Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Blue Devils alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Experienced champion Elizabeth Williams, a 6'3'' center who is 32 years old and graduated from Duke in 2015, where she received the All-ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, currently plays professionally in the WNBA. In a recent game, Williams and her team, the Chicago Sky (3-3), faced off against the Dallas Wings (3-3) in the Women's National Basketball Association. Despite her best efforts, Williams could not lead the Sky to victory over the Wings. During the game, Williams contributed 5 points and 2 blocks in just 18 minutes of play. The Chicago Sky, ranked #4, ultimately fell to the Wings with a score of 89-99 on the road. However, it is important to note that this defeat occurred early in the season, and there are still plenty of opportunities for the team to improve and succeed. Although the Sky did not emerge victorious, Williams displayed an impressive performance against the Dallas Wings, showcasing her skills with 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Throughout the current season, Williams has been averaging 4.0 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game across the six games she has participated in thus far. As a champion, Williams remains a key player for the Chicago Sky, and her contributions will be crucial as they continue to strive for success in the WNBA.
#2. Lexie Brown, a 31-year-old point guard standing at 5'9'' and an alumna of the Blue Devils from 2018, is a WNBA professional player. She was awarded the All-ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2018. Recently, she played for the Seattle Storm in the Women's National Basketball Association but could not lead her team to victory against the Connecticut Sun. In a closely contested match where the Storm (#8) was narrowly defeated 80-78 in Uncasville, Brown contributed 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in her 22 minutes on the court. Despite her commendable performance, the Seattle Storm suffered their third consecutive loss. Throughout the season, Brown has been averaging 4.7 points per game and 2.0 rebounds in the six games she has participated in so far.
#3. Ashlon Jackson, a 6'0'' guard who graduated from Duke University in 2026, was a key contributor to their ACC Regular Season Champion title that year. She has since transitioned to playing professionally in the WNBA. In a recent game, Jackson faced off against Lexie Brown, a fellow WNBA player. In a thrilling match, Jackson helped lead the Connecticut Sun to a narrow 80-78 victory over the Seattle Storm, with Jackson making a crucial impact despite scoring only 4 points in 15 minutes of play. Her performance included scoring 4 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and providing 1 assist against Seattle, highlighting her ability to make meaningful contributions on the court. This victory further solidified Jackson's reputation as a champion, showcasing her value to her team. Currently, Jackson maintains an average of 2.0 points per game in the two games she has played this season.
#4. Italian champion Sofia Roma, a 6'2'' center who is 29 years old and an alumna of the Blue Devils from 2019, made a significant impact in the Puerto Rican League that year by guiding her team to the final. Currently playing professionally in Iceland, she showcased her skills by helping U.M.F. Njardvik secure a victory against the league leader Haukar with a dominant 95-70 win last Sunday. In the highly anticipated matchup between two top 3 ranked teams in group Places 1-5, Roma's stellar performance of 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 17 minutes played a pivotal role in the team's success. Despite this being her first season with U.M.F. Njardvik, Roma's contributions on the court have been exceptional, reinforcing her reputation as a finalist. With an average of 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the 19 games she has participated in this season, Roma continues to demonstrate her talent and versatility. Additionally, it is worth noting that she holds Puerto Rican citizenship, adding to her diverse background and experience in the world of basketball.
#5. Chelsea Gray, a 5'11'' point guard who graduated from Duke in 2014, showcased her skills in the WNBA by leading the Las Vegas Aces to a thrilling 85-84 victory over the Atlanta Dream in the Women's National Basketball Association last Sunday. Gray, who helped Duke reach the final of the ACC Tournament in 2014, was named the MVP of the game after scoring 21 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists in 33 minutes on the court. This intense matchup between the top two teams in the Western group was a highlight of the round, with the Las Vegas Aces now boasting a 4-2 record for the season following their fourth consecutive win. Gray's exceptional performance against Atlanta was instrumental in securing the victory, cementing her status as the champion of the game. So far this season, Gray has maintained impressive stats, averaging 12.0 points per game (ranking fourth in the league), 4.0 rebounds per game, and 6.7 assists per game (ranking third in the league) across the six games she has played. Her consistent contributions on the court have undoubtedly been a key factor in the Las Vegas Aces' success.
#6. Reigan Richardson, a 5'11'' guard and Blue Devils alumni from 2025, showcased her skills in the ACC Tournament by helping her team emerge as champions that year. She has since transitioned to playing professionally in the UPSHOT league. In a recent matchup, despite Richardson's standout performance, she could not prevent the Charlotte Crown from falling short in their game against the Waves, with a final score of 86-98 in favor of Jacksonville. Richardson led her team in scoring with 17 points during her 29 minutes on the court. Her individual effort was also evident in a previous game against Jacksonville, where she scored 17 points and secured 3 rebounds. Despite Richardson's consistent contributions, the Charlotte Crown were unable to secure the victory. Throughout this season, Richardson has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.0 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game across the two games she has played thus far. Her performances on the court have continued to demonstrate her prowess as a champion player and finalist in various competitions.
#7. Jade Williams, a 6'5'' forward/center who graduated from Duke University in 2022 and now plays professionally in Australia, showcased her talent by leading the East Perth Eagles to a convincing 93-78 victory over the 11th-ranked Wanneroo in the Australian NBL One North league last Saturday. In an impressive display of skill, she contributed 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 31 minutes of play. Her exceptional performance was instrumental in securing the win for her team and further establishing her reputation as a champion. Throughout the season, Williams has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in the 10 games she has competed in so far.
Other former Duke University players, who play in pro basketball:
Kennedy Brown (6'3''-F/C-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Zabiny Brno in Czech Republic ZBL
Leaonna Odom (6'2''-F-1998, played in 2016-20) plays for Estudiantes in Spanish LF Endesa
Elizabeth Balogun (6'1''-G/F-2000, played in 2021-23) plays for Landerneau in French LFB
Haley Peters (6'3''-F-1992, played in 2010-14) plays for Southside Flyers Dandenong in Australian WNBL
Angela Salvadores (5'10''-G-1997, played in 2015-16) plays for Gernika in Spanish LF Endesa
Taina Mair (5'9''-G-2003, played in 2023-26) plays for Seattle Storm in the WNBA
Mia Heide (6'3''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Marburg in German DBBL
Kendall Cooper (6'4''-F/C-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Hainaut in French LF2
Oderah Chidom (6'4''-F/C-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Toyota Boshoku Sunshine Rabbits in Japanese WJBL
Jiselle Havas (5'10''-G-2000, played in 2021-23) played for Newcastle Falcons in Australian NBL One few monts ago
Maria Davalos (6'2''-PF-1994, played in 2017-18) plays for Mineras in Mexican LMBPF
Miela Sowah (5'11''-G-2000, played in 2018-22) plays for Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA
Taya Corosdale (6'3''-G/F-1999, played in 2025-25) played for Moca in Puerto Rican BSNF last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Duke University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
