!'

Who better to shed light on the upcoming NCAA tournament than Texas women's college basketball star Madison Booker? The Longhorns' leading scorer and SEC Player of the Year later joins the crew to talk all things March Madness, including how she's gearing up to enter the tournament as a No. 1 seed.

"We figured the best way to go over selection Sunday — because we have some people here who literally know nothing about it, um BJ, not to throw you under the bus — is having you, a No. 1 seed come on and talk to us about it," O'Hara said, introducing this week's Sports Are Fun! guest. "So how were you feeling yesterday going to selection Sunday? Were you confident you guys were getting that No. 1 seed?"

"Not that I didn't care, but you know, if we got the No. 1 seed, we got it. But you know, if we were a two seed, then hey, it's it's ball time," Booker responded nonchalantly. "I felt like we deserved a one seed — We protected home court, I think that's really what secured that one seed."

"And also our away season was was kind of hectic this year," she continued. "We went to some Big Time places and came out with a dub, so I feel like we deserved it."

"Is there anything that you do specific specifically to set yourself up going into a game, especially in a playoff situation?" asked Mathias.

"Not really, honestly," Booker said with a smile. "I really go cool, calm, and collected. Honestly, just going in thinking that we're gonna win the game, that's my mindset always. Having that mindset of we're going to win this game, we have the edge, and just go play basketball."

About 'Sports Are Fun!' with Kelley O'Hara

'Sports Are Fun!' is a show that’ll remind you why you fell in love with women's sports in the first place.

Join World Cup champ, Olympic gold medalist, and aspiring barista Kelley O'Hara as she sits down with sports journalist Greydy Diaz and a revolving cast of co-hosts and friends. Together, they're talking the biggest, funnest, and most need-to-know stories in the world of women’s sports.

From on-court drama to off-field shenanigans, to candid (and silly) chats with the most important personalities in the space, this show screams "Sports Are Fun!"

Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.

Full Court Press is back by popular demand, with ESPN announcing Monday that the women’s college basketball docuseries is officially returning for season two, which will focus on a new crop of young stars as they weather the 2024/25 NCAA season.

"The growing momentum behind women’s basketball is driven by its stars, and Full Court Press features three unforgettable, larger-than-life personalities," said Lindsay Rovegno, VP of production for ESPN Originals.

Debuting this May, the all-new four-episode season follows USC standout Kiki Iriafen, LSU champion Flau’jae Johnson, and Notre Dame sharpshooter Hannah Hidalgo along the path to this year’s NCAA tournament.

The first season of Full Court Press dropped in May 2024, documenting a watershed season for women's basketball by spotlighting then-seniors Caitlin Clark and Kamilla Cardoso of Iowa and South Carolina, respectively, as well as UCLA’s now-junior Kiki Rice.

Series offers direct access to NCAA stars

The production takes viewers into each player's life via one-on-one interviews, looks into their family relationships, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the athletes' teams.

"There is no better time to be a fan of women’s college basketball than right now," said NFL legend Peyton Manning, whose entertainment company Omaha Productions backs the series. "We’re thrilled to share the stories of these three talented women as they continue to push the game to new heights."

Iriafen, Johnson, and Hidalgo will also be stealing the spotlight in the NCAA tournament this weekend, as all three compete for top-seeded teams with legitimate shots at taking the 2024/25 title.

"Hannah, Flau’jae, and Kiki are more than great players — they’re great characters," said Rovegno. "Season two captures the drive and resilience that make them special."

How to watch Full Court Press on ESPN

The first two episodes of Full Court Press: Season 2 will premiere on ESPN on May 2nd, with the final two episodes airing on ESPN2 on May 11th.

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball minted its first-ever champions on Monday, crowning Rose BC after the No. 2 seed defeated No. 4-seed Vinyl BC 62-54 behind star Chelsea Gray’s 18 points, eight assists, and three rebounds.

Gray’s dominance managed to tip the scales, helping Rose overcome the losses of both Kahleah Copper and Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese to injury.

Also stepping up for the Rose were Azurá Stevens, who posted a 19-point, 18-rebound double-double on Monday, and Brittney Sykes, whose 21 points included the championship-winning free throw.

Despite slightly trailing her two teammates' in scoring during Monday's final, Gray's astounding postseason stats, which include averages of 28.5 points, six assists, and three rebounds, secured the guard the league's inaugural Playoff MVP title.

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Ultimately, Rose rode their underdog status — earned with a talented, but primarily young roster — all the way to the championship.

"From day one they counted us out," said Rose head coach Nola Henry after Monday's game. "Kah went down, they counted us out. Azurá was out and they counted us out. Angel down, they counted us out. What they gonna say now?"

Unrivaled closes successful inaugural season

After the confetti fell on Monday's 3×3 championship court, players and coaches alike agreed that the new offseason league has been a great success — regardless of which team hoisted the trophy.

"A lot of fans came out and there’s a lot of energy behind it, but people are already excited about it for next season," Gray said of the upstart. "When you win, you have a different appreciation or joy about it, but it was a great first season."

While Rose BC’s athletes will likely carry that winning spirit — plus the $50,000-per-player bonus — into the WNBA’s May 16th season tip-off, Unrivaled’s impact will undoubtedly be felt far beyond its debut postseason.