States with the most top 10 WNBA Draft picks since 1997

By Thomas Frey Apr 14, 2025, 12:00pm

Texas and California top the list with 51 all-time top 10 selections heading into tonight’s draft.

With the 2025 WNBA Draft occurring tonight, we took a look back at the nearly 300 players who have been selected in the top 10 since the league debuted in 1997.

Texas leads the way with 27 headlined by Tamika Catchings, Britney Griner and Sheryl Swoopes.

California is second on the list with 24 as WNBA legends Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie lead the way. Current stars Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu also hail from the Golden State.

Sylvia Fowles leads Florida, which is third with 14 former top 10 picks. Fowles will inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 alongside Maya Moore and Sue Bird.



Bird is one of three players from Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) to make the list. Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), Duncanville (Texas), Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.) and Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) also have had three players selected in the top 10.

In total, 39 states including the District of Columbia have had a player drafted in the top 10 of the WNBA Draft.
(Graphic: Ryan Escobar)
(Graphic: Ryan Escobar)
Texas – 27
Ariel Atkins, Duncanville
Kelsey Bone, Fort Bend Dulles (Sugar Land)
Edwina Brown, Lockhart
Chennedy Carter, Mansfield Timberview (Arlington)
Tamika Catchings, Duncanville
Charli Collier, Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu)
Lauren Cox, Flower Mound
Queen Egbo, Fort Bend Travis (Richmond)
Brittney Griner, Nimitz (Houston)
Lindsey Harding, Cy-Fair (Cypress)
Mya Hollingshed, Bellaire
Tamicha Jackson, Lincoln (Dallas)
Tiffany Jackson, Duncanville
Moriah Jefferson, Fort Worth THESA (Fort Worth)
Chandi Jones, Bay City
Teaira McCowan, Brenham
Tausha Mills, Lakeview Centennial (Garland)
Chiney Ogwumike, Cy-Fair (Cypress)
Nneka Ogwumike, Cy-Fair (Cypress)
Plenette Pierson, Kingwood
Lynn Pride, Sam Houston (Arlington)
Andrea Riley, Lincoln (Dallas)
Odyssey Sims, MacArthur (Irving)
NaLyssa Smith, East Central (San Antonio)
Sheryl Swoopes, Brownfield
Alicia Thompson, Reagan County (Big Lake)
Teresa Weatherspoon, West Sabine (Pineland)

California – 24
Jayne Appel, Carondelet (Concord)
Brittany Boyd, Berkeley
Imani Boyette, Windward (Los Angeles)
Jordin Canada, Windward (Los Angeles)
Layshia Clarendon, Cajon (San Bernardino)
Cynthia Cooper, Locke (Los Angeles)
Tye'sha Fluker, Muir (Pasadena)
Ebony Hoffman, Narbonne (Harbor City)
Sabrina Ionescu, Miramonte (Orinda)
Haley Jones, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
Lisa Leslie, Morningside (Inglewood)
Maylana Martin, Perris
Aari McDonald, Brookside Christian (Stockton)
Loree Moore, Narbonne (Harbor City)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Noelle Quinn, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance)
Courtney Paris, Millennium (Tracy)
Kelsey Plum, La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla)
Jeanette Pohlen, Brea Olinda (Brea)
Danielle Robinson, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
Katie Lou Samuelson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Diana Taurasi, Don Lugo (Chino)
Candice Wiggins, La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla)
Lisa Willis, Narbonne (Harbor City)

Florida – 14
Grace Daley, Lake Weir (Ocala)
Rennia Davis, Ribault (Jacksonville)
Candice Dupree, Wharton (Tampa)
Marie Ferdinand, Edison (Miami)
Sylvia Fowles, Edison (Miami)
Vanessa Hayden, Boone (Orlando)
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Flanagan (Pembroke Pines)
Sandora Irvin, Fort Lauderdale
Tamara James, South Broward (Hollywood)
Jacinta Monroe, Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale)
Bernice Mosby, Hernando (Brooksville)
Tari Phillips, Edgewater (Orlando)
Tracy Reid, Central (Miami)
Michelle Snow, Pensacola

Georgia – 12
Lexie Brown, North Gwinnett (Suwanee)
Kelley Cain, St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta)
Kaela Davis, Buford
Diamond DeShields, Norcross
Asia Durr, St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta)
Allisha Gray, Washington County (Sandersville)
Dearica Hamby, Norcross
Amber Holt, Meadowcreek (Norcross)
DeLisha Milton, Bradwell Institute (Hinesville)
Maya Moore, Collins Hill (Suwanee)
Jocelyn Penn, Meadowcreek (Norcross)
Courtney Williams, Charlton County (Folkston)

