Former UConn Huskies players Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, Gabby Williams of the Seattle Storm, Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx pose during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the WNBA basketball playoffs against the Golden State Valkyries, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
The WNBA begins a new era this summer, and former UConn women’s basketball stars are taking advantage.
A new collective bargaining agreement has shaken up the league, which hosts its 30th season this year, from top to bottom. Superstar players are earning salaries in the $1 million range, with every other player signing six-figure deals.
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While a handful of Huskies stayed put at their longtime franchises, others took the moment to join new teams – including signing with each of the league’s two newest expansion teams. And for the second straight season, a Husky was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings.
Free agency concludes this week as teams begin training camp on Sunday. The 2026 season opens on May 8. While not everyone participating in training camp will make opening day rosters, each Husky will at least get the chance to compete for a spot and show off why they belong in the league.
Within the next few weeks, teams will hold preseason games and begin making roster cuts before their official 12-player rosters (plus two developmental player spots) are due before the season officially opens next month.
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UConn alums in WNBA Training Camps
Azzi Fudd – Dallas Wings
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Fudd was drafted No. 1 overall by Dallas in Monday’s WNBA Draft. She begins her rookie season in the league this summer after she finished her collegiate career, earning All-American status.
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Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA basketball draft, poses with a team jersey after an introductory news conference, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
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Serah Williams – Portland Fire
Williams was drafted No. 33 overall by the Connecticut Sun before being traded to the Fire. Portland returns to the league this season after the franchise initially folded in 2002.
Caroline Ducharme – Golden State Valkyries
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Ducharme signed a training camp contract with Golden State on Wednesday. Unlike a rookie contract/deal (which gives players a greater chance at making a team’s roster), a training camp contract only guarantees the chance to participate in camp and try out, in a sense, for a roster spot.
Kaitlyn Chen – Golden State Valkyries
Golden State drafted Chen in the third round of last year’s draft. She was cut before the start of the season, but eventually resigned and played 24 games for the franchise in its debut season in the league last summer. The former Husky and Princeton star signed a training camp contract with the team on Thursday.
Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen drives to the basket against Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor, right, during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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Aubrey Griffin – Minnesota Lynx
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Griffin was also drafted in the third round of last year’s draft, but she sat out the season after undergoing season-ending knee surgery during training camp to help fix lingering issues from her 2024 ACL injury at UConn.
Paige Bueckers – Dallas Wings
Bueckers returns for her second season in the WNBA after a standout rookie year last year. The guard earned the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award and set the WNBA single-game rookie scoring record by scoring 44 points against Los Angeles last August.
Dallas Wings Paige Bueckers tries to get around Connecticut Sun’s Bria Hartley during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media
Aaliyah Edwards – Connecticut Sun
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The Washington Mystics traded Edwards to the Sun midseason last year. She returns this summer for her first full season with Connecticut.
Dorka Juhász – Minnesota Lynx
Juhász sat out last season to focus on her overseas commitments. She returns this year, likely to help make up for an injured Napheesa Collier.
Minnesota Lynx forward Dorka Juhasz looks to make a pass during a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas WingsDorka, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Olivia Nelson-Ododa – Connecticut Sun
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Nelson-Ododa has spent the past three seasons with Sun after beginning her career with the Sparks. She re-signed with Connecticut during free agency this year on a new multi-year deal with the franchise.
Katie Lou Samuelson – Seattle Storm
Samuelson signed with Seattle last year but missed out on the season after tearing her ACL just days into training camp. She returns to the Storm this year healthy.
Gabby Williams – Golden State Valkyries
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Williams had one of her best seasons yet last year with Seattle, earning her first All-Star nod and WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors. However, after four years with the Storm, she’s decided to move on. The former Husky signed a multi-year contract with Golden State during free agency.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 09: Gabby Williams #5 of the Seattle Storm warms up before a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Climate Pledge Arena on September 09, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
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Azurá Stevens – Chicago Sky
Stevens spent three years with the Sparks but now returns to the franchise where she became a WNBA Champion in 2021. According to ESPN, the former Husky signed a three-year deal with Chicago last week in free agency.
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Kia Nurse – Toronto Tempo
Nurse will return home to Canada this season and play for Toronto in its debut season in the league. The former Husky is from Hamilton, Ontario, which is less than a two-hour drive from Toronto.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 09: Kia Nurse #11 of the Chicago Sky brings the ball up the court against Jewell Loyd #24 of the Las Vegas Aces in the first quarter of their game at T-Mobile Arena on September 09, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
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Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
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Stewart returns to her home state franchise for her fourth season with the Liberty. In 2024, she helped lead New York to its first WNBA title. This year, the former Husky is expected to arrive late to camp as she’s playing for Fenerbahce in the EuroLeague Final Six tournament, which runs April 15-19.
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart greets Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, right, before the first half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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Kiah Stokes – Golden State Valkyries
Stokes became a three-time WNBA Champion last year with Las Vegas. However, the former Husky decided to leave the Aces this season and signed instead with Golden State during free agency on a multi-year deal.
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Stefanie Dolson – Seattle Storm
After spending the last two seasons with Washington, the franchise that first drafted her back in 2014, Dolson will be taking her talents across the country as she signed a new one-year deal with Seattle during free agency.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 31: Stefanie Dolson #31 of the Washington Mystics calls out a play during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on August 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
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On WNBA rosters but injured
Nika Mühl – Portland Fire
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Mühl has been in the league for two years but hasn’t had the best of luck getting time on the court. The point guard was the very last player on the bench for Seattle during her rookie year before sitting out the entire year last season due to an ACL injury. She was drafted by Portland in the expansion draft earlier this month, but will again miss the season due to her second ACL injury.
Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx
Collier is expected to miss the front half of the 2026 season after undergoing two separate surgeries on her ankles in the offseason. The two-time MVP runner-up suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the WNBA Semifinals in September. No official return-to-play timeline has been announced for the former Husky; however, she signed a super-max $1.4 million one-year deal with the Lynx on Thursday.
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