WNBA Overseas: Players Making Headlines On Foreign Teams


Every offseason in the WNBA, stars combine. Where they may be rivals during the summer, many will join forces and conquer the respective foreign professional leagues. Some teams, like Russian powerhouse, Dynamo Kursk, has as many as five WNBA players on their roster.

Currently, more than 80 players from the WNBA are in action in 14 different countries across the globe. After an incredible finish to the 2017 WNBA season, we can now shift our attention to what the league’s best are up to during the off season. Here are some names that you love to root for during the season domestically, who are making serious headlines overseas:

Brittney Griner – Phoenix Mercury

The two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, Griner is coming off a monster year, where she led the league in scoring (21.9 ppg), and grabbed 7.6 rpg, as well. Now, Griner is overseas playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia. The three-time WNBA all-star leads her team in scoring thus far with 17.8 ppg, while adding 5.5 boards and 1.8 blocks per game . Her team is 2-2 through the first 4 games of the season, losing their most recent game by just 2 points.

Nneka Ogwumike – Los Angeles Sparks

The 2016 MVP’s highlighting a talent-rich roster for Russian’s Dynamo Kursk. While she’s suited up for Kursk in just two of the team’s four games she’s made her usual impact in those two, averaging 18.0 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Kursk, one of the premier teams in Russia, has opened up to a 4-0 start to the season.

Cheyenne Parker – Chicago Sky

One of the WNBA’s rising stars, Parker is coming off a big performance for Polish club Wisła CANPACK Kraków, having tallied 22 points (8/11), 9 rebounds, and 2 assists. Her team is second in the league standings through eight games, with a record of 7-1.

Allie Quigley – Chicago Sky

As a two-time 6th Woman of the Year award winner in the WNBA, Quigley leads famed Turkish club Galatasaray in scoring (20.7 points per game), while grabbing 2.8 rebounds. Galatasaray is 3-2 through its first 5 games of the season, having lost two in a row. However, in the most recent game, Quigley lit up the stat sheet, totaling 21 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, and 2 stl.

Brionna Jones – Connecticut Sun

Playing for Nadezhda Orenburg in Russia’s PBL. Jones is coming off of her best game of the young season this past week, as she totaled 13 pts, 9 reb, and 2 blk.

Crystal Langhorne – Seattle Storm

Langhorne, a WNBA two-time All-Star , has played in 4 of 6 games for Hungarian squad Uniqua Sopron, and is averaging 6.5 pts, and 4.3 reb, in 19.8 minpg. The WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2009, has her team off to a scorching hot start to the season at 5-1, winning their last two games by an average of 35.5 points.

Courtney Vandersloot – Chicago Sky

Vandersloot is playing overseas in Turkey for professional team, Yakin Dogu. Coming off a red-hot season in the WNBA, Vandersloot hasn’t slowed down a bit, leading Yakin Dogu points (14.2), and assists (7.8), playing 30.8 minutes per contest. The 2011 WNBA 3rd overall pick has played a key role in the success the team has had so far, as they’ve rolled out to a 5-0 start to the season.

Sonja Petrovic – Phoenix Mercury

Petrovic has enjoyed a very successful start to her season for Dynamo Kursk, playing alongside Ogwumike. Playing in each of the team’s four games, she is leading the squad in points (18.3), while chipping in 7.5 rebounds as well.

Anna Cruz – Minnesota Lynx

Cruz is the last player on Dynamo Kursk to keep an eye on, alongside Ogwumike and Petrovic. With all these WNBA players making up one roster, it is no wonder the team is off to their 4-0 start to the season. In 4 games played, Cruz is stuffing the stat sheet in a variety of ways. She is averaging 7.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in 28.8 minutes.