WNBA players overseas are packing their bags again, and the offseason map reads like a who’s who of the league. Soon after the final buzzer of the season, many of its brightest names are heading to China, Russia, Turkey, and beyond. Here is where the stars are going, how they have performed abroad, and why the trend keeps growing.
Why So Many Stars Play Abroad
The WNBA regular season is short, and foreign clubs have long offered bigger paychecks than domestic salaries. That gap explains why so many WNBA players overseas sign with international teams as soon as the season ends. They get extra games, higher pay, and a new competitive challenge, and many return home sharper than when they left.
Jonquel Jones and Sylvia Fowles head to China
Jonquel Jones is a strong example of overseas success. After the 2016 season, she joined Woori Bank in the South Korean league and dominated, earning league MVP honors. That growth carried over to the WNBA, where she won Most Improved Player in 2017. This fall, Jones moves to China to play for Shanxi.
Sylvia Fowles is entering her fifth season with Beijing in the Chinese league. In 2016, she helped Beijing win a second straight WCBA title and was named Finals MVP while averaging 29.0 points per game. After winning both the WNBA regular season and Finals MVP awards, she arrives in China with plenty of momentum. For more on postseason greatness, see our look at WNBA Finals MVP history.
Russia Features a Star-Studded UMMC Ekaterinburg Roster
Few destinations match the firepower in Russia. Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, the duo that powers the Phoenix Mercury, will again team up at UMMC Ekaterinburg and keep building their chemistry. They will be joined by Emma Meesseman, the Belgian star who was named FIBA Europe Young Women’s Player of the Year in 2011. Meesseman is expected to pair with Griner to form one of the best frontcourts in Russia.
Plum and Powers Bring Their Talents to Turkey
Turkey’s Fenerbahce has hosted numerous WNBA stars over the years, and this season it welcomes Kelsey Plum and Aerial Powers. Plum, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft and an All-Rookie Team selection, will make her overseas debut. Powers earned All-Rookie honors with Dallas in 2016 but missed most of this past season with an injury, so the move offers a chance to rebuild her rhythm. Young talents like these are part of a wider trend, explored in our piece on WNBA players who made history before 25.
Offseason Options Keep Expanding for WNBA Players Overseas
The offseason menu is bigger than it used to be. The Unrivaled League, a 3-on-3 competition launched in the United States in 2025, gives stars a domestic alternative to long flights and foreign time zones. Meanwhile, Europe’s top continental competition, the EuroLeague Women, regularly draws WNBA talent, including at its Final Four. Even so, the overseas pipeline remains the traditional route for stars seeking top-level competition. Fans looking to follow the sport’s rising names can start with our guide to the best women’s sports teams to follow in 2026-27.
FAQs About WNBA Players Overseas
Why do WNBA players play overseas?
Mainly for higher salaries and extra playing time. Foreign clubs often pay more than WNBA contracts, and the extra games help players stay sharp.
Which countries host the most WNBA stars?
China, Russia, Turkey, and South Korea are the most prominent destinations, with clubs such as Beijing, UMMC Ekaterinburg, Fenerbahce, and Woori Bank attracting top names.
Where do Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner play in the offseason?
They have teamed up at UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, where they are joined by Emma Meesseman.
Do rookies play abroad too?
Yes. Kelsey Plum, the No. 1 pick in 2017, is among the WNBA players overseas making an international debut, with Fenerbahce in Turkey.