Maryland Terps Shining in the WNBA: Your Easy Guide to the Pros

Former University of Maryland women’s basketball stars are making waves in the pros right now! Here’s everything you need to know in simple terms.

Quick Overview: Who’s Where?

IMPORTANT POINT: That’s SIX current players plus one coach from Maryland all in the WNBA at the same time! That’s like having your entire starting lineup go pro.

Meet the Terps in the Pros

Chloe Bibby — Minnesota Lynx

She’s having a busy August!

What happened recently:

• August 1: Got released by Chicago Sky, then signed with Minnesota Lynx the SAME DAY — talk about a quick turnaround!
• Early September: Named to the Australian National Team for the 2026 FIBA World Cup

Why it matters: Chloe represents Australia internationally (she has dual citizenship), and the Lynx snapped her up immediately after Chicago let her go.

Kaila Charles — Golden State Valkyries

Steady contributor for the new expansion team

Season averages: 5.9 points • 4.4 rebounds per game

Recent highlights:

• Aug 7 vs Dallas: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
• Aug 9 vs Los Angeles: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

Fun fact: The Valkyries are a BRAND NEW team in 2026 — Kaila is helping build their history from day one!

Brionna Jones — Atlanta Dream

Veteran presence making an impact

Season averages: 9.3 points • 6.1 rebounds per game

Recent highlights:

• Aug 5 vs Phoenix: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists (great passing!)
• Aug 10 vs Toronto: 15 points, 3 rebounds — helped secure the win

Watch her play: The WNBA posted videos showing her smart screen-setting and teamwork with teammates.

Diamond Miller — Connecticut Sun

Sophomore season showing growth

Season averages: 9.5 points • 2.5 rebounds per game

Recent highlights:

• Aug 7 vs Phoenix: 9 points, 4 rebounds
• Featured in the Sun’s "Behind the Glow" series — check out her personality off the court!

Alyssa Thomas — Phoenix Mercury

THE superstar of the group — a living legend

Season averages: 14.8 points • 7.4 rebounds • 8.2 assists per game

Historic August moments:

1. Aug 7: Connecticut Sun retired her #25 jersey before the game — she played 11 seasons there!
2. Same game: Dropped 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
3. Aug 9 vs Washington: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists (double-double!)

Her Connecticut legacy:

• Franchise all-time leader in: games played, points, rebounds, assists, AND steals
• Only player in Sun history with a triple-double (points + rebounds + assists all in double digits in one game)

IMPORTANT POINT: Alyssa Thomas is basically the "Tom Brady" of the Connecticut Sun — the greatest player in franchise history, now playing for Phoenix but honored by her old team.

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough — Atlanta Dream

Defensive specialist

Recent highlight:

• Aug 3 vs Las Vegas Aces: 6 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal

Known for: Pesky defense and energy off the bench. The Dream’s social media posted a clip of her shutting down opponents with the caption "Stop playing with ’em"

Kristi Toliver — Phoenix Mercury Coach

From player to coach

Role: Associate Head Coach (that’s the #2 coaching spot!)

Why it matters: She had a long WNBA playing career, won championships, and now helps run the Mercury’s offense. Having former stars become coaches helps the whole league grow.

Upcoming Games: When to Watch Your Terps

PRO TIP: Thursday Aug 13 is a TERPS SHOWDOWN — Atlanta Dream (2 Terps) vs Connecticut Sun (1 Terp)! Three Maryland alums on one court.

Summary: Why This Matters

1. Maryland pipeline is REAL — 6 active players + 1 coach = one of the strongest college-to-pro pipelines in women’s basketball
2. Alyssa Thomas is a legend — Jersey retired, franchise records everywhere, still playing at All-Star level
3. New team alert — Kaila Charles is making history with the expansion Golden State Valkyries
4. International flavor — Chloe Bibby playing for Australia in the World Cup
5. Coaching the next generation — Kristi Toliver transitioning from star player to star coach
6. Lots of games coming up — 9 games in the next week featuring Terps!

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Q: What does "waived" mean when Chloe Bibby was waived by Chicago?

A: It means the team cut her from their roster. But good news — Minnesota claimed her the same day! In the WNBA, teams have limited roster spots (usually 12), so sometimes good players get waived just because of numbers.

Q: What’s an "expansion team" like the Golden State Valkyries?

A: A brand new team joining the league for the first time! The Valkyries started playing in 2026. Everything is new — the culture, the fans, the history. Kaila Charles gets to be a "founding member."

Q: What’s a "triple-double" that Alyssa Thomas is famous for?

A: When a player gets double-digit numbers in THREE categories in one game. Usually: 10+ points, 10+ rebounds, 10+ assists. It’s SUPER rare and shows you’re amazing at everything.

Q: What does "Associate Head Coach" mean for Kristi Toliver?

A: She’s the head coach’s right hand. She helps design plays, runs practices, makes in-game decisions, and develops players. It’s the #2 coaching job — often a stepping stone to becoming a head coach.

Q: Where can I watch these games if I don’t have cable?

A: Lots of streaming options!

• WNBA League Pass (wnba.com) — most games
• ESPN+/Disney+ — select big games
• Paramount+ — CBS games
• Peacock — NBC games
• NBA TV, USA Network, CBS — if you have a streaming TV service (YouTube TV, Hulu Live, etc.)

Final Thought

The Terps aren’t just in the WNBA — they’re LEADING it. From franchise legends (Alyssa Thomas) to expansion pioneers (Kaila Charles) to international stars (Chloe Bibby) to future coaches (Kristi Toliver), Maryland women’s basketball is everywhere you look in the pros.

Pick a game, pick a player, and start watching — you’re witnessing history!

Go Terps! Go WNBA!