University of Connecticut Athletics
Seventeen Alums on WNBA Rosters to Start 2026 Season
5/7/2026 3:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. – Seventeen former UConn women's basketball players are on WNBA rosters as the 2026 WNBA season begins Friday.
UConn alums on WNBA rosters this season include: Azurá Stevens (Chicago Sky); Aaliyah Edwards and Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Connecticut Sun); Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd (Dallas Wings); Kaitlyn Chen, Tiffany Hayes, Kiah Stokes and Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries); Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhász (Minnesota Lynx); Aubrey Griffin and Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty); Serah Williams (Portland Fire); Stefanie Dolson and Katie Lou Samuelson (Seattle Storm); and Kia Nurse (Toronto Tempo).
The season opens with Griffin, Stewart and the New York Liberty facing off against Nelson-Ododa, Edwards and the Connecticut Sun at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Hamilton, Ontario, native Nurse and the Toronto Tempo play their first-ever game vs. the Washington Mystics, also at 7:30.
The final game Friday features six UConn alum as the Golden State Valkyries (Hayes, Stokes, Williams, Chen) face the Seattle Storm (Dolson, Samuelson) at 10 p.m. All of Friday's games will air on ion and on WNBA League Pass.
2026 No. 1overall draft pick Azzi Fudd makes her debut with 2025 No. 1 draft pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers on Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. the Indiana Fever at 1 p.m. The game will air on ABC and Disney+.
Stokes won her third WNBA championship in 2025 with the Las Vegas Aces. Napheesa Collier was named All-WNBA First Team while Bueckers earned All-WNBA Second Team honors. Collier and Williams were named WNBA All-Defensive First Team and Stewart was named to the Second Team.
The Huskies have had 52 WNBA college draft selections and 52 players on rosters in the WNBA's 30 seasons.
To view the entire 2026 WNBA season, including TV information, click HERE.
