With league expansion on the horizon, the WNBA has been offering more and more opportunities for overseas players to come to the United States and compete at the highest level of basketball. This European offseason has been exciting, with the foundation of the Golden State Valkyries, a team that has shown a particular commitment towards international talent. In fact, during the league expansion draft, they selected seven international players, more than they picked from America.
The team managed to assemble some compelling international pieces: Cecilia Zandalasini (via Minnesota), Maria Conde (via Chicago), Julie Vanloo (via Washington), Carla Leite (via Dallas), Iliana Rupert (via Atlanta), Stephanie Talbot (via Los Angeles), and Temi Fagbenle (via Indiana), all of whom arrived in the Bay Area and had an immediate impact for the new franchise. In addition, this season has seen several organizations betting on European talents during the training camp, and it has worked out great for some teams – particularly the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty, who are currently sitting in the second and third place in the league. The Mercury have received major contributions from different internationals, including a well-known name like Satou Sabally, as well as Kitija Laksa, an older rookie gaining her first real experience in the league. While the Liberty have had a core of internationals who had played major roles into the most recent Championship and the continuous success of the past years.
For those who had the chance to follow the FIBA 2025 Women’s EuroBasket, which occurred in late June, the quality of overseas basketball is clearly on the rise. The stars that are representing their countries are earning more and more eyes, and with that, the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of playing in the WNBA, whenever their commitments allow. Some standout players who had eye-popping performances during the most prestigious FIBA European tournament include the following: Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy), Leonie Fiebich (Germany), Janelle Salaün (France), the Belgian duo of guards Julie Vanloo and Julie Allemand, and one name that few can forget—Emma Meesseman. The Belgian post player who just recently announced her comeback to the league made a massive impact and brought home the MVP award of the whole competition.
These talents, and many more, are leaving their mark on the court in the WNBA, and it has been a remarkable season for many of them. Let’s take a deeper look at their performances and how they have all become valuable assets to their teams. Beginning with one of the teams that has had one of the best starts, the Mercury have put the spotlight on a group of “senior” rookies who have stepped up big and played major roles right away. Laksa, who came from a successful season overseas—winning the Italian League and reaching the EuroLeague Women quarter-finals—has had an incredible first half of the season. She averaged 10.1 points per game (PPG) in June and scored in double figures in 7 of her 11 games during the month. The Latvian sharpshooter has been a significant threat for the Mercury’s offense, and in watching her play, it is clear that after five years since her WNBA draft selection (No. 11 pick in 2020 by Seattle), her international experience is now paying off in the league. Alongside Laksa, the other player that has stepped up and helped the team stay in the high part of the standings is WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally. The German versatile forward, in her first season with the Mercury organization after a career with the Dallas Wings, arrived in Phoenix and left a mark from the start. In her first game, she scored 27 points, setting a new record for a player’s debut in franchise history. She is currently 9th in the league in scoring, averaging 17.6 PPG—her second-best career average. In addition to the experienced German piece and the Latvian “senior” rookie, Phoenix added an undrafted gem in Monique Akoa Makani. The Cameroon-born guard has generated the second-best plus/minus stat of the team, just behind Sabally. She has impacted the team in various ways and has shown herself to be a fearless competitor for this newly assembled roster.
Contrary to Phoenix, a team that has kept the core of their Europeans in place over the past seasons is the New York Liberty. With Leonie Fiebich arriving in New York for her first WNBA experience in 2024, Nyara Sabally drafted 5th in 2022, and Marine Johannès, who debuted with the Liberty in 2019, New York has made a point of keeping and protecting their Europeans as key pieces on the roster over the years. Fiebich, after a standout rookie year full of accolades, was selected in the WNBA All-Rookie Team and won her first championship. She then repeated herself as a core element for the Liberty. She is currently shooting among the best percentages on the team: her 54.5 percent from the field leads New York and her 46.7 percent from the three-point line trails only teammate Kennedy Burke. Johannés, after sitting out last season in favor of French national team commitments, has returned as an additional guard threat, bringing creativity and excitement to the court with her unique playstyle, as you can see in the following highlights.
