SEDONA PRINCE: A COMPLEX JOURNEY TO THE WNBA DRAFT
As Sedona Prince leans down to unwind the tape from her right ankle, the weight of her final NCAA basketball game hangs heavy in the air. The TCU Horned Frogs have just faced a tough loss in the Elite Eight against the Texas Longhorns, and the seventh-year senior takes a moment to reflect on the myriad challenges she has overcome throughout her collegiate career.
From a broken leg to a broken finger, a torn elbow ligament, and even botched medical care, Prince’s journey has been anything but smooth. She has attended three different schools, each chapter adding to her story of perseverance. “Knockdown, knockdown, knockdown,” she says, recounting her struggles. “And I just kept fighting. It’s unreal how much strength God has given me and what I’ve been able to overcome.”
However, Prince’s basketball career faces a more immediate threat. Over the past several months, at least four women have publicly accused her of sexual assault or intimate partner violence. Prince has unequivocally denied all allegations, a stance reiterated by her attorney, A. Boone Almanza, who stated, “Sedona has not been charged with a crime or found guilty of any wrongdoing.”
As the 2025 WNBA draft approaches, general managers are faced with an unprecedented conundrum. Never before has a draft prospect presented such a complicated set of circumstances. Consider the following:
- Prince stands 6-foot-7, taller than all but six players in the WNBA. Her long arms and quick feet make her a formidable presence in the lane.
- In her final college game, Prince scored four points before fouling out with 6:32 left, her team trailing Texas by 10.
- She played four years of high-level Division I basketball, averaging 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in her final season, earning her the title of All-Big 12 center.
- Prince turns 25 just four days before the 2025 season tips off, making her the oldest player drafted into the WNBA since 2023.
- She is an outspoken advocate for gender equity.
- Prince faced backlash from fans, including a petition for her dismissal from TCU, after the accusations were made public.
- She has never been charged with a crime.
The clock is ticking for WNBA GMs who must weigh the potential benefits of her size and skill against the baggage she carries. “I am unclear on why this is even a question,” one GM said. “Why wouldn’t she be drafted?” Another GM, however, noted, “I’d say the chips are stacked against her.”
THE EARLY SIGNS OF TALENT
Prince’s talent was evident long before she reached the collegiate level. Growing up in Liberty Hill, Texas, she excelled at basketball, playing with many of the same teammates from elementary school through high school. “We spent so much time with each other all those years,” one former teammate recalled. “We practiced every day after school together.”
Prince’s journey to college basketball was marked by a series of commitments and decommitments to the University of Texas. Her high school years were not without their challenges, as some former teammates described her as a difficult person. “It should have been the best time of our lives,” a former Liberty Hill player said. “But it was just constantly walking on eggshells and stressful.”
Prince has said she was bullied by classmates and teammates, a sentiment she shared with The Daily Texan in 2018. “I was with these people that I felt like hated me,” she said. “They made me feel horrible about myself.”
THE COLLEGE YEARS AND BEYOND
Leaving high school did not provide the fresh start Prince might have hoped for. Shortly after graduation, she suffered a horrific injury while playing with the U18 U.S. national team in Mexico. Her leg snapped, breaking her tibia and fibula. The injury required surgery and a long recovery process, during which she faced additional medical challenges.
Prince’s time at the University of Texas was marred by what she described as rushed medical care and a series of complications that ultimately led her to leave the school. “It was a very, very difficult year for me as a young woman, as a young player,” she said before facing Texas in the 2025 Elite Eight.
Her journey continued at Oregon, where she became a prominent advocate for gender equity, thanks in part to a viral TikTok video highlighting disparities between men’s and women’s NCAA tournament facilities. The video, viewed over 12.4 million times, sparked a broader conversation about gender equity in sports.
Despite her advocacy and on-court success, Prince’s time at Oregon was not without its challenges. She eventually transferred to TCU, where she found a renewed sense of purpose and a chance to revive her career.
THE ALLEGATIONS AND THEIR IMPACT
Over the past year, multiple women have made allegations of intimate partner violence or sexual assault against Prince, none of which have resulted in charges. Prince has denied all allegations, and her attorney has defended her against the claims.
In August 2024, a petition was posted on Change.org seeking Prince’s dismissal from the TCU basketball team, garnering over 200,000 signatures. Prince addressed the allegations in a TikTok video, stating, “I’ve never abused anybody emotionally, physically, mentally, verbally. That’s not me, and that’s not what I’ve done.”
Despite the controversy, Prince continued to excel on the court, earning unanimous All-Big 12 first-team honors in her final season. However, the allegations and public scrutiny have cast a shadow over her potential WNBA career.
THE DRAFT DILEMMA
As the WNBA draft approaches, the question remains: Will Sedona Prince be drafted? Representatives from seven WNBA franchises expressed confidence that she will be selected, but her draft position remains uncertain. Most mock drafts, including ESPN’s, do not project her as a first-round pick.
Prince’s unique combination of size and skill makes her an intriguing prospect, but concerns about her ability to compete at the highest level, coupled with the allegations, have left some teams wary. “We wouldn’t touch it,” one GM said, citing the risk associated with her character.
For others, the decision is clear. “We have no interest,” another GM stated.
As Prince reflects on her college career, she wishes she could tell her younger self, “You’re loved, you deserve better.” With her future in the WNBA uncertain, Prince stands at a crossroads, her journey a testament to resilience and the complexities of life both on and off the court.
Originally Written by: Katie Barnes
