Monday in New York City at the WNBA draft, UConn national champion guard Paige Bueckers went first to the Dallas Wings. Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl Hailey Van Lith went ninth to the Chicago Sky.
Deja Kelly didn't get drafted.
Deja Kelly scored 2,249 points in her college career at Oregon and North Carolina, a smooth ball handler and mid-range shooter, a floor leader and tenacious defender.
The WNBA held its draft at The Shed in New York City, a cultural center in the Hudson Yards complex near High Line Park and the Chelsea art gallery district. An upscale venue with a retractable shell that's held theatrical productions like "The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe" and Kenneth Branaugh in "King Lear."
For the WNBA it's a party and a celebration, a swanky event. There's an orange carpet. The athletes glam up.
Deja Kelly for the 2025 WNBA Draft! 😍 pic.twitter.com/XvDbAccoPb
— The Annie Room (@TheAnnieRoom) April 14, 2025
A year ago Kelly transferred to Oregon for her final season, a decision that shocked Tarheel basketball fans and the national press.
“I found myself not playing with the joy that I used to play the game with,” Kelly said. “That’s as blunt as I can get, and that is not a great feeling. I felt it early on in the season, midseason, to where I really just did not want to play.”
She led the Ducks to a 20-12 record and a first-round win over Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament. From Duncanville, Texas, she topped North Carolina in scoring for three straight seasons, all-ACC three straight years, over 16 points a game as a senior.
Kelly earned McDonald's All-American honors at Duncanville, the State Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020. Her mother Theresa Nunn was a former player at Valley City State, a coach and trainer who guided her daughter from a young age.
Kelly developed an advanced understanding of the game and laser-focused goals.
She's an astute businesswoman who works as a brand representative and broadcaster, well-prepared for a career outside basketball. Even so, one of the league's 13 teams are likely to offer her a training camp contract.
Throughout the season Oregon coach Kelly Graves praised Kelly for her leadership, humility and work ethic.
"Scoring-wise, she hasn't had her best season. But efficiency-wise, one of the reasons she came was to prepare herself for the league, or for the pros, and she is, efficiency-wise, having the best season of her career,” Graves said.
The drive, leadership qualities and communication skills are likely to make her a success at whatever she does next, but she can't be ruled out for a successful career in women's pro basketball. Monday night the league's 13 teams took 36 players. Kelly would be an asset to any one of them.