Former Louisville women’s basketball guard Dana Evans has spent all but six games of her four-year WNBA career with the Chicago Sky.
The Dallas Wings selected her in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft. She played in six games with the squad before being traded to the Sky. Evans had a successful rookie season, which included making the All-Rookie team and winning a championship with the Sky. During her four seasons, she averaged 6.2 points and two assists per game.
But Evans is playing for a new team this season. In February, she was traded to the Las Vegas Aces for two draft picks. The Aces lost to the New York Liberty, 3-1, in the 2024 WNBA playoff semifinals, finishing the year with a 27-13 record.
“I’m super excited for a fresh start with a new organization, learning from a great head coach, Becky Hammon, playing alongside great players, enjoying the game, having fun, but most of all winning,” Evans said in a social media video. “Winning a championship is the No. 1 goal, No. 1 priority. I’m super excited to go out there and just get back to being Dana and having fun and enjoying the game.”
She didn’t play in the preseason, but the Aces went 2-0 and will open the regular season with a rematch against the Liberty at 1 p.m. Saturday in New York.
The WNBA season officially starts Friday with other former Louisville players set to take the court. Here’s where the other former Cardinals are playing:
Myisha Hines-Allen, Dallas Wings
Myisha Hines-Allen is a new addition to the Wings after signing a one-year deal with the team in February. She’s spent most of her career with the Washington Mystics and won a championship with the team in 2019. Midway through the 2024 season, she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx (30-10), which made the WNBA Finals, and averaged 7.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Dallas went 9-31 during the 2024 campaign and lost its last nine games.
Hines-Allen compiled 12 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and two steals as the Wings went 1-1 during the preseason. The forward will begin her eighth WNBA season at home against her former team, the Lynx, at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“Everyone’s new: coaching staff, players. I have not played with anyone here in America,” Hines-Allen said during the Wings’ media day. “… I guess that’s the hardest part but the easiest part at the same time because it’s like we’re going through this growth together to see (how) it’s going to turn out at the end of the season and years to come. It’s exciting but also hard.”
Emily Engstler, Washington Mystics
Since being the No. 4 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Emily Engstler has had an up-and-down professional career. Her first three seasons have been with different teams: the Indiana Fever (2022), Minnesota Lynx (2023) and Washington Mystics (2024). She made the Mystics’ 2025 roster and will have some stability this season after averaging 6.2 points, four rebounds and 1.5 assists for Washington last year.
“Looking at myself now, being on a team for two years, I think it was worth it,” Engstler said of her journey, “and I really like being a role player. I have no problem doing it. I think more people should be OK with being a role player. It’s super fun. Sometimes your role can be five minutes and, because you played really good, it can end up into 25 minutes. Just do what you’re good at, whatever keeps you here.”
Despite Washington losing both its preseason games, Engstler contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Mystics open the regular season by hosting the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at ac****@*****tt.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2025 WNBA: 3 ex-Louisville basketball players make opening-day rosters
