When Nikki Collen left the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream during at the star of the 2021 WNBA season to take over as the head coach at Baylor, she was assuming control of one of the best programs in women’s collegiate basketball in the past 15 years – the Bears with three NCAA titles since 2015 and 12 Big 12 Conference titles under Kim Mulkey.

Collen made it 13 with a Big 12 regular-season conference championship in her rookie season to add to a history of success, not to mention a pipeline of WNBA talent. At least one player from Baylor has been taken in the WNBA Draft for six consecutive seasons dating back to 2016 and that streak will continue on April 11, to make it a lucky seven when NaLyssa Smith is taken, expected to be among the top 3 picks.

Smith, the 2021 Wade Trophy winner as the national player of the year, has followed up with a stellar senior season and looks WNBA ready.

Smith, an AP and WBCA All-American, averaged an eye-popping 22.1 points and 11.5 rebounds a game, scoring in double figures in every game this season.

Queen Egbo, the 6-3 center from Houston, who like Smith started in 33 games this season, has thrived under Collen as well, averaging 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds with 63 blocked shots.

The program that has sent Odyssey Sims and Didi Richards to the WNBA, and ranks sixth in league history with nine first-round picks, has added significantly to that list in just the last few two seasons.

In 2020, for the first time in program history, three Bears’ players were drafted – Lauren Cox, Te’a Cooper and Juicy Landrum. Cox, currently with the Los Angeles Sparks, became the third-highest selection in history behind Brittney Griner at No. 1 in 2013 and Sims at No. 2 in 2014.

And last season, a pair of guards – Didi Richards (New York Liberty) and DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun) were taken, each making big contributions in their rookie season to their playoff-bound team and bringing Baylor’s total of drafted WNBA players to 19.

Collen’s experience in the WNBA is going to continue to benefit young players coming to Waco, and continue the Bears’ tradition of filling WNBA rosters with young talent.

Longtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

NCAA players mentioned in this article will become eligible for the 2022 draft at such point as they renounce their remaining NCAA eligibility and thereby make themselves available for the  draft.