By R.L. Bynum
The last few months have been a whirlwind for Deja Kelly — an emotional, unpredictable ride that’s tested her focus and reshaped her career path.
She closed out a standout college career at Oregon after four seasons at Carolina, only to be left undrafted in the WNBA. A training camp opportunity with the Las Vegas Aces offered hope. Although Kelly had a big preseason game, with 15 points and the game-winning bucket in a win over the Phoenix Mercury, the Aces waived her before the start of the season.
Even though no other WNBA free agent chances have come up yet, she didn’t give up on her basketball career and has signed to play for Athletes Unlimited, beginning in February.
“I’ve already, just in the past few months, heard people say, ‘Oh, well, you could just do other stuff … You don’t need to play, and you don’t need the W,’ ” Kelly said in a story on the Athletes Unlimited website.
Kelly averaged 15.4 points and three assists in 121 games over four seasons at UNC, earning first-team All-ACC honors in her last three seasons before averaging 12.2 points and 3.3 assists last season at Oregon.
After gaining extensive broadcast experience and hosting podcasts while in college, in addition to modeling, she had other options. But those weren’t about the dreams she had chased since she was a kid. That’s why she never considered walking away from the game.
“No,” Kelly said. “This has been my dream since I was younger, I won’t just give up that easily just because I got a few no’s, because I know that there are some yeses that are coming soon if I keep working towards the dream.”
Athletes Unlimited is a women’s professional sports organization that organizes and administers competitions in basketball, softball and volleyball. There are no team owners, and athletes share in league profits.
“Being a part of something that really gives players a voice and gives players a chance to lead in that way, it’s something that’s super beneficial,” Kelly said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “We’ve seen for a lot of players that have played in AU, and have really shown growth in their W season, so that’s something that I’m excited to step into.”
Next season will be the sixth basketball competition and the second consecutive season at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. The season starts on Feb. 4 and lasts for four weeks. WNBA players will be among those committed to playing in the league, including Te-Hina Paopau, Lexie Brown and Alysha Clark.
Kelly said that this is a turning point in her career.
“My younger self didn’t quit when things got hard and when I was told no a few times,” she said in the AU website story. “I didn’t make the USA team multiple times. I didn’t make it till I was in college. And I was not always ranked. Trusting the plan and chasing the dream. I think that’s kind of what this moment is for me, and just kind of what I have to rewire my brain to do in this moment.”
Kelly may have hit some speed bumps, but says she’s far from finished. The dream hasn’t changed — and she’s still chasing it.
Photo via ausports.com
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