QUINIX Sport News: Meet all 43 queer players in this season's WNBA

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Queer WNBA players Asia AD Durr Natasha Mack Stefanie Dolson and Brittney Grineru200b

NBA Media Ventures; John McClellan via Wikipedia; LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA; Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

From left: Queer WNBA players Asia (AD) Durr, Natasha Mack, Stefanie Dolson, and Brittney Griner.

Just when you thought the WNBA couldn’t get any more sapphic, it did. Not only did Brittney Griner have a baby with her wife last year and WNBA stars NaLyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington gag us with their adorable relationship, but rookie Shyanne Sellers got drafted by the Golden State Valkyries and engaged to her girlfriend all in the same week!

With the 2025 WNBA draft, and the fab orange carpets fits, in the rear view mirror, and the new season starting on May 16, it’s time to take a look at all of the LGBTQ+ players in the league this year.

Last year there were 37 queer women playing in the WNBA, and although the have been some retirements, there are even more queer folks starting the new season. With 43 active players this season who identify as queer, there is a lot to celebrate.

So scroll through to see all of the sapphics on the roster and who they’re playing for this year.

Shyanne Sellers

Shyanne Sellers  photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Shyanne Sellers arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City.

Maryland shooting guard Shyanne Sellers was drafted as a rookie by the brand new Bay Area team the Golden State Valkyries for their inaugural season. But Sellers wasn’t just the 17th pick for the 2025 WNBA draft, but also proposed to her girlfriend Faith Masonius that same week and announced their engagement via Instagram with the caption, “Forever & More.”

Julie Allemand

Julie Allemand photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LOS ANGELES SPARKS

Julie Allemand is a Belgian basketball player who is a guard for the Los Angeles Sparks. She played two season with the Indiana Fever in 2020 and was signed to the Chicago Skye in 2022 before joining the Sparks last year.

DeWanna Bonner

DeWanna Bonner photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

CONNECTICUT SUN VIA X

DeWanna Bonner is an American-Macedonian who joined the Indiana Fever as a free agent fringe the offseason after being a forward-guard for the Connecticut Sun. She has been in the WNBA since 2009 when she was signed to the Phoenix Mercury before being traded to the Sun in 2020. She shares two children, twins Cali and Demi, with her ex-wife, former WNBA star Candice Dupree.

Jordin Canada

Jordin Canada photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA Media Ventures

Guard for the Atlanta Dream Jordin Canada was a star player at the University of California Los Angeles before playing professionally with the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm. She took home the WNBA Championship trophy in 2018 and 2020.

Emma Cannon

Emma Cannon photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LA Sparks via Instagram

Forward Emma Cannon just signed to the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2025 season after playing for the Dallas Wings last year. Prior to joining the Wings, she was a star player at Florida Southern college before entering the WNBA and playing for Las Vegas Aces, Connecticut Sun, and Phoenix Mercury.

DiJonai Carrington

DiJonai Carrington photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

John Mac via Wikipedia

DiJonai Carrington signed with the Dallas Wings for the 2025 WNBA. She has been in the league for four years and was a Guard-Forward for the Connecticut Sun last season. She is dating fellow WNBA star NaLyssa Smith, who currently plays for the Dallas Wings.

Layshia Clarendon

Layshia Clarendon photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Layshia Clarendon is a Los Angeles Sparks Guard and also the WNBA’s first openly trans and nonbinary player. The ten-year veteran of the league uses any pronouns and has also played for the Minnesota Lynx, the New York Liberty, the Connecticut Sun, the Atlanta Dream, and the Indiana Fever.

Natasha Cloud

Natasha Cloud photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA New Media Ventures

New York Liberty Guard Natasha Cloud played at St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania before joining the league and playing for Washington Mystics and Phoenix Mercury. She has been in the WNBA for eight years and won the WNBA Championship back in 2019.

Sydney Colson

Sydney Colson photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Las Vegas Aces via Facebook

Sydney Colson is the #51 Guard for the Indiana Fever. She was a star player at Texas A&M college before joining the WNBA and playing for the Chicago Sky, the Las Vegas Aces, and the New York Liberty. The nine-year veteran of the league won the Championship in both 2022 and 2023.

