At W, roster space is more exclusive than a VIP list, and talent alone often isn’t enough. For Deja Kelly, that harsh reality hit this week. Despite her standout preseason performance, the Aces waived the former Oregon and North Carolina star. But don’t expect bitterness from the 2025 draft hopeful!
When Kelly’s name wasn’t called on WNBA Draft night, there was widespread surprise. A three-time All-ACC selection and former McDonald’s All-American, she had the resume, the flair, and the leadership credentials. But the WNBA draft is a numbers game, and with only 156 roster spots league-wide, dreams often face roadblocks.
Still, just days after the draft, opportunity knocked in the form of a training camp contract with the back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces. And she made sure to remind everyone why. Across two preseason games, Kelly wasted no time. She averaged 12.0 points per game on a blistering 75% shooting clip, added 1.5 assists in just 10 minutes per game, and delivered what can only be described as a “remember me” moment.
And then, she erupted off the bench against Pheonix Mercury for 15 points in 13 minutes. But the cherry on top? A cold-blooded midrange jumper in the final seconds to give Las Vegas a one-point lead—essentially, the game-winner. “I like to take over in moments like that,” Kelly told KTNV’s Taylor Rocha.
With performances like that, many assumed Kelly had solidified her spot on the Aces’ final roster. She even participated in media day. But now she’s waived off and has got a special message. In a post-cut interview, she reflected on the journey with remarkable poise.
“I just wanted to take advantage and seize the moment at the end of that game and really give my all… not to prove anyone else wrong, but to prove myself right,” she shared. “I know I belong. I know this is where I’m supposed to be. And for Coach Becky [Hammon] to trust me with the ball in my hands at that time—it just built a different level of confidence for me going into this next phase of my WNBA career.”
No resentment. No shade. Just conviction in her own worth and an understanding that the journey doesn’t end here.
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