“Deja has meant everything to us this year. I’m really happy that she chose to come to Oregon. She’s reenergized the program,” said Oregon head coach Kelly Graves after their tough second-round exit in the big dance. The Ducks came heartbreakingly close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets of March Madness against Duke–but just fell short. It also marked the end of Deja Kelly’s college career. After dropping 20 points in that loss, the veteran guard officially closed the book on her time in Eugene. Up next? The W.

Kelly led Oregon to a 20-12 record and a second-round finish in the 2025 NCAA Tournament during her lone season as a Duck. Before joining Oregon, she spent her first four years at North Carolina, where she finished number 8 on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,858 points. During her time in Chapel Hill, Kelly helped the Tar Heels make four straight NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2022.

There was never any doubt about Kelly’s talent, which is why she decided to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft. But as fate would have it, she went undrafted. No one expected her to slip through until the Las Vegas Aces stepped in, offering the 23-year-old guard a training camp contract.

However, that joy was short-lived. Despite some impressive preseason performances, the Aces announced they were waiving Kelly. This raises a few questions among the fans, but it also gives us a glimpse into what she would’ve earned with the Aces.

What is Deja Kelly’s net worth?

As of January 2024, Deja Kelly’s estimated net worth is around $500,000 – $1 million, according to Sportskeeda. There hasn’t been any updated information about her net worth, but it’s not surprising given her success off the court. The NIL era has been a game-changer for college athletes, and Deja Kelly is no exception. As of 2025, her NIL value is estimated at around $500,000, according to On3.

Kelly has secured deals with major brands like State Farm, Tommy Hilfiger, NILosophy, Crocs, Beats by Dre, KINLO, Kinly, Actively Black, Barcode, Essentia Water, Forever 21, and Dunkin’. This is according to a list by On3.

Deja Kelly’s Contract Breakdown

Kelly wrapped up her career with 2,247 points, 564 rebounds, 464 assists, and 196 steals. She was one of just two players in the Big Ten to average at least 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals with a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. Given these impressive stats, it was no surprise to see her sign with a W franchise, though many expected her to be drafted.

Despite going undrafted, Kelly signed a one-year training camp contract with the Las Vegas Aces, worth $66,079, according to Sportac.

What is Deja Kelly’s salary?

For those unfamiliar with the waiver process, here’s how it works– When a player is waived, they’re placed on waivers for 48 hours. During this window, any team can claim them. But here’s the catch–if a team picks up a player, they must honor the full terms of the contract. That’s why it’s rare to see waived players snatched up immediately. If no team claims the player in 48 hours, they clear waivers and become a free agent. At that point, they can sign with any team.

Now, Kelly was set to earn $66,079 with the Aces this year. But with her waiver, she’s back on the market, searching for a new team. Still, there’s a sense of optimism in the air. Many believe she’ll land with another franchise soon. Whether it happens quickly, though, remains to be seen.

Deja Kelly’s Career Earnings

There’s no publicly available information on Deja Kelly’s career earnings at the moment. However, considering her impressive list of NIL deals and the fact that she’s already working as a courtside reporter, it’s safe to say she’s made a solid living so far. If more details emerge, we’ll be sure to update this section!

Deja Kelly’s College and Professional Career

As mentioned above, Kelly spent her first four years at North Carolina, where she finished ranked number 8 on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,858 points. During her time in Chapel Hill, Kelly helped the Tar Heels make it to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2022. However, she made the decision to transfer to the University of Oregon for her final year, where she averaged 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, helping the Ducks reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Over her five-year collegiate career, the Texas native started 152 of 153 games, averaging 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. She earned three All-ACC First Team selections, a 2021 ACC All-Freshman Team nod, and 2022 NCAA Tournament All-Regional honors. It’s safe to say her college career was a success. Normally, when a player is waived by a team, it’s due to poor performance. But Kelly’s case was different.

In her brief time with the Las Vegas Aces, she showed flashes of brilliance. On May 7, 2025, Kelly scored 15 points, including the game-winning basket with 4.9 seconds left, leading her team to an 85-84 win over Phoenix. She was 5 of 7 from the field, including 1 of 2 from three, and a perfect 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, also adding two assists in just 13 minutes of play. Then, against Dallas, she had nine points and one assist on 4 of 5 shooting in only 7 minutes of action. These were solid performances for a rookie, yet, unfortunately, they weren’t enough to secure her a roster spot with the Aces.