WNBA: Finals MVP Jonquel Jones headlines stars playing in WCBA

As the WNBA season has officially come to a close, the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) is revving up for high-quality hoops featuring some of the league’s finest stars. More and more WNBA veterans are exercising the option to play ball in China during the WNBA offseason, allowing them to stay in tip-top shape and compete internationally at a high level during the W hiatus.

With countless players from the W set to hoop in China, the bridge between the WNBA and WCBA will continue to be extended.

Same faces, new-ish places

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The WCBA is slated to have one of its largest American professional turnouts to date. Former WNBA star Liz Cambage and 2024 WNBA champion and Finals MVP Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty will be teaming up for Sichuan, Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky will be representing Wuhan, Ty Harris of the Connecticut Sun will play for Liaoning, NaLyssa Smith of the Indiana Fever will be suiting up for Zhejiang and more.

The WCBA’s 21 teams currently are permitted to sign a maximum of three foreign players this season. Here’s a breakdown of where WNBA players will be playing. Expect more players to potentially join a team once the season begins.

Sichuan: Liz Cambage, Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)

Shanghai: Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago Sky)

Zhejiang: Ezinne Kalu (Atlanta Dream), NaLyssa Smith (Indiana Fever)

Beijing: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (Atlanta Dream), Aari McDonald (Los Angeles Sparks)

Shanxi: Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Connecticut Sun), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever

Wuhan: Chennedy Carter (Chicago Sky)

Shandong: Alanna Smith (Minnesota Lynx), Marquesha Davis (New York Liberty)

Liaoning: Ty Harris (Connecticut Sun)

Inner Mongolia: Kalani Brown (Dallas Wings), Natisha Hiedeman (Minnesota Lynx)

HeNan: Odyssey Sims (Los Angeles Sparks)

Anhui: Kiana Williams (Seattle Storm)

Jiangsu: Kaela Davis (Chicago Sky)

Heilongjiang: Myisha Hines-Allen (Minnesota Lynx), Mercedes Russell (Seattle Storm)

Shaanxi: Diamond DeShields (Chicago Sky)

Jiangxi: Jaylyn Sherrod (New York Liberty)

The opening match of the WCBA season is set to tip on Nov. 15 in Chengdu, Sichuan. Until then, teams are preparing for the season by participating in preseason tournaments.

The season is bound to stir up excitement and display the melting pot of women’s basketball, featuring some of the highest-caliber players from not only the United States and China, but many other countries as well.