New York – 12
Sue Bird, Christ the King (Middle Village)
Tina Charles, Christ the King (Middle Village)
Stefanie Dolson, Minisink Valley (Slate Hill)
Emily Engstler, St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows)
Bria Hartley, North Babylon
Chamique Holdsclaw, Christ the King (Middle Village)
Shenise Johnson, Rush-Henrietta (Henrietta)
Samantha Prahalis, Commack
Epiphanny Prince, Bergtraum (New York)
Maddy Siegrist, Our Lady of Lourdes (Poughkeepsie)
Breanna Stewart, Cicero-North Syracuse (Cicero)
Kia Vaughn, St. Michael Academy (New York)

Michigan – 10
Crystal Bradford, Inkster
Tonya Edwards, Northwestern (Flint)
Katie Feenstra, Grand Rapids Adventist Academy (Grand Rapids)
Kysre Gondrezick, Benton Harbor
Kristin Haynie, Mason
Rickea Jackson, Edison Academy (Detroit)
Tori Jankoska, Freeland
Deanna Nolan, Northern (Flint)
Aerial Powers, Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills)
Aiysha Smith, Bishop Borgess (Redford)

North Carolina – 10

Chante Black, East Forsyth (Kernersville)
Markeisha Gatling, Athens Drive (Raleigh)
Kiara Leslie, Holly Springs
Angel McCoughtry, Patterson (Lenoir)
Tiffany Mitchell, Providence Day (Charlotte)
Cheyenne Parker, Southwest Guilford (High Point)
Azura Stevens, Cary
Andrea Stinson, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville)
Stephanie Watts, Weddington (Matthews)
Tamera Young, Laney (Wilmington)



Ohio – 10
Alison Bales, Beavercreek
Zia Cooke, Rogers (Toledo)
Jessica Davenport, Independence (Columbus)
Jordan Horston, Africentric Early College (Columbus)
Natasha Howard, Waite (Toledo)
Jantel Lavender, Cleveland Central Catholic (Cleveland)
Ally Malott, Madison (Middletown)
Kelsey Mitchell, Princeton (Cincinnati)
Jacy Sheldon, Dublin Coffman (Dublin)
Tamika Williams, Chaminade Julienne Catholic (Dayton)

Pennsylvania – 9

Edna Campbell, Taylor Allderdice (Pittsburgh)
Swin Cash, McKeesport
Kahleah Copper, Prep Charter (Philadelphia)
Laura Harper, Cheltenham (Wyncote)
Kayla McBride, Villa Maria Academy (Erie)
Dawn Staley, Murrell Dobbins Vo-Tech (Philadelphia)
Alyssa Thomas, Central Dauphin (Harrisburg)
Carla Thomas, Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsburg)
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell (Aliquippa)

Indiana – 8

Skylar Diggins, South Bend Washington (South Bend)
Katie Douglas, Perry Meridian (Indianapolis)
Katie Gearlds, Beech Grove
Amber Harris, North Central (Indianapolis)
Tyasha Harris, Heritage Christian (Indianapolis)
Ta'Shia Phillips, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory (Indianapolis)
Ruth Riley, North Miami (Denver)
Jackie Young, Princeton

Maryland – 8
Shakira Austin, Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro)
Rebekkah Brunson, Oxon Hill
Monique Currie, Bullis (Potomac)
Tianna Hawkins, Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro)
Brionna Jones, Aberdeen
Jonquel Jones, Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro)
Angel Reese, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Nikki Teasley, St. John's Catholic Prep (Buckeystown)

New Jersey – 8

Matee Ajavon, Shabazz (Newark)
Essence Carson, Eastside (Paterson)
Molly Creamer, West Morris Mendham (Mendham)
Asjha Jones, Piscataway
Crystal Langhorne, Willingboro
Diamond Miller, Franklin (Somerset)
Brittney Sykes, University (Newark)
Jocelyn Willoughby, Newark Academy (Livingston)

Mississippi – 7

LaSondra Barrett, Murrah (Jackson)
Janice Lawrence Braxton, George County (Lucedale)
Murriel Page, Bay Springs
Armintie Price, Myrtle
LaToya Thomas, Greenville
Victoria Vivians, Scott Central (Forest)
Tan White, Tupelo

Illinois – 6
Yolanda Griffith, Carver (Chicago)
Jewell Loyd, Niles West (Skokie)
Candace Parker, Naperville Central (Naperville)
Devereaux Peters, Fenwick (Oak Park)
Cappie Pondexter, Chicago Marshall (Chicago)
Morgan Tuck, Bolingbrook

Louisiana – 6
Seimone Augustus, Capitol (Baton Rouge)
Alana Beard, Southwood (Shreveport)
Kalani Brown, Salmen (Slidell)
Cheryl Ford, Summerfield
Temeka Johnson, Bonnabel (Kenner)
Sophia Young, Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport)

Minnesota – 6
Rachel Banham, Lakeville North (Lakeville)
Nia Coffey, Hopkins (Minnetonka)
Tayler Hill, Minneapolis South (Minneapolis)
Coco Miller, Mayo (Rochester)
Kelly Miller, Mayo (Rochester)
Lindsay Whalen, Hutchinson

