SAN FRANCISCO - The 2019 WNBA campaign tips off tonight and 17 former players from Pac-12 institutions appear on opening-day rosters and suiting up for their respective WNBA teams this season.

Rookies Maite Cazorla (OREGON), Kristine Anigwe (CALIFORNIA) and Alanna Smith (STANFORD) will be making their professional debuts after successful seasons at the collegiate ranks. All three helped their schools to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 with Cazorla leading the Ducks to the program’s first-ever NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Former ARIZONA STATE guard Briann January is the most veteran of the group entering her 11th season in the league. Defending champion Seattle Storm boasts two former Pac-12 standouts including the Conference’s all-time assist leader in Jordin Canada of UCLA and WASHINGTON’s Sami Whitcomb. The Los Angeles Sparks have the most former Pac-12 stars, including sisters Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike who are reunited for the first time since being teammates at Stanford. UW’s Kelsey Plum, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, starts her third season with the Las Vegas Aces.

Nine Pac-12 institutions will be represented in the WNBA this season with Cal and Stanford boasting the most with four representatives on rosters. In addition, former Stanford standout and longtime Cal assistant coach Charmin Smith makes the jump to the professional coaching ranks as assistant coach of the New York Liberty for a total of four assistant coaches in the league hailing from Pac-12 institutions. There is at least one representative with Pac-12 ties on all but two WNBA teams in 2019.

The 2019 WNBA season begins tonight with the Dallas Wings traveling to face the Atlanta Dream, and the New York Liberty hosting the Indiana Fever. It also kicks off a weekend schedule full of games. For the full schedule, visit wnba.com.