Gilas Pilipinas star Vanessa de Jesus goes undrafted in 2026 WNBA Draft

Gilas Pilipinas standout Vanessa de Jesus was not among the names called in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

The Filipina-American, who had been seeing action in the prestigious US NCAA Division 1 and is part of the Philippine national team since 2023, went undrafted on Tuesday in New York.

READ MORE | Gilas Pilipinas Women's Vanessa de Jesus enters 2026 WNBA Draft

University of Connecticut star Azzi Fudd was selected as the top overall pick by the Dallas Wings, setting the stage for her reunion with her college teammate and former number-one pick Paige Bueckers.

Olivia Miles of Texas Christian University (TCU) and Spanish center Awa Fam Thiam were selected second and third by the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm, respectively, while the UCLA pair of Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez were picked by the Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky.

The 2026 WNBA Draft featured three rounds, with 15 players selected in each. Martha Suarez headlined the second round, while Zee Spearman led the selections in the third round.

By going undrafted, the 24-year-old de Jesus becomes a free agent and is eligible to sign with any WNBA team.

Who is Vanessa De Jesus?

De Jesus suited up for four years for Duke University before entering the transfer portal to join Notre Dame last year for her final playing stint in the US NCAA. 

The young guard is also among the rising guards for the Philippines on the international stage after making her Gilas Pilipinas Women debut in the 2023 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, where she once unleashed 18 points against Australia.

In the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup held in July last year, she averaged 13.2 points and and 3.2 assists in five games for the Philippines, which finished in sixth place.

—JMB, GMA News