Overtime Select spotlights top recruits, future WNBA stars with inaugural captains

As the inaugural season approaches, let’s get to know the nine standout captains who will lead the league’s teams.

Jerzy Robinson

Robinson, ESPN’s No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class, is arguably the best long-term prospect in high school basketball. The rising sophomore holds offers from schools such as South Carolina, Ohio State and USC.

At 6’1, she is an explosive athlete with a creative handle and strength beyond her years, allowing her to set up drives as an on-ball operator and finish through contact at the rim.

“I [can] do everything,” Robinson told The Next. “I can play one through five, bring the ball up, rebound, get down in the post, make shots outside and [get into a] Kobe fade. I play with a lot of intensity and a lot of passion.”

Robinson is also an incredibly impressive passer for her size. She understands how to manipulate defenders with her eyes, whether that’s out of pick-and-roll (PnR), isolation or transition.

“My playmaking comes naturally, it’s not necessarily something that has to be forced or repped a lot, Robinson said. “We definitely do rep it, but I do think I have that natural facilitator tendency and point guard mentality.”

Jazzy Davidson, the No. 3 recruit in the 2025 recruiting class, also called Robinson ‘the best defender’ of the nine captains.

Robinson, only 15 years old, will play for Team USA at the U17 World Cup, alongside fellow Overtime Select captains Hailee Swain and Kaleena Smith. Last summer, as the youngest player on Team USA at the U16 Women’s Americas Championship, Robinson won MVP with averages of 17.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in only 21.9 minutes of action.

---

Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%

Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, released his next book on May 7, 2024. This deeply reported story follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.

If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.

---

Aaliyah Chavez

Chavez, the top recruit in the 2025 class, is a creative scorer with limitless range from beyond the arc, savvy PnR creation and touch on floaters. The 5’9 guard averaged an absurd 37.8 points for Monterey, a public school in Lubbock, Texas. Chavez also scored 50 points in five games in 2024.

“For colleges, I’m looking for teams that run, get the ball up the floor, and if I get it back, it’s my time to shine,” Chavez told The Next in May 2023. “And ball screens, that’s my thing. I’m great at ball screens … I can really do a little bit of everything, so if they back up, I’m shooting the three, if they come up, I’m driving to the basket, so I [try to] use my body really well.”

On3’s Talia Goodman reported earlier this week that Chavez took an unofficial visit to LSU on Wednesday, June 5. She also plans to visit Texas in the near future.

Mia and Mya Pauldo

5’6 twin sisters Mia and Mya Pauldo bring a unique dynamic to Overtime Select as co-captains. Mia, the No. 13 recruit in 2025, is a natural point guard, while her sister Mya, the No. 49 recruit, is more of a combo guard.

“My energy on the court is always present,” Mia Pauldo told The Next. “I make my teammates better with my skillset and [ability] to get two feet in the paint and get past defenders. I’m a shifty guard, I can shoot from everywhere, and a big team player.”

One player Mia enjoys watching film of is fellow New Jersey native and All-American point guard Hannah Hidalgo. 

“She’s from Jersey like I am,” Mia said. “[Me and my sister] played with her and against her a lot in high school and AAU. I break down her game a lot, so does my dad. I take a lot from her game — from her ability to steal the ball, [freedom] to play loose on defense, [as well as] her ability to attack bigs on offense.”

On the other hand, here’s how Mya described her game: ” I’m a combo guard, I’m a playmaker and a great leader. I’m very aggressive on defense, have a great mid-range [jumper], and can attack the basket.”

The twin sisters are garnering interest from Seton Hall, Penn State, Mississippi State, among others.

---

Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine

Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.

---

Jazzy Davidson

Davidson, the No. 3 recruit in the 2025 class, is the quintessential utility wing.¹ She is a fluid 6’1 lefty shooter with the ability to attack closeouts as a driver and defend multiple positions.

“Growing up, my coaches have always emphasized positionless basketball, so that’s something I’ve taken and grown with as I’ve got older,” Davidson told The Next.

Davidson was named to Team USA’s U18 AmeriCup roster, where she will play with some of the top incoming collegiate freshmen and fellow high school seniors.

Hailee Swain

Swain, the No. 10 recruit in 2025, is a Stanford verbal commit and will be the Cardinal’s highest-ranked recruit since Lauren Betts in 2022.

“I feel like I have a little bit of everything to my game,” Swain told The Next. “I also think I excel most in transition, so, like coming off a rebound, I can push it up the floor [and pass or finish].”

The 5’10 guard is also the only Georgia native among the nine captains. Swain attends Holy Innocents Episcopal School, where she averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 steals, and 2.8 assists as a junior.

Jenica Lewis

Lewis, the No. 16 recruit in 2026, is a high-level processor and the epitome of a consistent guard; from her quick catch-and-shoot jumper to her decision-making as a passer. She is averaging 10.4 points on 51.9% shooting from 3 through 10 games on the Nike EYBL circuit. 

Lewis holds offers from 40 schools, including Iowa, Notre Dame, UCLA and more.

---

Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month!

Here at The Next and The IX, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at editors@thenexthoops.com to discuss ways to work together.

---

Kaleena Smith

Smith, the No. 1 recruit in 2027, is unequivocally the best passer in high school basketball. The rising sophomore leads the EYBL circuit in assists per game (7.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (78 assists to 17 turnovers). Smith, 15 years old, is doing this while being one of the youngest players on the court.

GG Banks

Banks, the No. 5 recruit in 2027, was named the Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year as a freshman. The 5’8 guard is one of three players on the EYBL circuit to rank in the top 10 in points per game and assists per game, joining Smith and Davidson.

“I like to attack the basket, I’m one of those players that just likes to go,” Banks told The Next. “I’m an exciting player to watch, I’m energetic and love to play with my teammates.” 

——

1. An archetype for a player who is versatile on and off the ball, doesn’t command a high usage, can defend multiple positions, and provides solid positional passing. The New York Liberty’s Betnijah Laney is one example. ↩︎