{"id":592162,"date":"2026-04-18T17:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/592162\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T17:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:45:12","slug":"syracuse-womens-basketball-standout-guard-takes-key-first-step-toward-wnba-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/592162\/","title":{"rendered":"Syracuse women’s basketball standout guard takes key first step toward WNBA career"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Syracuse women’s basketball standout guard Laila Phelia<\/a>, an All-ACC performer in her lone season on the Hill, has signed a training camp contract with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, according to a press release from SU Athletics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is an important first step for Phelia as she pursues a professional hoops career. A huge congrats from Orange Nation to Laila!<\/p>\n

One step closer to the Dream for @LailaPhelia<\/a><\/p>\n

Laila has signed to attend Atlanta Dream preseason training camp.<\/p>\n

Read More: https:\/\/t.co\/pwlkYHR3u3<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kZe3NzL8et<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Syracuse Women’s Basketball (@CuseWBB) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The 6-foot Phelia, who hails from Cincinnati, came to the ‘Cuse for the 2025-26 season, after previously suiting up at Michigan and then Texas. Phelia was instrumental in helping lead SU to a 24-9 overall record this past term, with Syracuse women’s basketball reaching the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You’re getting a good one @AtlantaDream<\/a> @Lailaphelia<\/a> can hoop \ud83c\udfc0 pic.twitter.com\/xckTpXtBDI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Syracuse Women’s Basketball (@CuseWBB) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

As a senior<\/a>, Phelia appeared in 32 games, averaging 31.6 minutes, 13.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.0 steals per contest while making 39.5 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from 3-point land and 85.4 percent from the free-throw line. She was named to the All-ACC second team<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Former Syracuse women’s basketball guard Laila Phelia is headed to a WNBA training camp.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the A!<\/p>\n

We have signed Laila Phelia to a Training Camp contract. pic.twitter.com\/LgfTfLQW4F<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Dream, in the 2025 regular season, went 30-14 overall, earning the No. 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs, where Atlanta would fall, 2-1, to No. 6 seed Indiana in the first round<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, at the 2026 WNBA Draft<\/a>, the Dream selected South Carolina center Madina Okot with the 13th pick, North Carolina guard Indya Nivar with the 28th pick and CBA Beijing\u00a0guard Kejia\u00a0Ran with the 43rd pick.<\/p>\n

On April 6, Atlanta announced that it had acquired Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese<\/a> in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of this deal, Atlanta also received the right to swap second-round selections with Chicago in 2028.<\/p>\n

Reese is a two-time WNBA All-Star and won a national championship at LSU in 2023, when she was named the most outstanding player of that season’s Final Four.<\/p>\n

Phelia becomes the second former Syracuse women’s basketball player during Felisha Legette-Jack’s tenure as SU’s head coach<\/a> to continue to the WNBA. Former ‘Cuse star point guard Dyaisha Fair was picked in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces.<\/p>\n

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