Kahleah Copper

Kahleah Copper photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Pheonix Mercury via Instagram

Phoenix Mercury Guard-Forward Kahleah Copper has been in the league for eight years, where she has also played for the Washington Mystics and the Chicago Sky.

Elissa Cunane

Elissa Cunane photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Elissa Cunane was just signed to the brand-new Bay Area team, the Golden State Valkyries, for their inaugural season. Prior to joining the Valkyries, she was a Center for the Seattle Storm.

Crystal Dangerfield

Crystal Dangerfield photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Dallas Wings via X

Crystal Dangerfield joined the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2025 season after playing as a Guard for the Dallas Wings. She started her basketball career at the University of Connecticut before winning Rookie of the Year while playing for the Minnesota Lynx. She has also played for the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever.

Stefanie Dolson

Stefanie Dolson photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA

Stefanie Dolson has been in the WNBA for more than decade and is currently the #31 Center for the Washington Mystics. She played for UConn before joining the New York Liberty and then the Chicago Sky.

Asia (AD) Durr

Asia (AD) Durr photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Asia (AD) Durr is a Guard for the Atlanta Dream, but started their career with the New York Liberty. Durr uses they/them pronouns and played for the University of Louisville before starting their professional career.

Chelsea Gray

Chelsea Gray photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LAS VEGAS ACES VIA FACEBOOK

Chelsea Gray is the #12 Guard for the Las Vegas Aces, but started her decade-long professional career with the Connecticut Sun. She played college ball at Duke University and has also played for the Los Angeles Sparks. She shares one child with her wife, Tipesa.

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Brittney Griner left the Phoenix Mercury after the 2024 season to join the Atlanta Dream as the #42 Center. Griner, who has been in the league for more than a decade, made international headlines back in 2022 when she was detained in Russia for cannabis vape cartridges at the airport. Originally sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison, she was released after 293 days when then-President Joe Biden made a deal to trade Griner’s release for the “Merchant of Death” Russian arms trafficker, Viktor Bout. Griner had her first child, a son named Bash, with her wife Cherelle in July 2024.

Natisha Hiedeman

Natisha Hiedeman photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA

Marquette University alum Natisha Hiedeman is now the #2 Guard for the Minnesota Lynx. Before being drafted by the Lynx, she played for the Connecticut Sun. Hiederman is married to former Sun player Jasmine Thomas.

Jordan Horston

Jordan Horston photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

JOHN MCCLELLAN VIA WIKIPEDIA

This season will mark Jordan Horston’s third year as the #23 Guard-Forward for the Seattle Storm. She started her basketball career at the University of Tennessee before joining the WNBA.

Natasha Howard

Natasha Howard photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Indiana Fever via Instagram

Forward Natasha Howard is returning to the Indian Fever this season after having left the team to play for the Dallas Wings. She has spent more than a decade in the league and also played for the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, and New York Liberty. She was a star player while at Florida State University where she was a three-time Champion and former Defensive Player of the Year.

Jonquel Jones 

Jonquel Jones photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Jonquel Jones is a Bahamian WNBA player who is the #35 Forward for the New York Liberty. The George Washington University alum has been in the league for nine years and played for the Connecticut Sun before joining the Liberty.

Lou Lopez Sénéchal

Lou Lopez Su00e9nu00e9chal photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

SYNUCONN via X

Lou Lopez Sénéchal is the #8 Guard for the Dallas Wings. The UConn graduate was born in Mexico and the 2025 season will mark her third year in both the WNBA and with the Wings.

Jewell Loyd

Jewell Loyd photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Jewell Loyd just joined the Las Vegas Aces as the #24 Guard. Last season she played for the Seattle Storm where she played for nine years. She’s had a storied basketball career that has included being a two-time WNBA Champion and Olympic gold medalist with team USA in the 2020 Olympics.

Aerial Powers

Aerial Powers photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

ATLANTA DREAM VIA INSTAGRAM

Michigan State graduate Aerial Powers is the #3 Guard for the Atlanta Dream. This is Powers’ second season with the Dream after playing for the Dallas Wings, the Washington Mystics, and the Minnesota Lynx. She is also a WNBA Champion, winning the title in 2016.

