JJ Quinerly has always stood out with her quickness, elite defense, and fearless drives to the rim. But as the 2025 WNBA Draft tips off tonight at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN), it’s her height—5-foot-8—that may be the biggest factor in determining her future.
“If you could take her talent and put it in a 6-foot-1 frame, we’d be talking about a surefire WNBA All-Star,” said WVU head coach Mark Kellogg. “She’s going to be a little bit smaller, so someone has to find the right fit for her in the league.”
That fit is likely at point guard—the position Quinerly dedicated herself to mastering this past season. Understanding that her size might limit her options at the next level, she made ball distribution and playmaking a priority. She dished out a career-high 103 assists while also becoming the first WVU women’s player in 33 years to average over 20 points per game.
“I knew if I was going to have a shot at the WNBA, I had to show I could run the offense,” Quinerly said. “That was something Coach Kellogg and I talked about early on.”
What she lacks in height, she more than makes up for in impact. Quinerly leaves WVU with an incredible stat line: 2,016 career points, 410 rebounds, 341 assists, and 328 steals. She’s the only player in WVU history to hit all those marks, a true testament to her two-way ability.
“She’s as dynamic with the ball in her hands as any guard in the country,” said Kellogg. “And defensively, she might be the best on-ball defender out there.”
Opposing coaches agree. Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly praised Quinerly’s game, even noting that her size doesn’t stop her from dominating.
“She’s absolutely a pro,” Fennelly said. “Her size doesn’t matter if you can’t stay in front of her. She’s one of the best guards in the country.”
Still, the draft picture for Quinerly remains uncertain. Throughout the season, she’s appeared in various mock drafts—sometimes as a late first-rounder, sometimes not listed at all. As the big night approaches, most projections now place her in the latter half of the second round, between picks No. 20 and No. 22.
If selected, she would become just the 11th WVU player ever drafted into the WNBA.
But even being drafted doesn’t guarantee a spot. Unlike the NBA, the WNBA doesn’t offer guaranteed contracts to first-rounders. Second-round picks face even steeper odds to make a final roster, especially with only 13 teams and tight rosters across the league.
Should Quinerly make it, she’d earn the WNBA’s rookie minimum salary, which is projected at $62,285 for the upcoming season.
“The real work begins now,” Kellogg said. “But she’s ready. She lives in the gym. She puts in the time. She’s always been driven to be great.”
Regardless of what happens tonight, Kellogg is confident that Quinerly will continue to make West Virginia proud.
“I hope her name is called, and I believe it will be,” he said. “She’s earned her shot. Now it’s just about making the most of it.”
