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Gilas Women star Vanessa De Jesus to test luck in 2026 WNBA Draft

Sports | Basketball

Gilas Women star Vanessa De Jesus to test luck in 2026 WNBA Draft

By Mark Rey Montejo

At A Glance

Gilas Pilipinas star Vanessa De Jesus takes her shot at the biggest stage in women's basketball after declaring for the upcoming WNBA Draft in New York City this Tuesday, April 14 (Philippine time).

Vanessa De Jesus (IG post)

Vanessa De Jesus (IG post)

Gilas Pilipinas star Vanessa De Jesus takes her shot at the biggest stage in women’s basketball after declaring for the upcoming WNBA Draft in New York City this Tuesday, April 14 (Philippine time).

De Jesus, a Filipino-American guard for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, revealed her next move on a social media post as she aims to become the first-ever Filipina-blooded player to step on the WNBA hardcourt.

“Help me Jesus,” she wrote on her Instagram post, where her Gilas Teammates Naomi Panganiban, Sophia Dignadice, Ella Fajardo, and former coach Pat Aquino, to name a few, stressed their support.

De Jesus, 24, made history as she became the first Filipina member of the Duke women’s basketball program. There, she stayed for five years and competed in four seasons.

De Jesus missed the entire 2023-2024 NCAA season after suffering a serious knee injury that she sustained from their practice.

It took 14 months before she fully recovered before she officially transferred to Notre Dame for her final playing year where she had a decent outing and managed to help the Fighting Irish reach the playoffs.

Daughter of both Filipino parents Phillip and Maria, Vanessa already turned heads with her superb plays while representing the Nationals in the 2023 and 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A.

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Vanessa De Jesus WNBA

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