Alanna Smith 

Alanna Smith photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA

Australian basketball star Alanna Smith is the #8 Forward for the Minnesota Lynx. The Stanford University alum has been in the WNBA for six years and this will mark her second season with the Lynx. She has also played for the Phoenix Mercury, the Indiana Fever, and the Chicago Sky.

NaLyssa Smith 

NaLyssa Smith photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

David Wilcomes via Wikipedia

NaLyssa Smith just joined the Dallas Wings as their #1 Forward after playing for the Indiana Fever. The Baylor University graduate is currently in a relationship with Connecticut Sun star player DiJonai Carrington.

Breanna Stewart

Breanna Stewart photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Breanna Stewart started her basketball career as the University of Connecticut and is now the #30 Forward for the New York Liberty. The two-time WNBA Champion and former Seattle Storm player met her wife, former WNBA player Marta Xargay, while the pair were playing together in Russia.

Sug Sutton

Sug Sutton photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Washington Mystics via Instagram

Guard Sug Sutton signed with the Washington Mystics for the 2025 season after playing for the Phoenix Mercury, where she started her professional career. Sutton has three years of experience in the league after playing for the University of Texas.

Brittney Sykes

Brittney Sykes photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

WASHINGTON MYSTICS VIA X

Brittney Sykes is the #20 Guard for the Washington Mystics. She came from Syracuse University and joined the WNBA eight years ago, playing for the Atlanta Dream and the Los Angeles Sparks before joining the Mystics.

Alyssa Thomas

Alyssa Thomas photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

@ATHOMAS_25 via Instagram

Forward Alyssa Thomas is starting her first season with the Phoenix Mercury after playing for the Connecticut Sun. She has been in the WNBA for more than a decade and spent all those years with the Sun before leaving for Arizona. Thomas has been engaged to DeWanna Bonner, who was her teammate on the Sun, since 2023.

Courtney Vandersloot 

Courtney Vandersloot photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Guard Courtney Vandersloot is returning to the Chicago Sky this season after playing for the New York Liberty. Vandersloot has been in the league for 13 years since coming from Gonzaga University. She spent most of these years with the Chicago Sky before briefly leaving to play for the Liberty. She is married to Allie Quigley, who was her Chicago Sky teammate before retiring from the WNBA.

Victoria Vivians

Victoria Vivians photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Mississippi University alum Victoria Vivians is the #35 Guard for the Seattle Storm. She has been in the WNBA for six years, and while she plays for the Storm now, she started her career with the Indiana Fever.

Erica Wheeler

Erica Wheeler photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Indiana Fever Guard Erica Wheeler has been in the league for nine years. After playing for Rutgers University, she joined the Atlanta Dream, the New York Liberty, and the Los Angeles Sparks.

Sami Whitcomb

Sami Whitcomb photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

SEATTLE STORM VIA X

Sami Whitcomb is now the #32 Guard for the Phoenix Mercury after leaving the Seattle Storm. The 36-year-old is originally from Australia, but went to college at Washington University. She has been in the WNBA for eight years and has also played for the New York Liberty.

Christyn Williams

Christyn Williams photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

@IAMCHRISTYNWILLIAMS via Instagram

Guard Christyn Williams just signed a training-camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx after having a rocky start in the league. She was drafted by the Washington Mystics in 2022, but was unable to play her first season with the team because of a knee surgery that needed surgery. In 2023 she signed a rest-of-the-season hardship contract with the Phoenix Mercury, but she was waived in May 2024.

Courtney Williams

Courtney Williams photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

MINNESOTA LYNX VIA FACEBOOK

Courtney Williams is the #10 Guard for the Minnesota Lynx. The 30-year-old player has been in the league for nine years after coming from the University of South Florida. She has also played for the Phoenix Mercury, the Connecticut Sun, the Atlanta Dream, and the Chicago Sky.

Emily Engstler

Emily Engstler photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Emily Engstler is the #21 Forward for the Washington Mystics. She played college ball for Syracuse and formerly played for the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx

Kayla McBride

Kayla McBride photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Kayla McBride is a shooting guard for the Minnesota Lynx. McBride has been with the league since 2014 when she was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Stars. She also played for the Las Vegas Aces before joining the Lynx in 2021. Last year, McBride became the first Lynx player in franchise history to have 100+ 3-point shots in a single season.

