The Unseen Struggles: Life on the WNBA Fringe

There's seemingly no limit to the lengths some players will go to keep their WNBA dreams alive. For Haley Jones, Julie Vanloo, Shyanne Sellers, Harmoni Turner, and Diamond DeShields, the journey is fraught with uncertainty, sacrifice, and resilience.

Haley Jones: A Roller Coaster Ride

Haley Jones, the sixth pick in the 2023 draft, was released by Atlanta and then by Phoenix before finishing her season in a starting role for Dallas. Over 56 days, she flew from Atlanta back home to the Bay Area, then to Phoenix, then back home, then to Dallas and then back home before returning to Dallas again. She lived in four states, pingponged some 7,000 miles between homes, played on three teams and found herself unemployed three times.

Julie Vanloo: A Journey of Hope

Julie Vanloo took a roundabout trip from Golden State to Los Angeles -- via New York -- before settling in for a rest-of-season run with the Sparks. After being waived by the Valkyries, she didn't wallow in the what-ifs. She called her agent, who told her there was a chance the Sparks could have a roster spot for her. She didn't sit around and wait.

Shyanne Sellers: The Reality of Rookies

Shyanne Sellers, a former Maryland star, had put her belongings in storage before flying to the Valkyries training camp. Now she was unsure where home even was. She knew she needed to pack up the bags she brought to camp, and she knew she needed to book a flight. But to where?

Harmoni Turner: The Voice of Doubt

Harvard's Harmoni Turner tried to block out all things WNBA after she was released by the Aces out of training camp. 'You're not ready for the league yet,' Aces coach Becky Hammon told her. Turner went back to Harvard, completed some classwork and participated in graduation ceremonies. Then she moved back in with her parents in Mansfield, Texas.

Diamond DeShields: The Champion's Fall

Diamond DeShields won a WNBA championship with Chicago in 2021 and expected to be one of the faces of the Connecticut franchise in 2025. After being released by the Sun, she sat on her bed in the apartment the Sun had provided for her and took stock of her space. Her juicer, her workout equipment, her many, many bags of clothes she'd carefully arranged in what she thought would be her home for the next year stared at her as though they were mocking her.

The Broader Picture

The WNBA consists of 13 teams. Each team -- according to the CBA -- can have a maximum of 12 players, meaning a playing workforce of 156 at most. In 2025, 38 players were drafted into the league that had 151 returning players. Econ 101: the supply is greater than the demand. Most years, fewer than half of the draftees land a roster spot for opening day. In 2025, 20 draftees made it until opening day, up from 13 of 36 in 2024. In 2023, it was 15. Unlike the NBA, which allows teams to carry 15 players, the WNBA doesn't have a minor league system or a developmental league. So players who are released are often unmoored, unemployed and unhappy.

Conclusion

Life on the fringe of the WNBA is a testament to the resilience and determination of these athletes. Despite the challenges, they continue to fight for their dreams, proving that the journey is just as important as the destination.