Virginia – 6
Quanitra Hollingsworth, Great Bridge (Chesapeake)
Kara Lawson, West Springfield (Springfield)
Kristi Toliver, Harrisonburg
Megan Walker, Monacan (Richmond,)
Elizabeth Williams, Princess Anne (Virginia Beach)
Monica Wright, Forest Park (Woodbridge)

Washington – 6

Chantelle Anderson, Hudson's Bay (Vancouver)
Lexie Hull, Central Valley (Spokane Valley,)
Briann January, Lewis & Clark (Spokane)
Sheila Lambert, Chief Sealth (Seattle)
Alex Montgomery, Lincoln (Tacoma)
Courtney Vandersloot, Kentwood (Covington)



South Carolina – 5
La'Tangela Atkinson, Lee Central (Bishopville)
Alaina Coates, Dutch Fork (Irmo)
Allison Feaster, Chester
Shaunzinski Gortman, Keenan (Columbia)
A'ja Wilson, Heathwood Hall Episcopal (Columbia)

Tennessee – 5
Jennifer Azzi, Oak Ridge
Kamilla Cardoso, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga)
Rhyne Howard, Bradley Central (Cleveland)
Glory Johnson, Webb, TN
Ashley Shields, Melrose (Memphis)

Alabama – 4
DeWanna Bonner, Fairfield
Deanna Jackson, T.R. Miller (Brewton)
Gwen Jackson, Eufaula
Jasmine Walker, JAG (Montgomery)

Kansas – 4
Danielle McCray, Olathe East (Olathe)
Nicole Ohlde, Clay Center
Jackie Stiles, Claflin
Kendra Wecker, Marysville

Massachusetts – 4
Aliyah Boston, Worcester Academy (Worcester)
Veronica Burton, Newton South (Newton)
Michelle Edwards, Cathedral (Boston)
Rebecca Lobo, Southwick Regional (Southwick)

Alaska – 3
Kelsey Griffin, Chugiak
Ruthy Hebard, West Valley (Fairbanks)
Alissa Pili, Dimond (Anchorage)



Arizona – 3
Kristine Anigwe, Desert Vista (Phoenix)
Kayla Pedersen, Red Mountain (Mesa)
Nicole Powell, Mountain Pointe (Phoenix)

District of Columbia – 3

Bella Alarie, National Cathedral
Marissa Coleman, St. John's
Penny Toler, St. Anthony

Kentucky – 3
Grace Berger, Sacred Heart (Louisville)
A'dia Mathies, Iroquois (Louisville)
Natalie Novosel, Lexington Catholic (Lexington)

Oklahoma – 3
Chelsea Dungee, Sapulpa
Crystal Robinson, Atoka
Toni Young, Del City

Oregon – 3
Kara Braxton, Westview (Portland)
Cameron Brink, Mountainside (Beaverton)
Shoni Schimmel, Franklin (Portland)

West Virginia – 3

Vicky Bullett, Martinsburg
Alexis Hornbuckle, South Charleston
Renee Montgomery, South Charleston

Wisconsin – 3

Samantha Logic, Racine Case (Racine)
Janel McCarville, Stevens Point
Arike Ogunbowale, Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee)

Arkansas – 2
Shameka Christon, Hot Springs
Shekinna Stricklen, Morrilton

Iowa – 2
Caitlin Clark, Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines)
Alison Lacey, Ballard (Huxley)

Missouri – 2

Napheesa Collier, Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Betty Lennox, Fort Osage (Independence)

Nevada – 2

Rae Burrell, Liberty (Henderson)
Gabby Williams, Reed (Sparks)



Colorado – 1
Michaela Onyenwere, Grandview (Aurora)

Delaware – 1

Elena Delle Donne, Ursuline Academy (Wilmington)

Maine – 1

Cindy Blodgett, Lawrence (Fairfield)

Utah – 1
Natalie Williams, Taylorsville

International – 33
Svetlana Abrosimova, Soviet Union
Natalie Achonwa, Canada
Evelyn Akhator, Nigeria
Kayla Alexander, Canada
Laeticia Amihere, Canada
Liz Cambage, Australia
Astan Dabo, Mali
Stacey Dales-Schuman, Canada
Cintia dos Santos, Brazil
Malgorzata Dydek, Poland
Aaliyah Edwards, Canada
Shyla Heal, Australia
Korie Hlede, Yugoslavia
Lauren Jackson, Australia
Awak Kuier, Finland
Lei'la Lacan, France
Carla Leite, France
Sancho Lyttle, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Chanel Mokango, Zaire
Kia Nurse, Canada
Ticha Penicheiro, Portugal
Nyara Sabally, Germany
Satou Sabally, Germany
Lou Lopez Senechal, Ireland
Alanna Smith, Australia
Stephanie Soares, Brazil
Maria Stepanova, Soviet Union
Jung Sun-min, South Korea
Shona Thorburn, Canada
Polina Tzekova, Bulgaria
Kamila Vodichkova, Czechoslovakia
Ann Wauters, Belgium
Amanda Zahui B., Sweden