TOP 5 Non -drained WNBA players who have become stars against all ft expectations. Kayla Thornton

Unplied successes are among the most edifying in basketball. In the NBA, Ben Wallace and Udonis Haslem have challenged the chances, and the WNBA has legends that have done the same thing, proving that the heart and the agitation can surpass the titles of the day of the draft.
ESPN W has shared a list of WNBA players not drafted to be appointed star Sunday, honoring Kayla Thornton. The Valkyries star has become the first player not drafted since 2019 to have given the head of the head after an exceptional season with Golden State.
Although ESPN’s list holds seven names, take a look at the five best players in the undeveloped WNBA who have become stars against all expectations.
TOP 5 Non-drained WNBA players who have become All-Stars FT. Kayla Thornton
# 5. Erica Wheeler (2019)
The latest player who is not drafted to be selected in an All-Star game, Erica Wheeler, had a long trip to the summit. Member of the Scarlet Knights team from Rutgers, Wheeler was not drafted in the 2013 draft and headed abroad. She played in Porto Rico, Turkey and Brazil, before winning a test with Atlanta’s dream in 2015.
Appearing in 17 games for The Dream, she was then cut and joined the Liberty, playing three games. However, his career prospered with Indiana fever, which signed it in 2016. His selection of stars came in 2019, after an excellent start, and was appointed MVP All-Star. Despite an inspiring trip, Wheeler was not very successful in the League and is currently with the Seattle storm.
# 4. Kayla Thorton (2025)
A year after Wheeler’s rejection, Kayla Thornton was not drafted in the WNBA 2014 WNBA after a successful mandate with UTEP minors. The attacker ended as the top scorer of all time in the program and reached an average of 19.5 points per game in his last season. After her omission in the project, she headed for Puerto Rico and Israel before making her debut in the WNBA.
Signing with The Mytics, Thornton played 10 games for them before going to Puerto Rico and Korea. She returned to W with the Dallas in 2017 and moved to NY Liberty in 2023, playing a crucial role in the victory of their commissioner and the WNBA. Signed by the Valkyries in November, she became their top scorer and obtained her first selection of the WnBA stars.
# 3. Erika de Souza (2009, 2013, 2014)
Unlike Thornton and Wheeler, Erika de Souza has never entered the WNBA draft. The Brazilian was signed by the Sparks in 2002 after her first professional season in Spain. Upon her arrival, she won her first WNBA title with the Sparks while making 11 appearances all season.
However, she only returned to WNBA until 2007, signing with the Connecticut Sun. Although he did not play a lot of games, she joined the dream of Atlanta newly formed in 2008 and helped the team with its stammerings. Becoming an important player for Atlanta, from Souza obtained three heads’ heads between 2009 and 2014. The center is still active today at 43 and plays professionally in Belgium.
# 2. Wonder (2000, 2002)
Similar to De Souza, Mwadi Mabika has never entered the WNBA draft. On the contrary, it was brought to the United States by the legend of the NBA Dikembo Mutombo. Upon her arrival in 1997, she was signed by the Sparks and on average 6.0 points in her first season. The custody improved this production in the following years and made its first appearance in All-Star of the WNBA in 2000.
After this success, Mabika helped the Sparks to win the title in 2001 and 2002 and obtained his second Hochement de Tête in 2002, after his best season in the League. She also obtained a selection of the first WNBA team that year, with an average of 16.8 points per game.
# 1. Becky Hammon (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011)
Although the new fans know her as the coach of Las Vegas, Becky Hammon was a great player during her time. Although he was not drafted in the draft of the 1999 WNBA, Hammon was signed by Liberty and impressed during his recruited season while he supported Teresa Weatherspoon. After improving regularly in the coming years, Hammon was selected as a star in 2003 after an average of 14.7 ppg.
After that, Hammon was selected All-Star in 2005 and 2006 before moving to San Antonio, where she obtained her fourth sign of stars. With the stars, the goalkeeper recorded his best season on 19.5 ppg, earned him a fifth appearance of the stars and obtained a last sign of the head in 2011, which makes him the only un residual player with three appearances or more stars.
Edited by Nadim El Kak