Belgian forward, WNBA draft pick Nastja Claessens signs with K-State Women’s Basketball

Kansas State is adding international firepower to its women’s basketball roster.

The Wildcats have added forward Nastja Claessens for the 2025-26 season.

She’s no stranger to high-level competition—Claessens was picked 30th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics. Instead of heading straight to the pros, she chose to keep her options open and stay overseas for the 2024 season, before joining the ‘Cats in Manhattan.

Claessens brings a ton of international experience to Manhattan. Most recently, she helped lead the Belgian National Team to a championship at the 2025 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket. She played in all six games and shot over 50 percent from the field, including 43 percent from three.

She also represented Belgium at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and has competed in multiple EuroBasket tournaments and youth championships throughout her career. She averaged nearly 18 points and over eight rebounds at the 2024 U20 EuroBasket.

Claessens was the Belgian Player and Rookie of the Year in 2023.