Kierstan Bell

Kierstan Bell photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Las Vegas Acex via Instagram

Kierstan Bell is the #1 Forward for the Las Vegas Aces. Bell joined the WNBA in 2022 when she was drafted 11th overall by the Aces. She statred her career as an athlete playing basketball for Florida Gulf Coast and Ohio State before joining the league.

Sevgi Uzun

Sevgi Uzun photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Zafer via Wikipedia

Sevgi Uzun is a Turkish basketball player who is currently the #1 Guard for the Phoenix Mercury. The 27-year-old point guard also plays for the Turkish Super League, EuroLeague Women, and the Turkish national team.

Natasha Mack

Natasha Mack photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

John McClellan via Wikipedia

Natasha Mack is the #4 Forward for the Phoenix Mercury. Mack was the second round draft pick for the Chicago Sky in 2021, but ended up being let go that same year after going back and forth with signing a Hardship Contract. She then signed a 7-Day contract with the Minnesota Lynx in 2021 before playing overseas in Poland, New Zealand, and Turkey for two years before joining the Mercury for the 2024 season.

Cecilia Zandalasini

Cecilia Zandalasini photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Cecilia Zandalasini was just drafted by the Golden State Valkyries and will play Forward for the inaugural season. The 30-year-old basketball star has been in the league since 2017 when she was signed by the Minnesota Lynx. She then left to play abroad before returning to the Lynx last season.

Courtney Williams

Courtney Williams photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

John Mac via Wikipedia

University of South Florida alum Courtney Williams joined the WNBA in 2016 when she was signed by Phoenix Mercury. Now, she is the Minnesota Lynx #10 Guard. Since then, she has played for the Connecticut Sun (twice), the Atlanta Dream, and the Chicago Sky before being picked up the Lynx last year.

Arike Ogunbowale

Arike Ogunbowale photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Arike Ogunbowale is the #24 Guard for the Dallas Wings. The 28-year-old basketball pro started her career at Notre Dame, where she was named the Athlete of the Year. The 2025 season will mark her sixth year with the Wings. She also plays for Vinyl BC in Unrivaled, the new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league.

Queer WNBA players Asia AD Durr Natasha Mack Stefanie Dolson and Brittney Grineru200b

NBA Media Ventures; John McClellan via Wikipedia; LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA; Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

From left: Queer WNBA players Asia (AD) Durr, Natasha Mack, Stefanie Dolson, and Brittney Griner.

Just when you thought the WNBA couldn’t get any more sapphic, it did. Not only did Brittney Griner have a baby with her wife last year and WNBA stars NaLyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington gag us with their adorable relationship, but rookie Shyanne Sellers got drafted by the Golden State Valkyries and engaged to her girlfriend all in the same week!

With the 2025 WNBA draft, and the fab orange carpets fits, in the rear view mirror, and the new season starting on May 16, it’s time to take a look at all of the LGBTQ+ players in the league this year.

Last year there were 37 queer women playing in the WNBA, and although the have been some retirements, there are even more queer folks starting the new season. With 43 active players this season who identify as queer, there is a lot to celebrate.

So scroll through to see all of the sapphics on the roster and who they’re playing for this year.

Shyanne Sellers

Shyanne Sellers  photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Shyanne Sellers arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City.

Maryland shooting guard Shyanne Sellers was drafted as a rookie by the brand new Bay Area team the Golden State Valkyries for their inaugural season. But Sellers wasn’t just the 17th pick for the 2025 WNBA draft, but also proposed to her girlfriend Faith Masonius that same week and announced their engagement via Instagram with the caption, “Forever & More.”

Julie Allemand

Julie Allemand photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LOS ANGELES SPARKS

Julie Allemand is a Belgian basketball player who is a guard for the Los Angeles Sparks. She played two season with the Indiana Fever in 2020 and was signed to the Chicago Skye in 2022 before joining the Sparks last year.

DeWanna Bonner

DeWanna Bonner photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

CONNECTICUT SUN VIA X

DeWanna Bonner is an American-Macedonian who joined the Indiana Fever as a free agent fringe the offseason after being a forward-guard for the Connecticut Sun. She has been in the WNBA since 2009 when she was signed to the Phoenix Mercury before being traded to the Sun in 2020. She shares two children, twins Cali and Demi, with her ex-wife, former WNBA star Candice Dupree.