She is one of the most consistent European guards in the league and it is really interesting to see how her numbers in terms of shooting percentages have remained remarkably steady year-to-year (fluctuating from 46.4 percent to 41.4 percent from the field). The third European player on New York’s roster is Nyara Sabally, who has been missing the past three games due to an injury, and has been having her best season in the league so far. She’s playing a starting role for the current no. 2 seed in the WNBA and has been contributing 5.9 PPG and 4.9 RPG while shooting almost 50 percent from the field. Another international on the roster is Jonquel Jones, born in Freeport, Bahamas, who also holds Bosnian citizenship and has competed for Bosnia and Herzegovina in some international competitions. After winning a WNBA Championship and Finals MVP, Jones has been limited by injury this season, which limited her to just nine games in the first half of the season, before returning after the All-Star break in mid-July. Despite the setbacks, the Liberty’s center has posted solid numbers for the defending champions, averaging 12.1 PPG and 9.6 RPG. Finally, just a few days ago, New York signed and received commitments from two new players. Firstly, the Liberty picked up Australian forward Stephanie Talbot after being waived by the Valkyries before the All-Star break. During her stunt in the Bay, Talbot averaged 3.6 PPG and 3.3 RPG. While secondly, they received a verbal commitment from 2019-Finals-MVP Emma Meesseman, who has just recently landed in New York and will join the team on August 1.
Emma Meesseman arrived in New York this afternoon multiple sources tell @Winsidr pic.twitter.com/1B0DRlYYAG
— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) July 30, 2025
INBOX: “The New York Liberty has signed highly decorated Belgian forward Emma Meesseman, the team announced today. Emma will make her New York Liberty debut tonight against the Connecticut Sun, wearing No. 33.” @Winsidr
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) August 1, 2025
There is not too much need of presentation for one of the best ever European players to play in the WNBA. Her last stunt in the league was in 2022, but she has been dominating overseas and she is ready to come back to the league and continue to write her legacy. These two last additions are impressive pickups for the Liberty, as Talbot represents a veteran player that can bolster their depth and Meesseman is that big piece that everybody in the league would want to add to their team at this moment because of her talent and winning experience.
Up atop the WNBA standings, ahead of the New York Liberty, you will find the Minnesota Lynx, currently leading the league with 23 wins and only 5 losses. The Lynx currently features four international players in their roster, each of whom have become a crucial component for the team’s success, even though they had distinctly different paths to the WNBA. Alanna Smith, in her seventh season in the WNBA, has played a steady and persistent role in the Lynx. The Australian forward brings two-way versatility, providing both offense and defense that is always a positive for every roster. In fact, she is currently top 4 in her team’s statistics in steals, blocks, rebounds, scoring and field goal percentage. Alongside her, another key international player for the Lynx is Bridget Carleton, a former Iowa State forward from Canada. Carleton has been with Minnesota since 2019, and is currently the third-most used player in the roster (28.9 MPG) and third in plus/minutes with +8.6, one of the highest of the entire league. She impacts the game in a variety of ways, from her playmaking abilities to her defensive instincts, and has been a consistent presence for the Lynx. Finally, Minnesota is also home to the only two Russian players of the league: Maria Kliundikova and Anastasiia Olairi Kosu. Maria Kliundikova, formerly known as Maria Vadeeva, already has WNBA experience, after she played her first two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks back in 2018 and 2019. She was a core piece during that time, regularly playing double-digit minutes for the Sparks. Now she is back in the league, after seven years of absence, eager to add a WNBA championship to her impressive collection of titles in Russia. In contrast, Kosu is a first-year rookie, selected with the No. 15 pick in the 2025 draft. She has experience with the Russian national team, where she dominated in the youth competitions, as well as in the Russian league. Despite having limited playing time in Minnesota, averaging just 2.8 MPG, Kosu’s ability to score is evident, as she is currently averaging 1.6 PPG in those few minutes.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Wings started the season without any Europeans in their roster, but added two talented bigs on the way: Luisa Geiselsöder and Li Yueru. The German and the Chinese posts have quickly left their mark and integrated into the team’s rotation. Geiselsöder has played 17 games, averaging 22.9 MPG, with 7.8 PPG and 4.9 RPG. Li Yueru, who arrived in Dallas at the beginning of June from Seattle, has averaged 8.1 PPG and 6.6 RPG in 22 MPG. Though they came from different situations, they both have had an immediate positive impact, contributing significantly in both starting and reserve roles. There is also another duo of international guards in the league, but this duo is of conational guards, and we can find it in Los Angeles: Julie Allemand and Julie Vanloo, both of whom share not just the same first name, but also history. The two Belgian guards recently made history at the FIBA 2025 EuroBasket Women’s tournament, where they helped lead Belgium to its second consecutive title. Upon her return to the States, the Golden State Valkyries waived Vanloo. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Sparks picked up the crafty and exciting guard soon after and offered her a fresh opportunity in a new team. While she is still finding her rhythm with the Sparks, Vanloo has already shown flashes of brilliance in LA as well, and is currently averaging 12.2 MPG. Her playing time has seen a drop compared to her on-court time in Golden State as she was playing 20 MPG, but game by game she is gaining more space into the Sparks’ rotations. As for Allemand, she is ranking second on the team in assists with 4.2 APG, and is leading the team in plus/minus while playing over 24 MPG, showing her positive impact on the team’s chemistry.
