When Aaliyah Nye was selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA draft on April 14, she joined rare company in Greater Lansing.

Nye became just the fifth high school graduate from the area to get selected in the WNBA draft since its inaugural season in 1997.

The 2020 East Lansing graduate was taken with the opening pick of the second round, No. 13 overall in the draft. That made her the second player from the area to be among the draft’s top 15 selections. Former Mason and Michigan State star Kristin Haynie is the only player from the area to be selected higher than Nye in the draft.

Here’s a look at each of the Greater Lansing graduates who have been selected in the WNBA draft. The players are listed in order by year drafted.

KRISTEN RASMUSSEN

▶ High school: Okemos

▶ College: Michigan State

▶ Year drafted: 2000

▶ Overall pick number / round drafted: No. 51 / fourth

▶ Team drafted by: Utah Starzz

LAYNE INGRAM

▶ High school: Waverly

▶ College: Michigan

▶ Year drafted: 2002

▶ Overall pick number / round drafted: No. 44 / third

▶ Team drafted by: Sacramento Monarchs

JENNIFER SMITH

▶ High school: DeWitt

▶ College: Michigan

▶ Year drafted: 2004

▶ Overall pick number / round drafted: No. 32 / third

▶ Team drafted by: Detroit Shock

KRISTIN HAYNIE

▶ High school: Mason

▶ College: Michigan State

▶ Year drafted: 2005

▶ Overall pick number / round drafted: No. 9 / first

▶ Team drafted by: Sacramento Monarchs

AALIYAH NYE

▶ High school: East Lansing

▶ College: Alabama

▶ Year drafted: 2025

▶ Overall pick number / round drafted: No. 13 / second

▶ Team drafted by: Las Vegas Aces