Dawn Staley explained why recently-waived Bree Hall will thrive in the WNBA

After being selected as the No. 8 pick (20th overall) in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, Bree Hall has become a free agent after the Indiana Fever cut her on Monday. The former South Carolina Gamecocks guard joined a team with multiple stars in her position, starting with Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.

The Fever made the decision hours after Hall clocked in 16 minutes against the Brazilian National Team on Sunday. She finished the game with nine points and four rebounds in the second preseason game scheduled for the Fever ahead of the 2025 WNBA season.

Hall was one of the best players in a rich recruiting class at South Carolina. She left the program as a two-time national champion while sharing touches with other notable prospects such as Sania Feagin and Raven Johnson.

Dawn Staley raves about Bree Hall’s defense

Dawn Staley, her former college coach, expressed her excitement about Hall entering the W and competing against the best players in the world. More specifically, she heaped praise on Hall’s defensive prowess earlier this year.

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina

“Bree’s an elite defender,” Staley said. “It’s elite – the things that she does, the people that she has to guard. In my 25 years of coaching, she’s on my all-time defensive team – all the players that I’ve coached – because she’s very consistent with it, and she relishes the challenge.”

Hall was the second draft selection the Fever made on April 14, right after they selected Florida State Forward Makayla Timpson with the No. 7 pick in the round, with the selection they got in a trade with the Phoenix Mercury.
Bree Hall averaged 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 39.9% from the field.

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Despite her defensive skills, the Fever have moved on from Hall and now she’s in the market for a new team.