France is the European country with the largest representation, and the Valkyries have been home to many of those players. They currently have three French players on their roster: Carla Leite, Janelle Salaün, and the most recent addition,Iliana Rupert. All three are having their own unique experiences in the Bay Area. Leite, the 21-year-old guard, is in her first year in the league, having been selected by the Valkyries in the Expansion Draft from Dallas. She is currently averaging 7.2 PPGand 1.9 APG, and has been incredibly consistent on the court whenever she was part of the rotation. While her role has fluctuated due to the changing rosters that the Valkyries have shown, she has always been ready to contribute when called upon. In contrast, Salaün, who played in the EuroBasket tournament and missed a few games, has been a great surprise for the league. As an undrafted 23-year-old rookie, the French player brings great European experience, including a standout year playing for EuroLeague’s Schio. She is currently averaging 9.8 PPG and 4.6 RPG in just over 23 MPG, displaying impressive versatility with a mix of physicality and skill set. The most recent addition to the Valkyries is Iliana Rupert, a 2022 WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She is ready to bring that experience and finesse to the team, while adding another layer of talent to the roster.
Beyond France, the Valkyries are also the most dominant European-presence team, with Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy), Temi Fágbénlé (Great Britain), and Laeticia Amihere (Canada) rounding out the squad. Zandalasini recently came back to the Valkyries after an amazing run with Team Italy, making history at EuroBasket, ending a 30-year absence from the tournament’s top ranks. She has embraced her role in the Bay Area and is performing at a high level, reflecting her growth into an even more crucial role in a WNBA team. Coming from a top franchise like Minnesota, Zandalasini brings elite-level basketball and is currently posting career-best numbers in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Fágbénlé, another experienced veteran, joined the Valkyries from Indiana, and just like Zandalasini, she is having a career-best year as well. The 6 ’4 British forward is currently averaging 8.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.8 APG, all of which are her best career averages to date. Finally, Amihere is in a different spot from the previously mentioned players. Although she is still finding her place in the league, she has shown time and time again that she belongs. She initially signed with the Valkyries and participated in their training camp, where she averaged 17.4 mpg and 12.5 ppg. After being waived in the middle of May, she rejoined the team on June 8. Amihere is currently averaging 6.1 PPG and playing 14.5 MPG, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field.
Connecticut and Indiana had been home to only two International players this season. Connecticut has proven to be a great place for Leïla Lacan to begin her WNBA career. Since she joined the team in July, she has averaged over 24 MPG and scored 8.5 PPG, immediately becoming one of the top five scorers of the team. Her energy has sparked the team, and with the return of Marina Mabrey, there is optimism that Connecticut can salvage some competitive play in the second half of the season. In addition to Lacan, Connecticut signed and recently picked up an exciting player in Migna Touré. Touré had a standout preseason with the Valkyries, showcasing her scoring ability and talent.
In Indiana, the Fever have reactivated Damiris Dantas following the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, where she represented Brazil and helped her team compete with the United States in the tournament’s final. In her 10th season in the league, the Brazilian forward has been a solid and steady piece for a team still navigating injuries and an evolving roster. Dantas has finished the most recent win against Phoenix with 12 points (4-6 FG and 2-3 3PT), three rebounds and one assist in 10 minutes, showing how she can constantly bring valuable experience to the Fever. In addition, recently, Indiana also signed Chloe Bibby to a seven-day contract. The Australian was added to the roster due to the long-list injury report accumulated by the Fever in the most recent period. For the 27-year-old player there is an expectation of solidity and experience on both ends of the court as it is not the first stunt in the league this season. In fact, she was part of the Golden State Valkyries’ team for a short period of time, before being waived and joining the Australian national team that won gold at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asian Cup in July.