Jordin Canada

Jordin Canada photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA Media Ventures

Guard for the Atlanta Dream Jordin Canada was a star player at the University of California Los Angeles before playing professionally with the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm. She took home the WNBA Championship trophy in 2018 and 2020.

Emma Cannon

Emma Cannon photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LA Sparks via Instagram

Forward Emma Cannon just signed to the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2025 season after playing for the Dallas Wings last year. Prior to joining the Wings, she was a star player at Florida Southern college before entering the WNBA and playing for Las Vegas Aces, Connecticut Sun, and Phoenix Mercury.

DiJonai Carrington

DiJonai Carrington photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

John Mac via Wikipedia

DiJonai Carrington signed with the Dallas Wings for the 2025 WNBA. She has been in the league for four years and was a Guard-Forward for the Connecticut Sun last season. She is dating fellow WNBA star NaLyssa Smith, who currently plays for the Dallas Wings.

Layshia Clarendon

Layshia Clarendon photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Layshia Clarendon is a Los Angeles Sparks Guard and also the WNBA’s first openly trans and nonbinary player. The ten-year veteran of the league uses any pronouns and has also played for the Minnesota Lynx, the New York Liberty, the Connecticut Sun, the Atlanta Dream, and the Indiana Fever.

Natasha Cloud

Natasha Cloud photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA New Media Ventures

New York Liberty Guard Natasha Cloud played at St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania before joining the league and playing for Washington Mystics and Phoenix Mercury. She has been in the WNBA for eight years and won the WNBA Championship back in 2019.

Sydney Colson

Sydney Colson photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Las Vegas Aces via Facebook

Sydney Colson is the #51 Guard for the Indiana Fever. She was a star player at Texas A&M college before joining the WNBA and playing for the Chicago Sky, the Las Vegas Aces, and the New York Liberty. The nine-year veteran of the league won the Championship in both 2022 and 2023.

Kahleah Copper

Kahleah Copper photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Pheonix Mercury via Instagram

Phoenix Mercury Guard-Forward Kahleah Copper has been in the league for eight years, where she has also played for the Washington Mystics and the Chicago Sky.

Elissa Cunane

Elissa Cunane photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Elissa Cunane was just signed to the brand-new Bay Area team, the Golden State Valkyries, for their inaugural season. Prior to joining the Valkyries, she was a Center for the Seattle Storm.

Crystal Dangerfield

Crystal Dangerfield photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Dallas Wings via X

Crystal Dangerfield joined the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2025 season after playing as a Guard for the Dallas Wings. She started her basketball career at the University of Connecticut before winning Rookie of the Year while playing for the Minnesota Lynx. She has also played for the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever.

Stefanie Dolson

Stefanie Dolson photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA

Stefanie Dolson has been in the WNBA for more than decade and is currently the #31 Center for the Washington Mystics. She played for UConn before joining the New York Liberty and then the Chicago Sky.

Asia (AD) Durr

Asia (AD) Durr photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Asia (AD) Durr is a Guard for the Atlanta Dream, but started their career with the New York Liberty. Durr uses they/them pronouns and played for the University of Louisville before starting their professional career.

Chelsea Gray

Chelsea Gray photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LAS VEGAS ACES VIA FACEBOOK

Chelsea Gray is the #12 Guard for the Las Vegas Aces, but started her decade-long professional career with the Connecticut Sun. She played college ball at Duke University and has also played for the Los Angeles Sparks. She shares one child with her wife, Tipesa.

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Brittney Griner left the Phoenix Mercury after the 2024 season to join the Atlanta Dream as the #42 Center. Griner, who has been in the league for more than a decade, made international headlines back in 2022 when she was detained in Russia for cannabis vape cartridges at the airport. Originally sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison, she was released after 293 days when then-President Joe Biden made a deal to trade Griner’s release for the “Merchant of Death” Russian arms trafficker, Viktor Bout. Griner had her first child, a son named Bash, with her wife Cherelle in July 2024.

Natisha Hiedeman

Natisha Hiedeman photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA

Marquette University alum Natisha Hiedeman is now the #2 Guard for the Minnesota Lynx. Before being drafted by the Lynx, she played for the Connecticut Sun. Hiederman is married to former Sun player Jasmine Thomas.

