Many third-round WNBA Draft prospects could end up being impactful for their teams this year.
I obviously know ball. Which is why when I detailed potential WNBA draft steals, the general managers listened to me, and that’s why all five of the players I highlighted as great and underrated players were drafted. obviously.
Many of Monday’s WNBA draftees were steals, but some of the third-round picks in this year’s draft were especially intriguing.
Here’s a reminder of how that round went:
- 26. Serena Sundell (Kansas St) – Seattle Storm
- 27. JJ Quinerly (West Virginia) – Dallas Wings
- 28. Liatu King (Notre Dame) – LA Sparks
- 29. Madison Conner (TCU) – Seattle Storm
- 30. Kaitlyn Chen (UConn) – Golden State Valkyries
- 31. Aaronette Vonleh (Baylor) – Dallas Wings
- 32. Zaay Green (Alabama) – Washington Mystics
- 33. Yvonne Ejim (Gonzaga) – Indiana Fever
- 34. Jordan Hobbs (Michigan) – Seattle Storm
- 35. Harmoni Turner (Harvard) – Las Vegas Aces
- 36. Taylor Thierry (Ohio State) – Atlanta Dream
- 37. Aubrey Griffin (UConn) – Minnesota Lynx
- 38. Adja Kane (France) – New York Liberty
All of Sundell, Chen, and Hobbs were players that I wrote could be possible steals last week. Sundell was invited to the draft and had to wait until the third round to be drafted, slipping a lot but ultimately landing in Seattle, where her talent will be noticed. As a master playmaker, Sundell’s style fits into the brand of basketball Seattle is known to play.
Chen was another player who was at the draft, but in the audience to support her teammate and No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers. Her teammates celebrated her as her name was called and she was able to go up to take a picture with her jersey, looking a little shocked to say the least. Chen balled out during UConn’s championship run in the March Madness tournament, showing her versatility as a point guard and her ability to stay cool under pressure. She will get a shot on a brand new Valkyries team where she has a good a chance as any third-rounder ever does to make the expansion team’s roster.
Hobbs is a player who also balled out in the postseason, scoring a career-high 28 points in her second-to-last game for Michigan in the tourney. She can shoot the three-ball, pass, and is a hard worker. She also has motor, grit, and affects the game in a variety of ways. Training camp in Seattle is a great place for her to make an impression on the WNBA.
Other players in this third round that could be interesting to follow are Aubrey Griffin, Harmoni Turner and Yvonne Ejim.
Griffin was another player sitting in the audience while drafted. Another teammate of Paige Bueckers, Griffin played six seasons at UConn after factoring in injury seasons. She may not have received as many minutes in the later years, but every time Griffin steps on the floor, she finds ways to make an impact through rebounds, defense and other hustle areas.
Harmoni Turner won the Becky Hammon Mid-Major player of the year award on her way to bringing Harvard an Ivy League Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth this season. Coining the term “Nerds can Hoop too,” Turner is a bucket. She had multiple 40-point games this season and will join the Las Vegas Aces for training camp.
Yvonne Ejim is an international player out of Canada who played for Gonzaga in college and boasts a lot of experience. She has played at every level for the Canadian National team, bringing that international experience to her game. Ejim is a 2x West Coast Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year in 2024. She helped Canada win bronze at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in 2023.
With the WNBA continuing to expand and create more roster spots, more players will have a shot at making rosters, and so these third-round picks should not be ignored when thinking about potential rookies to look out for this season.
