Though some teams have already fallen, the steady drumbeat of March Madness continues on — and with it, some collegiate players who haven't received the attention they deserve are beginning to shine. It always feels intense to realize the WNBA Draft takes place so soon after the NCAA Tournament concludes, and that's because, well, it is. The Final Four is played April 6, the Draft is held April 14, and preseason games kick off at the start of May.
Not every athlete is built to handle that kind of pressure, but the way these five are playing, it seems like they've got what it takes.
Dalayeh Daniels, Washington Huskies
A 6'4" big who can run the floor and finish plays is a fever dream for some (many!) WNBA teams, so it's a shame that Daniels hasn't been getting more attention heading into the draft. Though the Huskies went down 63-60 to the Columbia Lions during the First Four, Daniels had a standout game with a double-double (17 points and 11 rebounds) and averaged 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists during the regular season.
Taylor Jones, Texas Longhorns
A lot of players at Texas get attention (that's what happens when your entire team is excellent), but Jones is one that a few people should be looking at, especially as the Longhorns continue a run to the championship. The 6'4" forward has strong defensive ability, can rebound, and can score in the paint — and she's proven time and time again she's tough and committed to her team.
Emily Ryan, Iowa State
Ryan has been open about her coaching aspirations after her collegiate career ends, but she's the type of player at a few teams in the W should at the very least take a second look at. Coach Bill Fennelly has praised the 5'11" guard as the team's very heart and "quite a person for our team and someone our players are lucky they got to play with." Ryan also holds the team-high most assists in a game at 16 and has nearly 1,000 career assists in total.
Ugonne (Michelle) Onyiah, Cal
Onyiah is sometimes overlooked for reasons that baffle the mind, especially as she's a great 6'3" center who played in all 34 games for Cal this season. She averaged 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in 22 minutes per game and racked up at least 10 double-doubles.
Angela Dugailć, UCLA
The 23-year-old might be UCLA's "grandma" as she's ending her 5th year of eligibility, but she's also a serious part of what has made the Bruins so powerful this season. Though her stats are not wildly noteworthy, they are consistent — and at the end of the day, there are plenty of teams that prefer to have athletes they can rely on to get hit the court and fulfill their role, not just have a great game once or a twice a