The 2025 WNBA Finals tip off today as the Phoenix Mercury travel north to Nevada to take on the Las Vegas Aces Friday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. ET.
A vast majority of players competing in this year’s Finals made their mark in college basketball before their professional careers took off. From national champions to record-setting sharpshooters and All-Americans, the rosters are filled with names that once defined college hoops.
NOTE: Some players played for more than one program, but the list below highlights the program each player played for just before entering the WNBA.
Here’s a look back at where each Finals player played their college ball
| Player Name | Current Team | College | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewell Loyd | Aces | Notre Dame | 2012–2015 |
| Jackie Young | Aces | Notre Dame | 2016–2019 |
| Kathryn Westbeld | Mercury | Notre Dame | 2014–2018 |
| NaLyssa Smith | Aces | Baylor | 2018–2022 |
| Kalani Brown | Mercury | Baylor | 2015–2019 |
| Aaliyah Nye | Aces | Alabama | 2022–2025 |
| DeWanna Bonner | Mercury | Auburn | 2005–2009 |
| Lexi Held | Mercury | DePaul | 2018–2022 |
| Chelsea Gray | Aces | Duke | 2010–2014 |
| Kierstan Bell | Aces | Florida Gulf Coast | 2020–2022 |
| Megan Gustafson | Aces | Iowa | 2015–2019 |
| Dana Evans | Aces | Louisville | 2017–2021 |
| Alyssa Thomas | Mercury | Maryland | 2010–2014 |
| Cheyenne Parker-Tyus | Aces | Middle Tennessee | 2014–2015 |
| Natasha Mack | Mercury | Oklahoma State | 2019–2021 |
| Satou Sabally | Mercury | Oregon | 2017–2020 |
| Kahleah Cooper | Mercury | Rutgers | 2012–2016 |
| Kiana Williams | Mercury | Stanford | 2017–2021 |
| A’ja Wilson | Aces | South Carolina | 2014–2018 |
| Kitija Laksa | Mercury | South Florida | 2015–2019 |
| Kiah Stokes | Aces | UConn | 2011–2015 |
| Sami Whitcomb | Mercury | Washington | 2006–2010 |
Deeper Dive
Jewell Loyd
College: Notre Dame
Years: 2012–2015
Loyd was a two-time AP All-American, including a first-team selection in 2015. She ranks fifth on Notre Dame’s all-time scoring list and was one of the most dominant guards in program history.
Jackie Young
College: Notre Dame
Years: 2016–2019
An AP Third Team All-American in 2019, Young was also the 2018 ACC Tournament MVP. She helped lead the Fighting Irish to the 2018 national championship in her sophomore season.
Kathryn Westbeld
College: Notre Dame
Years: 2014–2018
A versatile forward, Westbeld capped her career by helping Notre Dame win the 2018 national championship alongside Jackie Young and now the two will face off against each other in the Finals as pros.
NaLyssa Smith
College: Baylor
Years: 2018–2022
Smith was the 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year and a 2022 AP All-American. As a freshman, she was a key contributor to Baylor’s 2019 national championship team, being the only freshman to play in every game.
Kalani Brown
College: Baylor
Years: 2015–2019
Brown was a 2018 and 2019 AP Second Team All-American and the unanimous 2018 Big 12 Player of the Year. She anchored Baylor in the post during one of the program’s most successful stretches as she finished her collegiate career as a NCAA champion in 2019.
Aaliyah Nye
College: Alabama
Years: 2022–2025
Nye set the Alabama record for single-season three-pointers twice, hitting 109 in 2024–25 after breaking her own record of 108 the year before. She graduated as Alabama’s career leader in made three pointers after three seasons in Crimson.
DeWanna Bonner
College: Auburn
Years: 2005–2009
Bonner was the 2009 SEC Player of the Year and a 2008 AP Second Team All-American. She remains one of Auburn’s most decorated players and one of the most experienced veterans in this years' WNBA Finals.
Lexi Held
College: DePaul
Years: 2018–2022
Held earned All-Big East First Team honors in 2021 and finished her career ranked fifth in program history for three-pointers made.
Chelsea Gray
College: Duke
Years: 2010–2014
Gray led Duke to three NCAA Elite Eights, two ACC Tournament titles, and three ACC regular season championships. She also averaged a school-record 5.0 assists per game for her career.
Kierstan Bell
College: Florida Gulf Coast
Years: 2020–2022
Bell was the back-to-back Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022, dominating the ASUN conference as one of the best scorers in the country.
Megan Gustafson
College: Iowa
Years: 2015–2019
As a senior Gustafson won the AP Player of the Year, Big Ten Athlete of the Year and the Naismith Trophy. She is one of the most decorated players in Iowa history.
Dana Evans
College: Louisville
Years: 2017–2021
Evans was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and a 2021 AP First Team All-American, only the third in program history. She made history again by becoming the first ACC player to go from Sixth Player of the Year to Player of the Year.
Alyssa Thomas
College: Maryland
Years: 2010–2014
Thomas was the 2012 ACC Player of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP and an AP First Team All-American. She won ACC Player of the Year again in 2013 before turning pro.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus
College: Middle Tennessee
Years: 2014–2015
Parker was a two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Year, before transferring and finishing her career at Middle Tennessee.
Natasha Mack
College: Oklahoma State
Years: 2019–2021
Mack set the school’s single-season record with 96 blocks and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2020 in her lone season in Stillwater.
Satou Sabally
College: Oregon
Years: 2017–2020
Sabally won the Cheryl Miller Award as the nation’s top small forward and was a 2020 AP Second Team All-American. She helped lead Oregon’s rise into a national contender during her time.
Kahleah Copper
College: Rutgers
Years: 2012–2016
Copper was a two-time All-AAC First Team selection and developed into one of Rutgers’ most reliable scorers, finishing with over 1,800 career points.
Kiana Williams
College: Stanford
Years: 2017–2021
Williams was a 2021 AP All-American and led Stanford to the national championship that same year. She graduated as one of the top guards in Cardinal history after three All-Pac-12 selections.
A’ja Wilson
College: South Carolina
Years: 2014–2018
Another player whose career accolades are too long for one post. Wilson led South Carolina to the 2017 national championship and is the program’s all-time leader in points and blocks. She was a three-time SEC Player of the Year and the 2018 Wooden, Naismith and Wade Trophy winner.
Kitija Laksa
College: South Florida
Years: 2015–2019
Laksa was a two-time AAC First Team selection and finished her career sixth on USF’s all-time scoring list. She holds school records for free throw percentage (.896) and ranks among the best three-point shooters in program history.
Kiah Stokes
College: UConn
Years: 2011–2015
Stokes won three national championships with UConn and was the 2014 and 2015 AAC Defensive Player of the Year. She built a reputation as one of the Huskies’ greatest rim protectors.
Sami Whitcomb
College: Washington
Years: 2006–2010
Whitcomb finished 15th on Washington’s all-time scoring list with 1,205 points and ranks fourth in career three-pointers. She was an All-Pac-10 selection in 2010 before going undrafted and making a long career for herself.
