Considering how much talent comes out of the college ranks and the international game each year, the WNBA doesn’t have nearly enough roster spots. As a result, some players constantly fall in and out of the league, struggling to keep consistent roles, and the average WNBA career only lasts a few years. Plus, only few players manage to play past 40, no matter which league they compete in, and salaries and retirement benefits are still lacking for women in professional basketball.
So, it is crucial for players to prepare for a life after basketball. Some players become coaches and continue their time in the W. Becky Hammon, Stephanie White, and Sandy Brondello are all former players. So are many assistant coaches. Other players, like Candace Parker, go into broadcasting, and yet others move on to front-office roles. Several current GMs played in the W and overseas.
Texas Longhorns star Rori Harmon already has an idea of what she wants to do. When she appeared on The Ringer WNBA Show with Seerat Sohi Harmon mentioned that a future in coaching has crossed her mind, but she also wants to be “a GM for a sports team.” With a master’s in sports management, Harmon is well set up to eventually make the transition to a front office position.
Rori Harmon will enter the pro ranks after this season
Rori Harmon is in her fifth season at the University of Texas and her final campaign of college basketball. After that, she will get to enter the pro ranks. Harmon is a star in her program and has been an integral part of her team’s success these past few years. However, she is not projected to be a first-round pick in most 2026 mock drafts. That doesn’t have to mean anything, though. Lower draft picks and undrafted players make WNBA rosters all the time and there are plenty of lucrative opportunities overseas as well.
Two things may make WNBA teams hesitant to pursue Harmon: her height and her lack of a 3-point shot. Harmon is only 5’6”, which would make her one of the shortest WNBA players. That alone is no reason to believe that Harmon can’t succeed at the next level, though. Aari McDonald, Dana Evans, Jordin Canada, and Moriah Jefferson are all listed as 5’6” and made names for themselves in the W. Evans just won a title with the Aces, McDonald and Canada played crucial roles for the Fever and Dream, respectively, and Jefferson was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2016.
Another concern for Harmon is that she is not a great 3-point shooter. She has never averaged at least two threes per game in her college career and also never shot better than 31.9% for a season. With the right development, she might be able to add a 3-point shot to her arsenal, though, and improve her chances of making a pro team’s roster.