After a standout season, the 'Cats' senior forward Grace Sullivan received an invitation to the WNBA's Dallas Wings for training camp.
Northwestern University women’s basketball star Grace Sullivan has received a training camp invitation from the Dallas Wings, the program announced on Tuesday via Instagram.
Last month, the senior joined sports agency Excel Sports Management, which helps bridge the gap between college and professional sports.
WNBA training camps across the league are scheduled to open on Sunday, April 19, 2026, just six days after the 2026 WNBA Draft. Preseason games follow from April 25 to May 3, with the regular season tipping off in early May. The ‘Cats senior forward, who will graduate from school, will report to the Wings as they prepare for the 2026 WNBA season.
The Antioch, Ill., native just experienced a breakout senior campaign with the ‘Cats, averaging 21.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and shooting 53% from the field. The forward posted multiple 30-point performances, including a career-high 37 points against Ohio State, and earned All-Big Ten honors (Second Team Media, Third Team Coaches). Her scoring ranked fourth in the conference and top-15 nationally, while she became the first Northwestern player in years with four 30-point games in a season.
Sullivan’s performance drew attention from the WNBA scouts. In the previous feature on the Chicago Tribune, Sullivan reacted “crazy” to her WNBA possibility given her dominant showcase during the first half of the season. Now, the invitation gives Sullivan a golden chance to fulfill her dream.
The Wings, who hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, selected UConn sharpshooter Azzi Fudd first overall on Monday to pair with her former UConn teammate and reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers. They also added forward Zee Spearman (Tennessee) with the 31st pick.
On the roster front, the Wings already have core pieces, including Arike Ogunbowale and Bueckers, plus recent draft additions Fudd and Spearman. The team recently signed four players to training camp contracts: forward Amy Okonkwo, guard Costanza Verona, guard Shyanne Sellers and forward/center Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu.
Under the new 2026 WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), teams are mandated to carry 12 standard players, while allowing two additional developmental spots, creating chances for training camp invitees like Sullivan. Exact numbers of open spots might fluctuate as teams finalize cuts prior to the regular-season opener in May, but training camp rosters often swell to 15–20 players before trimming.
For Sullivan, the opportunity represents the culmination of a remarkable college journey that saw her transform into one of the Big Ten’s most dominant scorers. The Antioch native will now compete in Dallas for a chance to become the latest Northwestern player to reach the WNBA.
The Wings open their 2026 season on the road against the Indiana Fever on May 9. Their first preseason game against the same opponent is scheduled on April 30.