The WNBA is a cutthroat league. The limited number of roster spots on every team leads to highly talented college players being cut every year and players having to grind it out each offseason and preseason to try and make the cut.
For former Oregon Ducks star Deja Kelly, that grind has become a reality. After being named a three-time First-Team ACC All-American at North Carolina and then leading the Ducks to the NCAA tournament in 2024, Kelly went without hearing her name called in the WNBA draft earlier this spring. She signed a training camp contract with the Aces, and has been practicing and playing in preseason.