For years, the Stanford Cardinal women's basketball program has been one of the most reliable pipelines to the WNBA. The names have changed, but the representation has remained consistent — and in 2026, nine former Cardinal are on active rosters.

Some are established stars, like Nneka Ogwumike. Some are solid contributors that have carved out meaningful bench roles. Others are hungry for more. 

Here is a look at every former Cardinal currently in the WNBA.

In her 15th WNBA season, Ogwumike has evolved into one of the best female basketball players of all time, collecting 10 all-star appearances, eight all-WNBA teams, a league title and an MVP award.

At 35 and closer to the end of her playing career than the beginning, Ogwumike is still playing at an elite level, averaging 15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and two assists for a Los Angeles Sparks team that looks ready for a return to the playoffs.

At Stanford, she was a headlining player from 2008-12, playing a vital role in guiding the Cardinal to the Final Four all four seasons she was there. A former McDonald's All-American, Ogwumike quickly burst onto the college basketball scene, culminating in her being the top pick in the 2012 WNBA draft.

A national champion with Stanford in 2021, Brink was one of the best players in college basketball during her time on The Farm, providing major star power for a Cardinal squad that was a perennial top-25 program.

The second overall pick in the 2024 draft, Brink went to the Sparks, one spot behind Caitlin Clark, who landed with the Indiana Fever. 

Early in her pro career, Brink has battled injuries that have slowed her development, but at 24 she has plenty of time to put it together. She's averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in her first full year back from an ACL tear.

Smith’s start to her pro career was a slower one. Drafted eighth overall in 2019, Smith initially started her career as a reserve. But after joining the Chicago Sky ahead of the 2023 campaign, Smith took off, evolving into one of the league's best defensive players.

The co-Defensive Player of the Year for 2025, Smith came into this season with a lot of expectations and is now a headlining player for the up-and-coming Dallas Wings.

At Stanford from 2015-19, Smith shone in the middle for the Cardinal en route to winning several defensive awards, including Pac-12 All-Defensive team and second-team AP All-American. 

On Stanford’s 2021 title team, Jones left Stanford averaging over 13 points in 118 games played, establishing herself as a key player for Tara VanDerveer.

The sixth overall pick in the 2023 draft, Jones started her career with the Atlanta Dream before spending a season with the Phoenix Mercury.

Unable to stick with one team, Jones most recently landed with the Portland Fire, an expansion franchise, before being waived on May 21. Her WNBA future is currently uncertain.

Another star on the 2021 Stanford national title team, Hull has been a key reserve for the Indiana Fever since she was drafted by the team sixth overall in 2022.

While not always in the starting lineup, Hull gets her opportunities. She has improved significantly in her time in the league, putting up career numbers last season, starting 30 of 44 games and averaging 27 minutes per game. She also averaged 7.2 PPG, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

In 2026, Hull has been putting up similar numbers in fewer minutes per game, averaging 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.7 minutes. With Clark and Aliyah Boston leading the charge for the Fever, Hull is a terrific complementary piece to this roster. 

Starting her career at Stanford before transferring to Baylor for her final college season, Carrington was a second-round pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft. She has since evolved into a WNBA superstar, earning the 2024 All-Defensive award, as well as the Most Improved Player award. 

Carrington ended last season with the Minnesota Lynx and suffered a mid-foot sprain during the 2025 playoffs. She had surgery on her left foot on April 20, and when healthy, she'll debut with the Chicago Sky. 

A reserve early in her Stanford tenure, Samuelson went on to start her final two seasons, only to go undrafted in the 2017 WNBA Draft. 

She has proven her worth ever since, with her best season coming in 2024, when she averaged over eight points per game with the Washington Mystics.

Now with the Portland Fire, Samuelson missed the first six games with a foot injury before making her season debut Monday, playing 13 minutes and scoring two points on 1-of-4 shooting.

Both Kiki Iriafen and Lauren Betts began their college careers at Stanford, playing together during the 2022-23 season before both eventually transferring. Now they're reunited on the Washington Mystics, and in a quirky twist, both were selected No. 4 overall in consecutive WNBA drafts — Iriafen in 2025 after a season at USC, and Betts in this year's draft after winning a national title with UCLA.

They join Sonia Citron, Shakira Austin and Georgia Amoore as the core of this young team. Citron was selected a pick ahead of Iriafen in 2025, while Austin was the No. 3 pick in 2022. Amoore was taken sixth overall in 2025 but missed her entire rookie season due to injury.

Washington is quietly building something worth keeping an eye on.