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The newest class of the WNBA is already stepping into the spotlight. Monday’s draft night delivered all the energy you’d expect from a league entering a pivotal chapter. With a new collective bargaining agreement reshaping conversations around players’ salaries, benefits, and long-term investment, the future of the WNBA is looking bigger, better, and brighter.
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This year’s top picks come in with stacked resumes, impressive tournament runs, championship wins, and star power already on the rise. Draft night may be over, but the real story is just getting started. SELF had the chance to get to know some of the league’s newest members before their rookie seasons tip off.
Olivia Miles
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College: Texas Christian University
Team: Minnesota Lynx
Hometown: Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Game day mantra: “Keep going and trust in your work.”
Go-to hype music: Too Much Sauce by DJ Esco
Favorite post-game meal: Pasta
“I’m overjoyed and overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude at this moment. Finally this moment is here, and it happened in the right way. I’m excited for the winning culture in Minnesota. There are MVP-caliber players with a winning coach and program, so I’m excited to get to know a new team and play at such a high level.”
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Lauren Betts
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College: University of California, Los Angeles
Team: Washington Mystics
Hometown: Centennial, Colorado
Game day mantra: “Look at the flowers.”
Go-to hype music: Anything house music, “I like to feel like I’m in a club.”
Favorite post-game meal: In & Out burger
“People don’t understand the sacrifice we made this year to win the national championship. Sometimes it can feel like you’re not giving enough, or not being noticed to get to where you want to be even though you’re giving up so much of yourself to a team. This makes everything worth it. We won a national championship and now we’re getting drafted. I can’t ask for anything more.”
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Flau’jae Johnson
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College: Louisiana State University
Team: Seattle Storm
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
Game day mantra: “You are what you tell yourself”.
Go-to hype music: Woah by Flau’jae Johnson
Favorite post-game meal: Stuffed salmon with alfredo
“I’m excited for the new community and new people—I’m a people person. Anywhere I’m planted, I bloom. This means so much to me. I come from Savannah, Georgia, and I wasn’t even ranked. Nobody was looking at me, and look at me now. I’m just thankful to be here.”
Raven Johnson
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College: University of South Carolina
Team: Indiana Fever
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Game day mantra: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Philippians 4:13
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Go-to hype music: Gospel music
Favorite post-game meal: Sour straw candy, airheads, and spaghetti
“I’m excited about winning. The Fever have a chance at winning the championship this year and I’m very excited about it. I’m ready to go in there, be a sponge and learn, and I’m ready to learn from vets like Caitlin Clark. I’m going to bring a winning mentality and whatever it takes to win, I’m going to do that.”
Madina Okot
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College: University of South Carolina
Team: Atlanta Dream
Hometown: Mumias, Kenya
Game day mantra: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Philippians 4:13
Go-to hype music: Gospel music
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Favorite post-game meal: Pasta alfredo or ugali
“I’m so excited about being around some of the greatest players. I’ll be playing with Angel Reese, and it will be great to meet her and learn from her. It means so much to represent my country, to represent Africa and all the young girls back in Africa trying to be like me one day. I’m grateful to everyone who helped me get here today.”
Gianna Kneepkens
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College: University of California, Los Angeles
Team: Connecticut Sun
Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota
Game day mantra: “Find a way.”
Go-to hype music: Gang Gang by Chef Boy
Favorite post-game meal: Burger
“Any opportunity to grow and challenge myself is exciting. I’ve been leaning on the people around me to support me, and luckily I have five other teammates going through this exact same process, so it’s been special. Coming off winning the national championship, I’m feeling confident in myself. But it’s important to have a balance of being super humble and trusting the work you put in, while also learning and growing as a rookie.”
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Marta Suarez
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College: Texas Christian University
Team: Golden State Valkyries
Hometown: Oviedo, Spain
Game day mantra: “Patience and faith.”
Go-to hype music: Bad Bunny
Favorite post-game meal: Salmon, sweet potato mash, and veggies
“It’s an honor to be a part of this class that’s coming into such a special time for women’s basketball. I understand the responsibility, and more than anything I’m just grateful. I was in California for a couple years, so I have a lot of people there that I’m excited to see, and my favorite Chinese food spot ever is in San Francisco so I’m very excited about that.”
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Originally Appeared on Self