5 min read
At the WNBA Draft, everything is designed to be seen. The orange carpet stretches longer than it has in the league’s 30-year history, the room buzzing in agreement that this is a moment meant to be witnessed. Bright lights catch on sequins and satin, shining a spotlight on the young athletes experiencing it all for the first time. Every detail is curated for a moment that will be replayed, reposted, and remembered.
But at the most visible moment of these athletes’ lives, so much of what brought them here remains out of frame: The lonely reps on the practice court that never made the highlight reel. The injuries and struggles managed in private. The doubt, the discipline, the decisions made.
The glamour and confidence on the carpet is real, but so is the grind that precedes it. The WNBA Draft marks the achievement of one goal and the beginning of another, and it’s also a reminder that what we celebrate publicly is built on a foundation we almost never get to see.
Right after the biggest moment of their careers thus far, we asked 14 of the league’s newest stars to show us who they are under the lights—and tell us who they are when they turn off.
Azzi Fudd
Round 1, Pick 1, Dallas Wings
“My discipline, my work ethic, my love for the process, learning how to love the grind—I think that’s something that got me here. Playing good basketball with my teammates, playing team basketball, being a great teammate, doing the little things the right way.”
Olivia Miles
Round 1, Pick 2, Minnesota Lynx
“I was always in a victim mindset, like things were happening to me. But then I started thinking about it differently—things are happening for me instead of to me, and that positivity helped me to get through a lot of adversity a lot easier. So for example, my ACL injury, I was like, ‘Why did this happen to me?’ And [my mental coach] is like, ‘No, this happened for you to be better.’ It’s things like that that help me to redirect negative thoughts and get through life a lot easier. Any ‘negative’ perceiving thing that may be happening ‘to’ you is not actually happening ‘to’ you. It’s exactly what’s supposed to be happening in that moment to get you to where you want to be.”
Lauren Betts
Round 1, Pick 4, Washington Mystics
“The amount of work mentally that I’ve had to do, especially in college—I’ve talked a lot about my [mental health] journey and how I’ve gotten here. And, you know, shout out to my therapist, Joy, for helping me so that I can show up on the court. We love therapists.”
Angela Dugalić
Round 1, Pick 9, Washington Mystics
“I grew up playing against guys, and also going to the rec center by myself—sometimes also my teammates or my brother—but that was my happy place. I found a lot of joy, but also a lot of struggle there, as well. …. For me, the joy is just the process of everything and learning new things in the game. But [there’s] also the struggle of playing basketball, and playing against other women who are phenomenal players. Both things, I think, are beautiful, and that’s what makes basketball beautiful.”
Raven Johnson
Round 1, Pick 10, Indiana Fever
“The countless hours I put in in the gym—nobody sees that. When I couldn’t shoot the ball, I got in the gym and I got my shot better, and I think it showed this year. A lot of people don’t see that.”
Cotie McMahon
Round 1, Pick 11, Washington Mystics
“If I didn’t go through what I went through at my previous school, I don’t know that I would have found myself the way I found myself in this last year. I think this last year is what really helped me get to where I am today. No matter what, don’t lose your happiness. I feel like happiness is what carries you. Happiness is what allows you to look forward to the next day. Happiness keeps you interested, keeps you wondering. Never lose your happiness, because if you lose your happiness I feel like you lose everything else.”
Nell Angloma
Round 1, Pick 12, Connecticut Sun
“It’s my hard work, my discipline, my passion. It’s important to trust in yourself and just keep working. I’m a competitor, I play with a lot of energy and passion, and I want to do my best to help my team to win. I can’t wait to meet all of them and show them who I am.”
Madina Okot
Round 1, Pick 13, Atlanta Dream
“The extra work put in, maybe people see that—but just having the mindset of not giving up. Challenges are gonna be there. Nothing comes easily. You’re always gonna have challenges. But giving up is not the best decision. You’ve got to just find a way to fight through challenges and get through them.”
Gianna Kneepkens
Round 1, Pick 15, Connecticut Sun
“I love setting goals and challenging myself. For me to reach my goals, I think putting in extra work is something that’s got me there. Today is definitely a big goal that I’ve had for a while. I want to continue working and continue pushing myself so that I can be the best version of myself.”
Marta Suárez
Round 2, Pick 16, Golden State Valkyries
“You can’t really write your path, you just kinda ride it. Learning to reframe what happens to you and having that unconditional faith that as long as you keep going, you’re gonna get there—I think that that pushed me through a lot of not-so-nice moments.”
Charlisse Leger-Walker
Round 2, Pick 18, Connecticut Sun
“My first thought just goes to my family. You kind of see it a little bit, but the amount of hours that they have put in just supporting me, getting me to where I am today, is something that I’m eternally grateful for. All the credit in the world goes to all of them.”
Cassandre Prosper
Round 2, Pick 19, Washington Mystics
“I feel like I’ve gone through so many journeys of self-discovery, and getting to learn more about myself and just be confident in the woman that I am—I think this is why I’m here right now. … For the first time, I feel like I’ve generated that self-confidence from myself, and now it’s just taken over. I’m being all of me, whenever, all the time.”
Ta’Niya Latson
Round 2, Pick 20, Los Angeles Sparks
“Stay true to yourself. Never let anybody change who you are and what you stand for. Never compare your journey to anyone else, and just run your own race.”
Serah Williams
Round 3, Pick 33, Portland Fire
“I’ve been through so much in life, and obviously, no one’s life journey is written on their forehead. The strength [God] has given me to push through every adversity and all the journey I’ve been on so far, I couldn’t be here without him. The moments I felt true happiness and true peace is when I’ve stuck to who I am—not too high and not too low.”
Amanda Lucci is the director of special projects at Women’s Health, where she works on multi-platform brand initiatives and social media strategy. She also leads the sports and athletes vertical, traveling to cover the Paris Olympics, Women’s World Cup, WNBA Finals, and NCAA Final Four for WH. She has nearly 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing social media for national and international publications and is also a NASM-certified personal trainer. A proud native of Pittsburgh, PA, she is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Follow her on Instagram @alucci.