The 2025 WNBA Draft is officially in the books. Paige Bueckers led the way, while Adja Kane wrapped things up as the final pick of the night. In total, 38 players saw their dreams inch closer to reality, each one hoping to carve out a spot in the W. But here’s something fans, especially the newer ones, might not know! Just because a player was drafted doesn’t mean they’ve made a spot on their WNBA team. The league is brutal like that, something Golden State signee Laeticia Amihere alluded to in a TikTok last year. “Whether you get drafted super high or last round, it’s free game. I got drafted first round last year, and I’m still trying out,” she mentioned, adding that “Everybody got to try out.”

The training camps for all teams kick off on April 27. During this stretch, the incoming draft class will compete alongside a number of players, including those returning from last season, undrafted hopefuls invited to camp, and others vying for a coveted roster spot. When final rosters drop in May, barely half of those drafted end up making the cut. It’s a brutal introduction to the league and a reminder of just how tough it is to stick around in the W. Flau’jae Johnson, who decided to stay in Baton Rouge for another year of eligibility, didn’t hold back when talking about the harsh reality of the WNBA.

Talking on the Best of Both Worlds podcast on April 18, she said, “What really just irritates me is like a lot of these girls probably would like never had a chance to get drafted– never thought they would get drafted. Right now, everybody’s celebrating, like these are lifelong dreams, and now they’re celebrating, and boom, you have to have roster cuts, like you know what I’m saying, it’s like a shortlived happiness.” 

There are only 156 total roster spots in the entire WNBA. That’s 13 teams, each carrying a minimum of 11 and a maximum of just 12 players. So yeah, openings are rare. Unlike the NBA, there’s no G League equivalent in the WNBA. So what happens to the players who don’t make the cut?

Most of them head overseas to continue their careers. Just look at the numbers. Only 13 drafted players made opening day rosters in 2024. In 2023, that number was 15. And in 2022? Just 17. That’s the harsh reality of trying to make it in the W, and it seems the draft is only the first step towards securing your future in the league.

In 2023, former Maryland star and 11th overall draft pick Abby Meyers was released by the Dallas Wings right before the regular season tipped off. And she wasn’t alone. Three players drafted from the 2023 national championship game lineup met a similar fate. Monika Czinano, Alexis Morris, and LaDazhia Williams were all waived by their respective WNBA teams before they could get started.

Last year, Charisma Osbourne, drafted 25th overall by the Phoenix Mercury, was waived during training camp. For the Los Angeles Sparks’ McKenzie Forbes, there was agony as she was cut days before the team’s season opener. In fact, starting a season on the roster of a team is also no guarantee of a prolonged stint in the league.

Ashley Joens appeared in eight games before being waived on June 29, 2023, to make room for veteran Odyssey Sims by the Dallas Wings, two months after she was picked 19th overall by the franchise.

This year name like Paige Bueckers from UConn, Kiki Iriafen from USC, and Dominique Malonga out of France, are pretty much locks to make a roster. No surprises there. Teams like the expansion Valkyries and the Connecticut Sun–who had a bit of a rough offseason– are actively on the hunt for fresh talent. But for most players who heard their names called on draft night in Manhattan? The harsh WNBA reality still looms large for them.

Maybe that’s part of why Flau’jae Johnson decided to hold off on the draft this year. With two new teams–the Toronto Tempo and the Portland franchise–expected to join the league next year, more spots will open up, giving her an even better shot at making it. By 2028, the league plans to have 16 teams.

“Our plan and goal is to get to 16 teams in the next few years,”  WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said last year.

As for Flau’jae Johnson, she will be making her plays under the head coach Kim Mulkey for another year at LSU. She decided to forgo this year’s draft as the timing just didn’t feel right. But make no mistake, she’s not sitting still. Flau’jae’s been busy making offseason moves.

Flau’jae Johnson makes NIL announcement

The LSU guard announced her decision to return for another season in Baton Rouge instead of entering the 2025 WNBA Draft a few weeks back. This surprised many fans initially. But now? It’s all starting to make sense. Flau’jae just dropped another major NIL bag—this time with a starring role in Foot Locker and Puma’s brand-new “Stay in Rotation” campaign.

She’s front and center in Puma’s latest spring ad push, crafted with creative agency We Are Social. The collection includes fresh looks from the Speedcat, Speedcat Ballet, and La France lines. For Flau’jae, it’s just another W in what’s quickly becoming one of the most stacked NIL résumés in the game.

She’s already teamed up with brands like Experian, Powerade, Google Pixel, and of course, Puma. She even led a Puma campaign last fall to kick off the basketball season. Her call to run it back with LSU is looking smarter by the day. With WNBA roster spots tough to come by and NIL bags rolling in, staying in college isn’t just about basketball anymore. It’s also smart, financially.