Jordan Horston

Jordan Horston photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

JOHN MCCLELLAN VIA WIKIPEDIA

This season will mark Jordan Horston’s third year as the #23 Guard-Forward for the Seattle Storm. She started her basketball career at the University of Tennessee before joining the WNBA.

Natasha Howard

Natasha Howard photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Indiana Fever via Instagram

Forward Natasha Howard is returning to the Indian Fever this season after having left the team to play for the Dallas Wings. She has spent more than a decade in the league and also played for the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, and New York Liberty. She was a star player while at Florida State University where she was a three-time Champion and former Defensive Player of the Year.

Jonquel Jones 

Jonquel Jones photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Jonquel Jones is a Bahamian WNBA player who is the #35 Forward for the New York Liberty. The George Washington University alum has been in the league for nine years and played for the Connecticut Sun before joining the Liberty.

Lou Lopez Sénéchal

Lou Lopez Su00e9nu00e9chal photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

SYNUCONN via X

Lou Lopez Sénéchal is the #8 Guard for the Dallas Wings. The UConn graduate was born in Mexico and the 2025 season will mark her third year in both the WNBA and with the Wings.

Jewell Loyd

Jewell Loyd photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Jewell Loyd just joined the Las Vegas Aces as the #24 Guard. Last season she played for the Seattle Storm where she played for nine years. She’s had a storied basketball career that has included being a two-time WNBA Champion and Olympic gold medalist with team USA in the 2020 Olympics.

Aerial Powers

Aerial Powers photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

ATLANTA DREAM VIA INSTAGRAM

Michigan State graduate Aerial Powers is the #3 Guard for the Atlanta Dream. This is Powers’ second season with the Dream after playing for the Dallas Wings, the Washington Mystics, and the Minnesota Lynx. She is also a WNBA Champion, winning the title in 2016.

Alanna Smith 

Alanna Smith photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

LORIE SHAULL VIA WIKIPEDIA

Australian basketball star Alanna Smith is the #8 Forward for the Minnesota Lynx. The Stanford University alum has been in the WNBA for six years and this will mark her second season with the Lynx. She has also played for the Phoenix Mercury, the Indiana Fever, and the Chicago Sky.

NaLyssa Smith 

NaLyssa Smith photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

David Wilcomes via Wikipedia

NaLyssa Smith just joined the Dallas Wings as their #1 Forward after playing for the Indiana Fever. The Baylor University graduate is currently in a relationship with Connecticut Sun star player DiJonai Carrington.

Breanna Stewart

Breanna Stewart photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Breanna Stewart started her basketball career as the University of Connecticut and is now the #30 Forward for the New York Liberty. The two-time WNBA Champion and former Seattle Storm player met her wife, former WNBA player Marta Xargay, while the pair were playing together in Russia.

Sug Sutton

Sug Sutton photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Washington Mystics via Instagram

Guard Sug Sutton signed with the Washington Mystics for the 2025 season after playing for the Phoenix Mercury, where she started her professional career. Sutton has three years of experience in the league after playing for the University of Texas.

Brittney Sykes

Brittney Sykes photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

WASHINGTON MYSTICS VIA X

Brittney Sykes is the #20 Guard for the Washington Mystics. She came from Syracuse University and joined the WNBA eight years ago, playing for the Atlanta Dream and the Los Angeles Sparks before joining the Mystics.

Alyssa Thomas

Alyssa Thomas photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

@ATHOMAS_25 via Instagram

Forward Alyssa Thomas is starting her first season with the Phoenix Mercury after playing for the Connecticut Sun. She has been in the WNBA for more than a decade and spent all those years with the Sun before leaving for Arizona. Thomas has been engaged to DeWanna Bonner, who was her teammate on the Sun, since 2023.

Courtney Vandersloot 

Courtney Vandersloot photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Guard Courtney Vandersloot is returning to the Chicago Sky this season after playing for the New York Liberty. Vandersloot has been in the league for 13 years since coming from Gonzaga University. She spent most of these years with the Chicago Sky before briefly leaving to play for the Liberty. She is married to Allie Quigley, who was her Chicago Sky teammate before retiring from the WNBA.

