We've all had a lot of fun watching the Women's NCAA Tournament so far. We've seen game-winning shots by Chennedy Carter, two 11 seeds in the Sweet 16, and Sabrina Ionescu filling up all the stat sheets.
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NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Previews
Lexington Regional Preview
Kansas City Region Preview
Albany Region Preview
Spokane Region Preview
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But, you might be wondering, how are these schools represented at the next level? Well I have taken it upon myself to answer just that question. Below is every Sweet 16 program ranked by current WNBA players.
Keep in mind, the WNBA is out of season, so some players may be in or out of the league before the 2018 season actually starts, but this data comes straight from WNBA.com, so it's as current as possible.
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1. UConn – 14 Players
It shouldn't be a surprise that UConn has by far the most alumni in the WNBA. They're really good players too, like historically good. From Sue Bird to Diana Taurasi to Maya Moore to Breanna Stewart (and ten more players), you have number one picks, WNBA Champions, WNBA MVPs, and Olympic gold medalists. These 14 players have reached the highest heights in women's basketball. To summarize, UConn and its alums are really good at basketball.
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Sue Bird | Seattle Storm |
| Tina Charles | New York Liberty |
| Saniya Chong | Dallas Wings |
| Stefanie Dolson | Chicago Sky |
| Bria Hartley | New York Liberty |
| Tiffany Hayes | Atlanta Dream |
| Moriah Jefferson | Las Vegas Aces |
| Renee Montgomery | Atlanta Dream |
| Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
| Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis | Seattle Storm |
| Breanna Stewart | Seattle Storm |
| Kiah Stokes | New York Liberty |
| Diana Taurasi | Phoenix Mercury |
| Morgan Tuck | Connecticut Sun |
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2. Duke – 7 Players
Duke's seven players feature 2004 National Player of the Year Alana Beard, a 13 year WNBA veteran, four-time WNBA All-Star, and six-time member of the WNBA All-Defensive Team. Sparks guard Chelsea Gray was also a 2017 WNBA All-Star, as was Connecticut guard Jasmine Thomas and Atlanta F/C Elizabeth Williams, the 2016 WNBA Most Improved Player.
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Alana Beard | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Karima Christmas-Kelly | Dallas Wings |
| Monique Currie | Washington Mystics |
| Chelsea Gray | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Krystal Thomas | Washington Mystics |
| Jasmine Thomas | Connecticut Sun |
| Elizabeth Williams | Atlanta Dream |
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3. Notre Dame – 5 Players
Jewell Loyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith highlight the class of Notre Dame talent in the WNBA. Loyd was the number one pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft and followed that up by winning the 2015 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Diggins-Smith was the third overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft and is a three time WNBA All-Star and two-time member of the All-WNBA First Team.
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Natalie Achonwa | Indiana Fever |
| Lindsay Allen | New York Liberty |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | Dallas Wings |
| Jewell Loyd | Seattle Storm |
| Kayla McBride | Las Vegas Aces |
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4 (tie). Baylor and Stanford – 4 Players
You remember Baylor's Brittney Griner from her destruction of college basketball for a few years. She's also been successful in the WNBA. She's made four All-Star teams, the 2014 All-WNBA First Team, and was the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year twice.
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Brittney Griner | Phoenix Mercury |
| Alexis Jones | Minnesota Lynx |
| Alexis Prince | Phoenix Mercury |
| Odyssey Sims | Los Angeles Sparks |
Stanford has the 2016 WNBA MVP amongst their four person group in Nneka Ogwumike. She's also a four-time All-Star and three time member of the All-WNBA Team.
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Erica McCall | Indiana Fever |
| Nneka Ugwumike | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Kayla Pedersen | Connecticut Sun |
| Jeanette Pohlen-Mavunga | Indiana Fever |
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6. South Carolina – 3 Players
Kaela Davis, Allisha Gray, and Tiffany Mitchell have all entered the league recently. Mitchell, who is entering her third WNBA season, is the longest tenured player of the three. They may not have been around long, but they've made an impact. Gray was the 2017 WNBA Rookie of the Year, and both Davis and Mitchell were on the All-Rookie team.
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Kaela Davis | Dallas Wings |
| Allisha Gray | Dallas Wings |
| Tiffany Mitchell | Indiana Fever |
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7 (tie). Texas and Texas A&M – 2 Players
| Name | Team | College |
|---|---|---|
| Tiffany Jackson-Jones | Los Angeles Sparks | Texas |
| Imani McGee Stafford | Atlanta Dream | Texas |
| Danielle Adams | Connecticut Sun | Texas A&M |
| Sydney Colson | Las Vegas Aces | Texas A&M |
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9 (tie). Louisville, Oregon St, and UCLA – 1 Player
| Name | Team | College |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Taylor | Washington Mystics | Louisville |
| Sydney Wiese | Los Angeles Sparks | Oregon St |
| Noelle Quinn | Seattle Storm | UCLA |
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12 (tie). NC State, Oregon, Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Mississippi State – 0 Players
They may not have any WNBA players now, but with the talent on these squads, particularly Oregon and Mississippi State, this number won't stay zero for long.