Alongside Dantas at the AmeriCup was Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky second-year center, selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She is currently averaging 12.5 points (third on the team) and 7.9 rebounds (second on the team). Cardoso and Angel Reese have formed a strong duo, both coming from the same draft class. The Sky also has two other internationals with extensive league experience in the team: Kia Nurse and Rebecca Allen. Arriving from Los Angeles and Phoenix, respectively, both have posted similar numbers for Chicago, with Nurse averaging 7.3 points over 23.4 minutes, and Allen averaging 6.5 points in 20.8 minutes. Their long-tenured careers in the league provide invaluable senior leadership for the Sky, as they rotate between different roles, consistently contributing to the team’s effort. In addition, Chicago also recently signed Sevgi Uzun to a rest-of-season contract. The guard from Turkey had past experience in the league in Dallas and after her EuroBasket play, where she averaged 13.7 points and 4.2 assists while being also inserted in the All-Star second team in the whole tournament, she is ready to bring her talent into the league and help Chicago to fill the point-guard void.
Another team with a similar mix of Canadian and Australian players is Washington, which is home to the duo of Australian point guards Jade Melbourne and Georgia Amoore, as well as Canadian Aaliyah Edwards. Melbourne and Amoore project to be two of the most talented Australian point guards of the future for their nation. Melbourne is having a great year, posting her best personal numbers ever in the league in every statistical category: minutes, points, rebounds, and assists. She has been incredibly functional and efficient on this young, dynamic Washington team. On the other hand, Amoore, a Kentucky graduate, was selected with the no. 6 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, but suffered an ACL injury just before the season began. As a result, she will miss the entire 2025 season. Nevertheless, she’s been a consistent supporter on the Washington sidelines. Fans are eagerly anticipating the day she gets to showcase her full talent also in the major women’s basketball league.
Aaliyah Edwards, the no. 6 pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, has seen her role reduced during her second season in the league, dropping from nearly 22 MPG to 14 MPG. Her injury earlier in the summer and the big presence of new incoming players have limited her on-court time. Despite trade rumors swirling around her name, one thing is clear: Edwards continues to make an impact whenever she touches the floor. Her recent performances reflect just that: she scored 13 points and pulled down three rebounds in 14 minutes, and added seven points and four rebounds in just 10 minutes during her last two games against Los Angeles (7/16 and 7/23). The last international player on the Mystics’ roster is Sika Koné. Unfortunately, Koné has not had many opportunities to play this season, logging only about 70 minutes the whole season. She is currently suspended from the roster as she prepares to participate in FIBA AfroBasket with Team Mali, which is trying to bring home a title after 18 years of absence from the highest podium. Mali has recently secured second and third places in four of the past years’ competitions, and Koné is approaching this tournament with a clear mission to help her country make history and claim the championship.
The final team home for internationals is Seattle, which selected Dominique Malonga, a prominent French star in the making, with the no. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Seattle has also been an excellent place for Australian star Ezi Magbegor to continue to develop her talent. With Magbegor (and former MVP Nneka Ogwumike) mentoring Malonga, the future in Seattle is looking incredibly bright. Magbegor, a two-time All-WNBA Defensive Team player, has consistently developed her game and become a key contributor to the success of her team. She is currently averaging 9.8 PPG and 5.5 RPG in her last four games, and while much of her contribution is hard to be found in the stat sheet because it is related to the defensive side of the floor, it is clear that she is one of the best in the league on that end of the court; and it is a great opportunity for Malonga to be able to learn and grow under a player like Magbegor, whose presence will no doubt accelerate Malonga’s development. Malonga, who is currently averaging 5.0 PPG and 3.5 RPG in just 10.1 MPG, has been transitioning to the league well, showing some sparks of her undeniable talent and skillset that make her a future star in this league.
In addition to these standout players, it is important to recognize other internationals who, although they had shorter opportunities to showcase their talents, unfortunately were waived throughout the season. With league expansion on the horizon, we hope to see these players back soon, repping another franchise’s jersey. Here are some notable names: Marieme Badiane (France), Kyara Linskens (Belgium), who all participated in FIBA EuroBasket; Shaneice Swain from Australia; Murjanatu Musa from Nigeria; and Kariata Diaby from the Ivory Coast.
Internationals are becoming an integral part of the WNBA, and it is exciting to see their presence grow alongside the league’s expansion. Their talent deserves to be showcased, and we are excited to see them continue to contribute to the game both at the domestic level and internationally.
Note: Stats have been updated through July 30, 2025. Unless otherwise noted, all stats come from WNBA.com