Victoria Vivians

Victoria Vivians photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Mississippi University alum Victoria Vivians is the #35 Guard for the Seattle Storm. She has been in the WNBA for six years, and while she plays for the Storm now, she started her career with the Indiana Fever.

Erica Wheeler

Erica Wheeler photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Indiana Fever Guard Erica Wheeler has been in the league for nine years. After playing for Rutgers University, she joined the Atlanta Dream, the New York Liberty, and the Los Angeles Sparks.

Sami Whitcomb

Sami Whitcomb photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

SEATTLE STORM VIA X

Sami Whitcomb is now the #32 Guard for the Phoenix Mercury after leaving the Seattle Storm. The 36-year-old is originally from Australia, but went to college at Washington University. She has been in the WNBA for eight years and has also played for the New York Liberty.

Christyn Williams

Christyn Williams photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

@IAMCHRISTYNWILLIAMS via Instagram

Guard Christyn Williams just signed a training-camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx after having a rocky start in the league. She was drafted by the Washington Mystics in 2022, but was unable to play her first season with the team because of a knee surgery that needed surgery. In 2023 she signed a rest-of-the-season hardship contract with the Phoenix Mercury, but she was waived in May 2024.

Courtney Williams

Courtney Williams photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

MINNESOTA LYNX VIA FACEBOOK

Courtney Williams is the #10 Guard for the Minnesota Lynx. The 30-year-old player has been in the league for nine years after coming from the University of South Florida. She has also played for the Phoenix Mercury, the Connecticut Sun, the Atlanta Dream, and the Chicago Sky.

Emily Engstler

Emily Engstler photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Emily Engstler is the #21 Forward for the Washington Mystics. She played college ball for Syracuse and formerly played for the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx

Kayla McBride

Kayla McBride photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Kayla McBride is a shooting guard for the Minnesota Lynx. McBride has been with the league since 2014 when she was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Stars. She also played for the Las Vegas Aces before joining the Lynx in 2021. Last year, McBride became the first Lynx player in franchise history to have 100+ 3-point shots in a single season.

Kierstan Bell

Kierstan Bell photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Las Vegas Acex via Instagram

Kierstan Bell is the #1 Forward for the Las Vegas Aces. Bell joined the WNBA in 2022 when she was drafted 11th overall by the Aces. She statred her career as an athlete playing basketball for Florida Gulf Coast and Ohio State before joining the league.

Sevgi Uzun

Sevgi Uzun photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Zafer via Wikipedia

Sevgi Uzun is a Turkish basketball player who is currently the #1 Guard for the Phoenix Mercury. The 27-year-old point guard also plays for the Turkish Super League, EuroLeague Women, and the Turkish national team.

Natasha Mack

Natasha Mack photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

John McClellan via Wikipedia

Natasha Mack is the #4 Forward for the Phoenix Mercury. Mack was the second round draft pick for the Chicago Sky in 2021, but ended up being let go that same year after going back and forth with signing a Hardship Contract. She then signed a 7-Day contract with the Minnesota Lynx in 2021 before playing overseas in Poland, New Zealand, and Turkey for two years before joining the Mercury for the 2024 season.

Cecilia Zandalasini

Cecilia Zandalasini photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

NBA MEDIA VENTURES

Cecilia Zandalasini was just drafted by the Golden State Valkyries and will play Forward for the inaugural season. The 30-year-old basketball star has been in the league since 2017 when she was signed by the Minnesota Lynx. She then left to play abroad before returning to the Lynx last season.

Courtney Williams

Courtney Williams photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

John Mac via Wikipedia

University of South Florida alum Courtney Williams joined the WNBA in 2016 when she was signed by Phoenix Mercury. Now, she is the Minnesota Lynx #10 Guard. Since then, she has played for the Connecticut Sun (twice), the Atlanta Dream, and the Chicago Sky before being picked up the Lynx last year.

Arike Ogunbowale

Arike Ogunbowale photo gallery queer women 2025 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Arike Ogunbowale is the #24 Guard for the Dallas Wings. The 28-year-old basketball pro started her career at Notre Dame, where she was named the Athlete of the Year. The 2025 season will mark her sixth year with the Wings. She also plays for Vinyl BC in Unrivaled, the new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league.

 

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