Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Wolfpack players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Madison Hayes, a 6'0'' guard who recently graduated from NC State in 2025, is currently playing professionally in Italy. In a recent game against the struggling team Broni, Hayes showcased her skills by contributing significantly to her team's commanding 94-71 victory. She scored 10 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and made 4 steals in just 27 minutes on the court. Playing for Allianz Geas Sesto San Giovanni, currently ranked sixth in the Italian Serie A1 league, Hayes has been a key player in the team's early success. Despite the season being in its initial stages, Hayes has already proven her value by consistently performing well. Her average stats of 8.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game highlight her all-around contribution to the team. Hayes' impact on the court was crucial in leading her team to victory against Broni, reaffirming her importance as a potential champion this season. As the competition progresses, Hayes' skills and determination will play a vital role in guiding her team towards success as they aim to become the finalists.
#2. Kiara Leslie, a 30-year-old guard standing at 6 feet tall and an alumna of the Wolfpack from 2019, has been making waves in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino league. Playing professionally in Puerto Rico, Leslie recently led her team, Cangrejeras de Santurce, to a thrilling victory over the sixth-ranked Explosivos with a final score of 77-71 in a game held on Sunday night. In this game, Leslie showcased her exceptional skills and talent, earning her the title of MVP. She impressively scored 20 points and secured 6 rebounds in just 27 minutes of gameplay. This standout performance not only demonstrated her prowess on the court but also contributed significantly to her team's success. Cangrejeras de Santurce, with a current record of 7-2, holds the second position in the league standings, thanks in part to Leslie's stellar contributions. This victory marked the team's fourth consecutive win, highlighting their strong form heading into the final stages of the competition. Despite it being Leslie's first season with the team, her impact has been profound, as evidenced by her consistent high-level performances. Her remarkable statistics further underscore her importance to the team, with an average of 17.3 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game across the three games she has played thus far. Kiara Leslie's standout performance and valuable contributions have firmly established her as a champion on the court, showcasing her as a key player to watch in the league's finals.
#3. Chelsea Nelson, a 30-year-old 6'2'' center/forward who graduated from NC State in 2018 and received the All-ACC First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Turkey. In a recent Turkish Herbalife KBSL game, she played a crucial role in Nesibe Aydin Ankara's 79-77 victory over the closely-ranked Botas team. Despite only playing for 12 minutes, Nelson managed to score 6 points and secure 1 rebound against Botas, contributing significantly to her team's narrow 2-point win. Nesibe Aydin Ankara, currently placed fourth in the league with a 2-1 record, benefitted greatly from Nelson's performance as a key player. Her consistent contributions have helped the team edge closer to the championship title. Nelson's impressive statistics this season include averaging 9.3 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, and 3.3 steals per game, which ranks her as the third-best steal performer in the league. Her all-around skills and impactful presence on the court make her a valuable asset to Nesibe Aydin Ankara as they strive to become champions.
#4. Sophia Hart, a 6'5'' center and 23-year-old Wolfpack alumna from the class of 2022, who helped her team secure the ACC Regular Season Champion title that year, currently plays professionally in Spain. In a recent game, Hart, now a pro player, couldn't lead Logrono to victory against Melilla in the Spanish Liga Femenina Challenge, which is the second division of women's basketball in Spain. Despite her efforts, Logrono, with a 1-1 record, fell short against the undefeated Melilla squad (2-0) in a closely contested match. During the game, Hart managed to contribute 3 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist in 26 minutes of play. This performance marked her debut for Logrono this season. Despite her solid individual stats and commendable effort, her team ultimately succumbed to a 57-63 defeat on the road against the higher-ranked Melilla team, currently positioned at #5 in the league standings. Although Hart showcased her skills and made a significant impact in the game against Melilla, her standout performance wasn't enough to secure the win for Logrono. Consequently, she may not consider Sunday's game as one of her best outings, given the final outcome.
#5. Amira Collins, a 6'3'' forward who graduated from NC State in 2024 and helped them reach the final of the ACC Tournament that year, currently plays professionally in New Zealand. Despite her best efforts, Collins was unable to lead the Tokomanawa Queens to victory against Pouakai in the New Zealand Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, where her team suffered a 114-77 defeat in Christchurch. This game was not one of her best performances, as she only managed to score 3 points in 27 minutes of play. Collins, in her first season with the team, showcased some skill against Pouakai by scoring 3 points and grabbing 2 rebounds. However, her individual efforts were not enough to secure a win for the struggling Tokomanawa Queens, who are currently at the bottom of the league standings with a 0-2 record. Despite the loss, Collins is averaging 3.5 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game in the two games she has played this season.
#6. New Zealand champion Esra McGoldrick, a 26-year-old forward standing at 6'2'' and a Wolfpack alumna from 2019 who currently plays professionally in New Zealand, made her debut for Mainland Pouakai in their latest game. Unfortunately, despite her efforts, she could not lead her team to victory against Whai. McGoldrick scored 4 points and secured 1 rebound in a 14-minute appearance, showcasing her skills on the court. However, Mainland Pouakai fell short and lost the game 78-82, marking a challenging start to her season with the team. In a subsequent game against Tauranga, McGoldrick once again displayed her talent by scoring 4 points and grabbing 1 rebound. Despite her impressive performance, Mainland Pouakai was unable to secure the win and ended up losing the game.
Other former North Carolina State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Markeisha Gatling (6'5''-C-1992, played in 2012-14) played for Lublin in Polish OBLK
Saniya Rivers (6'1''-G-2003, played in 2022-25) plays for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA
Aziaha James (5'9''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Dallas Wings in the WNBA
Camille Hobby (6'3''-F/C-2001, played in 2019-23) plays for Ballarat Miners in Australian NBL One
River Baldwin (6'5''-C-2001, played in 2022-24) plays for Mackay Meteorettes in Australian NBL One
Kayla Jones (6'2''-F-1999, played in 2017-22) plays for Greensboro Groove in the UpShot
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of North Carolina State University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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