4 standout WNBA rookies weren’t even drafted — but they’re still thriving

Nearly half of the women’s basketball players who were selected in last month’s WNBA Draft are not currently playing in the WNBA.

But, there are several players who went undrafted who are still impacting winning in the league today, showcasing how what happens on draft night doesn’t always determine career outcomes.

Four WNBA rookies who were never drafted are impacting winning in the WNBA so far this season. And, amazingly, three of them are doing it on the same team: the Phoenix Mercury, who are 3-1 to begin the season.

Janelle Salaün, Golden State Valkyries

French forward Janelle Salaün went undrafted in 2023 and signed a training camp deal with the Valkyries in February. She missed training camp and the regular season opener while finishing her season in Italy, but hasn’t missed a beat since arriving in San Francisco.

Already, Salaün seems like she could be the next great player out of Europe; in two games, she’s averaged 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, shooting 41.7% from three. Notably, the Valkyries are 2-0 with the 23-year-old in the lineup.

Kathryn Westbeld, Phoenix Mercury

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Kathryn Westbeld is not your average rookie; the 29-year-old has spent most of her career overseas after a collegiate career at Notre Dame that included an NCAA championship in 2018. Westbeld headed to the Australian Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) in after going undrafted.

This season, Westbeld has started four games for the Phoenix Mercury, averaging 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

Monique Akoa Makani, Phoenix Mercury

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Monique Akoa Makani has also started four games for the Mercury this season after going undrafted. The 23-year-old Cameroonian forward is averaging 10 points, 2 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game so far this season, scoring in the double-figures in each of her last three games.

The 5’10 point guard grew up in Cameroon and moved to France at age 9. She began to play professional basketball in France at age 17, and has seamlessly transitioned to the WNBA this season.

Lexi Held, Phoenix Mercury

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Lexi Held is averaging 6.8 points, 2 steals, and 1 assist per game in 17.3 minutes per night for the Mercury. The 25-year-old guard was a standout at DePaul, and since graduating in 2022, she’s played overseas in Australia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Sweden. Held signed a training camp roster with the Mercury in March, and has been a crucial part of the team’s early success, serving as one of three undrafted rookies in Phoenix’s rotation.

Per The Next Hoops, Held is also amazingly one of 5 WNBA players in history to have at least 20 points, five steals and three 3-pointers across their first three career games — a list that also includes Maya Moore (2011), Odyssey Sims (2014), Shoni Schimmel (2014), and Paige Bueckers (2025).