In the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever didn't have a first-round pick. However, they did have two second-rounders and one third-round pick. They used their second-round picks to take Makayla Timpson and Bree Hall.
As for their third-rounder, the Fever selected former Gonzaga Bulldogs star Yvonne Ejim with the 33rd overall pick.
Timpson made the cut for the Fever, while Hall was waived but still got a chance with Indiana as a hardship contract player and with the Golden State Valkyries.
Unfortunately, Ejim didn't make it past training camp that same year and was waived.
Ejim spent last season playing in Spain's top professional women's basketball league with IDK Euskotren. She appeared in 27 games and averaged 9.8 points on 50.3% shooting, along with 5.9 rebounds.
On Tuesday, it seemed like Ejim would have a chance to become just the third Gonzaga player after Courtney Vandersloot and Katelan Redmon to appear in a WNBA game. That was after the Toronto Tempo signed her to a training camp contract.
Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
However, less than 24 hours after her signing, the WNBA Transactions page indicated that Ejim is "out for the 2026 season due to a Personal Decision."
The details of Ejim's decision to not play in the 2026 season are unknown. It's possible that she opted to continue playing overseas where she'll have more opportunities instead of taking on limited role on a WNBA team.
Considering that the Tempo signed her late to a training camp contract, it's a possibility that the new WNBA franchise was looking to add her to its player development pool. Due to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams can now have two additional roster spots for players on their rookie contracts.
However, players in the said pool can only be activated for up to 12 games.
Whatever the case may be, fans will have to wait another year to see if Ejim will get another shot at the WNBA.
As for the Tempo, the team will play the Washington Mystics at the Coca-Cola Coliseum on opening night on Friday.
