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13 Pac-12 student-athletes hoping to be selected in 2023 WNBA Draft

Apr 7, 2023

Thirteen Pac-12 student-athletes are hoping to hear their names called in the 2023 WNBA Draft, which is set for Monday, April 10 at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN.

The draft consists of three rounds with 12 selections in each round. Three Pac-12 student-athletes were selected in 2022, all of them first rounders: Oregon's Nyara Sabally (5th), Stanford's Lexie Hull (6th) and Colorado's Mya Hollingshed (8th). 

Below are six Pac-12 student-athletes who are appearing in various mock drafts, followed by a table with the full list of Pac-12 draft entries.

Haley Jones — Stanford Cardinal

The 6-1 playmaker leaves Stanford as one of the most decorated players in program history and is projected by every major outlet to be a first-round pick.

That comes as no surprise as Jones was the Most Outstanding Player during the Cardinal's 2021 national title run and collected a bevy of national and Pac-12 awards throughout her career. She is an All-American, three-time Pac-12 regular-season champion and two-time Pac-12 Tournament champion. In 2022, she won both Pac-12 Player of the Year and Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. 

Jones enters the WNBA Draft after a stellar senior season in which she posted career-highs in points (13.5), rebounds (9.0) and assists per game (4.0) while swiping a career-best 33 steals.

"Jones is a cerebral player with a proven ability to make those around her better," wrote Rachel Galligan of JustWomensSports.com. "The 6-1 guard is in a category of her own in this draft class. She can initiate offense as a point-forward...and when she gets downhill in the open floor, her decision-making is elite. On defense, she can handle any matchup handed to her."

Kadi Sissoko — USC Trojans

A graduate transfer from Minnesota, Sissoko started in 26 games and averaged a career-best 15.4 points per game in her lone season at USC. She added to her impressive scoring season with 6.2 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game and 1.2 steals per game, earning a spot on the All-Pac-12 Team.

Sissoko was instrumental in helping the Trojans return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.

Shaina Pellington — Arizona Wildcats 

An athletic combo guard from Canada, Pellington lead Arizona in scoring (13.4 PPG) and assists (3.6 APG) during the 2022-23 season. The fifth-year senior was named Pac-12 Co-Most Improved Player of the Year and also collected All-Pac-12 Team and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors.

She scored a career-high 35 points against Utah on Feb. 17, 2023, landing her Pac-12 Player of the Week, ESPN Player of the Week and USBWA National Player of the Week awards. 

Cate Reese — Arizona Wildcats

Arizona's first-ever McDonald's All-American, it didn’t take long for Reese to pile up the accolades in Tucson. 

In 2018-19 as a freshman, she won Pac-12 Freshman of the Week three times and and the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She was also recognized as the Female Freshman of the Year by Arizona Athletics after averaging 11.8 points and leading the Wildcats in rebounds with 6.8 per game. 

As a sophomore, Reese won two Pac-12 Player of the Week accolades and was named a Katrina McClain Award finalist for the top power forward in the nation thanks to averaging 13.6 points and 7.5 rebounds during her All-Pac-12 sophomore campaign. 

Reese would be named to three more All-Pac-12 teams to become only the second player in program history to be a four-time All-Pac-12 Team selection. She ranks in the top 10 in Arizona history in career rebounds (second - 961), career double-doubles (fourth - 22) and career points (fifth - 1,951). 

Reese is the only player in program history to score 1,900+ points and grab 950+ rebounds. Her best scoring effort came during her fifth season when she dropped 33 points in a double-overtime win at USC. 

Haley Van Dyke — Washington Huskies

Van Dyke closed out her Washington career by averaging team-highs in points (11.2) and rebounds (7.7) per game, and total steals (30), earning an Honorable Mention on the All-Pac-12 Team. Van Dyke is 21st on UW's all-time scoring list (1,208 points) and No. 10 in steals (205).

As a junior during 2020-21, Van Dyke averaged 12.0 points and 2.1 steals per game, earning an Honorable Mention on the All-Pac-12 Team and Defensive Team.

Destiny Littleton — USC Trojans

A graduate transfer who won a national championship at South Carolina, Littleton had an increased role with the Trojans and made the most of it, averaging 14 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Littleton was one of three Trojans to earn All-Pac-12 Honors, helping them return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years.

One of the most memorable moments of Littleton's Trojan career came in an upset victory that snapped Stanford’s 39-game Pac-12 winning streak and was USC's first win over a No. 2-ranked team since 2008. Littleton recorded a game-high 18 points and six assists that day, showing a penchant for elevating her play in big games.

Full list of Pac-12 WNBA Draft entries

Player  School Position
Jade Loville Arizona Guard
Shaina Pellington Arizona Guard
Cate Reese Arizona Forward
Bendu Yeaney Oregon State Guard
Haley Jones Stanford Guard
Ashten Prechtel Stanford Forward
Gina Conti UCLA Guard
Okako Adika USC Guard/Forward
Rokia Doumbia USC Guard
Destiny Littleton USC Guard
Kadi Sissoko USC Forward
Trinity Oliver Washington Guard
Haley Van Dyke Washington Forward