After failing to make the roster for the team that drafted her this spring, Jessika Carter is getting another chance in the WNBA, signing with the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.
The former Mississippi State star post player was selected by the New York Liberty — the team the Aces defeated in last year’s WNBA Finals — in the second round of the WNBA Draft in April. Carter played in two preseason games for the Liberty but was waived before the start of the regular season.
Over a six-year collegiate career in Starkville, Carter became one of the most decorated players in Bulldogs history. She is MSU’s all-time leader in games played and is sixth in program history in points (1,750), second in rebounds (1,120) and third in blocks (238).
After playing a reserve role as a freshman on a team that won the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles, Carter became a starter in 2019-20, averaging 13 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. She was arguably even better in the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, but redshirted the year after that due to personal reasons and went through a myriad of mental health battles, which she opened up about via social media.
Carter returned to the floor in 2022 to play for new head coach Sam Purcell and earned Second-Team All-SEC honors in each of the last two campaigns, recording 13 double-doubles in her final season.
The Aces have perhaps the best post player in the WNBA with former South Carolina star A’ja Wilson, the league’s leading scorer and rebounder. But their interior depth behind Wilson is a bit thin, with Kiah Stokes and Megan Gustafson the only other centers on the roster. Carter should get an opportunity to compete for minutes off the bench.
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