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Marisa Flores | NCAA.com | October 10, 2024

Where the 2024 WNBA Finals players competed in college

2024 WNBA Finals: New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx college highlights

Some of the biggest stars in women’s basketball will take center stage as the New York Liberty face the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Finals. This best-of-five series features the top-seeded Liberty, who are pursuing their first championship, and the second-seeded Lynx, aiming to become the first team in WNBA history to claim five titles.

Both teams boast a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, each with standout college careers that laid the foundation for their success in the league. UConn leads the way across both rosters with three former Huskies, including former teammates Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, while Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu and Nyara Sabally also share a connection as college teammates from Oregon.

Take a look at the rosters below, including each player's number and where they competed in college.

New York Liberty roster

  • No. 1 | Jaylyn Sherrod | Colorado
  • No. 1 | Marquesha Davis | Ole Miss
  • No. 2 | Kennedy Burke | UCLA
  • No. 5 | Kayla Thornton | UTEP
  • No. 8 | Nyara Sabally | Oregon
  • No. 13 | Leonie Fiebich | N/A (Played professionally in Germany before WNBA)
  • No. 18 | Ivana Dojkić | N/A (Played professionally in Europe before WNBA)
  • No. 20 | Sabrina Ionescu | Oregon
  • No. 22 | Courtney Vandersloot | Gonzaga
  • No. 30 | Breanna Stewart | UConn
  • No. 35 | Jonquel Jones | George Washington
  • No. 44 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton | Rutgers

The New York Liberty's roster is stacked with talent from some of the best college programs, led by Stewart and Ionescu. Stewart made history at UConn with four consecutive NCAA championships, while Ionescu left her mark at Oregon as the NCAA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles.

Courtney Vandersloot and Jonquel Jones add depth with their elite playmaking and rebounding skills honed at Gonzaga and George Washington, respectively. The Liberty also boasts a diverse roster with standout rookies and international players like Nyara Sabally (Oregon) and Leonie Fiebich (Germany).

RECORD BOOK: The all-time best performances in NCAA women's basketball tournament history

Minnesota Lynx roster

  • No. 0 | Olivia Époupa | N/A (Played professionally in France before WNBA)
  • No. 1 | Diamond Miller | Maryland
  • No. 2 | Natisha Hiedeman | Marquette
  • No. 6 | Bridget Carleton | Iowa State
  • No. 8 | Alanna Smith | Stanford
  • No. 9 | Cecilia Zandalasini | N/A (Played professionally in Italy before WNBA)
  • No. 10 | Courtney Williams | South Florida
  • No. 14 | Dorka Juhász | UConn
  • No. 21 | Kayla McBride | Notre Dame
  • No. 22 | Myisha Hines-Allen | Louisville
  • No. 24 | Napheesa Collier | UConn
  • No. 35 | Alissa Pili | Utah

The Minnesota Lynx roster brings together athletes from top college powerhouses, led by Napheesa Collier from UConn, who finished her collegiate career as one of the Huskies' all-time leaders in points and rebounds.

Stanford's Alanna Smith, known for her all-around game, and Notre Dame's Kayla McBride, a three-time Final Four participant, add depth to the lineup.

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