March Madness is the biggest stage in college basketball. It can also serve as a last-ditch effort for players to get their names on draft boards. Every season we see players who seemingly come out of nowhere, dazzle in the NCAA Tournament and then get their names called in the WNBA Draft. Last year Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker had one of the tournament’s best performances with 45 points in a second-round loss to Maryland. It resulted in her rocketing up draft boards and being selected ninth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks.
Here are 10 hidden gems that could play themselves onto draft boards:
Angela Dugalic, 6-foot-4 senior guard, UCLA
On a team of stars where six seniors, including Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, are set to get drafted, Dugalic doesn’t get enough attention. But she has all the makings of a WNBA Glue Guy. At 6-foot-4, she can score from anywhere on the court, including from long range and with her back to the basket. Dugalic was just a big guard during her first few seasons, but this year she has added a post-up game, which only increases her versatility. She can play in a high-low game with a true center, post up smaller guards, or take bigger defenders out to the perimeter.
Cassandre Prosper, 6-foot-3 senior guard, Notre Dame
Prosper was injured after just five games in the 2023-24 season, so she can likely get another year of eligibility. But if she chooses to enter the draft, her play this postseason could help her case. Hannah Hidalgo has been Notre Dame’s driving force all season, but Prosper has been the team’s second-most consistent player, averaging 13.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Prosper has a good frame for the WNBA, standing at 6-foot-3 with a long wingspan. She’s also shown potential as a three-point shooter, making 32 percent of her attempts.
Justine Pissott, 6-foot-4 senior guard, Vanderbilt
Perhaps the least hidden of these gems, Pissott has played a crucial role for Vanderbilt all season. Her biggest strength is her incredible range, as Pissott can shoot from well past the three-point line, making 42.6 percent of her attempts. But she has other skills that could make the senior a desirable draft prospect. She’s a big guard who can get to the rim if she’s chased off the line. Pissott has also shown great vision and passing ability, something that will help her at the next level.
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, 6-foot-2 senior guard, Vanderbilt
A true diamond in the rough, Mwenentanda would be a draft pick based on potential. She played three years coming off the bench at Texas and is now in a starting role for Vanderbilt. Mwenentanda is uber athletic, with all the necessary physical skills to thrive in the WNBA, but she’s yet to put it all together on the court. Someone with her size, strength, athleticism and ability to cut and drive to the rim could have a long WNBA career on the right team and with some necessary polishing of her game.
Indya Nivar, 5-foot-10 senior guard, North Carolina
Nivar’s biggest draw is her activity on defense. She was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist in January thanks to her ability to bother ballhandlers, get in passing lanes and make the right rotations. There isn’t anything flashy about Nivar, but her instincts are excellent. That also extends to offense, where she has a great feel for the game and what her team needs at any given time. She’s averaging 10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
Taina Mair, 5-foot-9 senior guard, Duke
During her senior campaign, Mair has shown incredible growth as both a scorer and a facilitator. Duke’s offense has been excellent since midway through the season and Mair is the reason for its success. She’s smart with great vision and an elite understanding of game flow and situations. Mair is also efficient with the ball, averaging 5.6 assists to 2.7 turnovers per game. She’s small for the WNBA at 5-foot-9, but there are still places for past-first point guards in the league. Her size hasn’t bothered her much – in fact Mair is a great rebounder, grabbing 5.9 per game – and if she continues to perform at a high level while the Blue Devils make a run, her size may not be as big of an issue for evaluators.
Serah Williams, 6-foot-4 senior forward, UConn
Williams was regarded as a major prospect when she transferred from Wisconsin to UConn this season, appearing in the top 10 on many draft boards. At Wisconsin she averaged 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a junior, becoming one of the most desirable transfers in the country. Williams came to UConn to show she can be a part of a system, while also competing for a championship. She’s gotten lost in UConn’s rotation, however, averaging 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. If Williams can harness some of the magic she had at Wisconsin and help UConn to a title, she can put herself back on the WNBA’s radar.
Amaya Battle, 5-foot-11 senior guard, Minnesota
Hitting buzzer-beaters doesn’t necessarily improve draft stock, but it sure doesn’t hurt. Battle impressed in the first two rounds of March Madness, finishing with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in a first-round win over Green Bay and then 14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and a crafty fadeaway buzzer-beater for a win over Ole Miss in the second. If she has a good showing in the Sweet Sixteen against UCLA, she could hear her name called in the draft.
Laura Ziegler, 6-foot-2 senior forward, Louisville
After three seasons at St. Joseph’s, Ziegler transferred to Louisville for a chance to play on a bigger stage. She’s been a key part of the Cardinals’ attack, averaging 11.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Ziegler is undersized for a WNBA forward, but she does have some guard skills, including the ability to shoot threes. She is averaging a career-high 36.6 percent from long range this season.
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Tonie Morgan, 5-foot-9 senior guard, Kentucky
Morgan was an excellent point guard for three years at Georgia Tech, but transferring to the SEC for her senior season was a wise move. Not only has she proven capable of playing against the size, athleticism and overall talent of the SEC, averaging 13.9 points and 8.0 assists per game, but it’s also allowed her to get on the draft radar. She was already in the spotlight back in January after hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to hand LSU its first loss of the season. If Morgan continues to shine in March it will only improve her draft chances.
Paris Clark, 5-foot-8 senior guard, Virginia
Clark is undersized, but that didn’t stop her from carving up the Iowa defense in her team’s 83-75 overtime win on Monday. Her 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block is exactly the kind of March Madness performance that can turn heads. There will be a lot of eyes on Virginia’s Sweet Sixteen matchup with Olivia Miles and TCU, so if Clark can perform on a high level once more, she might just capture the attention of WNBA scouts.
Meet your guide
