When they wrap up their playing days, basketball student-athletes, especially those pursuing professional sports opportunities, can face a murky future. The Above the Rim Summit, hosted by the NCAA’s leadership development team and Invesco QQQ at the Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida, sought to ease that transition.
The third annual event brought together 19 of the nation’s top women’s basketball student-athletes for four days of interactive and informative sessions and workshops designed to aid their move from college basketball to professional sports careers.
“The Above the Rim Summit is a unique program that helps selected student-athletes bridge the gap between college basketball and professional play. This atmosphere was intentionally cultivated to assist athletes who are phenomenal on the court transition in becoming knowledgeable professionals after their college basketball careers end,” said Ashley Jocelyn, assistant director of leadership development.
The summit helped attendees understand how to navigate potential professional paths in the WNBA and abroad, life beyond playing the game, and various careers in athletics.
The session topics included discovering what professional teams are looking for from incoming players, understanding options regarding international play, learning how to have an effective interview presence and developing a deeper understanding of money management.
“It’s been so good to be here and be in the presence of a lot of great athletes because these are people who are going to be really successful after basketball,” Iowa State’s Emily Ryan said. “It’s also cool to have these panels of people that have been in our shoes and have done a lot of things we want to do.”
On the basketball side, the players were exposed to a variety of perspectives on how to manage the next few months and years of their careers. Taj McWilliams-Franklin, a 14-year WNBA player who now is the manager of player relations and development for the league, spoke to the attendees about what professional teams look for in prospective players. Noelle Quinn, head coach for the Seattle Storm, and Skylar Diggins-Smith, basketball icon and player for the Storm, provided honest details about what professional coaches are looking for from players in their transition from college to pros.
The participants attended an Invesco QQQ panel with Holly Rowe, ESPN broadcaster, and Candace Parker, a sports analyst and retired WNBA star, to get a deeper understanding of money management from industry experts.
“It was very raw and honest advice. Knowing they’ve been in our shoes and allowing us to understand we are going to make mistakes but then also encouraging us to have conversations and take the time to educate ourselves is important because not a lot of people talk about this,” New Mexico State’s Molly Kaiser said.
On the personal and professional development sides, attendees heard from Lisa Willis, a UCLA alumna and former WNBA player, about finding their voice as elite athletes. Lacee’ Carmon-Johnson, director of basketball advancement for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, spoke to the players about how to clearly articulate goals based on their values and strengths.
“The most important thing is to separate my identity on and off the court. This whole program has helped me understand how to keep it separate and understand that basketball isn’t my identity — it’s just part of what I do,” Oklahoma State’s Anna Gret Asi said. “I am really, really grateful to be here.”
2025 Above the Rim Summit roster
- Anna Gret Asi, Oklahoma State.
- Vianè Cumber, New Mexico.
- Halle Douglass, Wisconsin.
- Malia Fisher, Rice.
- De’Mauri Flournoy, Georgia.
- Maria Gakdeng, North Carolina.
- Jaelyn Glenn, Kansas State.
- Synia Johnson, East Carolina.
- Molly Kaiser, New Mexico State.
- Jess Lawson, Central Michigan.
- Destini Lombard, Purdue.
- Peyton McDaniel, James Madison.
- Loyal McQueen, Clemson.
- Debreasha Powe, Mississippi State.
- Adryana Quezada, San Diego State.
- Emily Ryan, Iowa State.
- Ta’Mia Scott, Middle Tennessee.
- Cameron Williams, Miami (Florida).
- Georgia Woolley, Syracuse.
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