Quinerly, Harrison battle for WNBA spots as Mountaineers ink contracts overseas

The 2026 WNBA season has not been one to remember for former Mountaineers. The Dallas Wings waived JJ Quinerly on June 14 in her second season in the league. Jordan Harrison, on the other hand, was waived and resigned to a developmental contract. She is limited to 12 games per season and has had some run in multiple games. Two other former Mountaineers are also continuing their careers elsewhere, as they work to get in the WNBA. Read more: Quinerly, Harrison battle for WNBA spots as Mountaineers ink contracts overseas.

Mountaineers in the WNBA

It has been two months since the 2026 WNBA Draft, when no Mountaineer heard her name called despite a record-breaking season in Morgantown. They had two players in multiple mock drafts, but no names were announced. Jordan Harrison is now the only Mountaineer remaining in the WNBA, and she did it as an undrafted free agent. She made Portland Fire’s opening day roster, was waived, and resigned to a developmental contract.

Related: Mountaineers represented in the 2026 NBA Summer League

She has seen action in three games this season, with nine more games remaining before she meets her season quota. I broke down all the details in my previous article on Harrison. Remaining in the league after going undrafted is hard enough, and Harrison is fighting to earn her spot in Portland.

JJ Quinerly

JJ Quinerly was drafted 27th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by Dallas. She had a stellar rookie season, but it was cut short due to a knee injury. The Wings are in a different spot than they were last season. They got a new head coach, went from last place to the top five, and added several new players around one of the league’s best players, Paige Bueckers. Despite all of this, Quinerly found herself on the opening-day roster.

It did not last long, however. She played in one preseason game and two games in early June. She played a total of 13 minutes in those two games, scored two points, grabbed one rebound, and had two assists. Quinerly also added a block without turning the ball over. She was waived three days later and was not picked back up. The Wings had a developmental spot left, but used it on another player.

JJ Quinerly has been waived by the Wings.

— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) June 14, 2026

The move was understandable from the Wings’ perspective. They have a deep roster, especially at guard, and they added veteran talent to try and make a deep playoff run. Still, Quinerly found herself on the roster, and likely deserves another chance in the league. There are still seven developmental spots available across the league, and teams are always looking for young players. Not to mention, the league is expanding. They have plans for one new team per year from 2028 to 2030.

Where are they now?

Kierra “Meme” Wheeler was projected to get selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft, but did not hear her name called. She went through free agency and did not land with a team, either. Wheeler is still waiting on her shot in the WNBA, but is not waiting around. She signed with PAS Giannina WBC in the Greek Women’s Basketball League. The league typically begins in October and runs through April.

Sydney Shaw also went undrafted after a great season for the Mountaineers. She signed with Savannah Steel in The UPSHOT League. It is a new organization in the United States that provides players with a chance to develop and an alternative to going overseas.

Shaw was waived by the Steel on June 15 and signed by the Greensboro Groove on June 25. In 12 games this season, she is averaging 14 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.3 steals. She also signed with Baxi Ferrol in Liga Femenina Endesa, the top division of women’s basketball in Spain. Their season starts in early October and runs through May.

One Mountaineer is holding on in the WNBA, while three more are chasing to continue their careers elsewhere. WVU is producing WNBA-caliber talent at a rate the program has not before. Head coach Mark Kellogg is doing a tremendous job of getting these women ready for the next level, whether it is in the WNBA or not.