Sika Koné Bio
Sika Koné (pronounced KOH-nay) is a Malian professional basketball player who plays as a forward for the Atlanta Dream in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for CAB Estepona Jardin in Spain’s Liga Femenina de Baloncesto. Born on July 13, 2002, in Bamako, Mali, she began her professional career in 2019 and has built a résumé that spans top leagues in Europe and North America. Koné was selected 29th overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty and has since played for several franchises across the WNBA while continuing her club career in Spain. Standing 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) tall, she is recognized for her versatility in the frontcourt and her steady development as a two-way forward.
Early Life and Background
Sika Koné was born on July 13, 2002, in Bamako, the capital and largest city of Mali. Growing up in a country where basketball has grown steadily alongside football, she found her way to the sport during her childhood and quickly developed the size and skills that would later define her game. Her listed height of 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) gave her a natural advantage as a forward, and she used her physical tools to progress through local and youth basketball in Mali before pursuing a professional path abroad.
By the time she was a teenager, Koné had attracted attention from European clubs thanks to her combination of length, mobility, and court awareness. Mali has produced a number of basketball exports in recent years, and Koné joined that pipeline when she made the leap to professional basketball at the age of 17. Her early move to Spain set the foundation for a career that would eventually bring her to the WNBA.
Path to Basketball
Koné’s path to professional basketball began in 2019, when she signed with SPAR Gran Canaria in Spain, one of the historic clubs in the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto. Adjusting to the speed and physicality of European club basketball at a young age, she played four seasons with Gran Canaria, gradually expanding her role on the roster. The stability of that long stint gave her the experience needed to compete at higher levels on the continent.
Her progress in Spain did not go unnoticed in the United States. Koné declared for the 2022 WNBA Draft and was selected 29th overall in the third round by the New York Liberty. She spent the 2022 season continuing her club work overseas before reporting to the Liberty for training camp ahead of the 2023 campaign. That sequence of events marked her official transition from a European-based prospect to a WNBA roster player, even as she continued to split time between leagues.
Sika Koné Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Koné launched her professional career with SPAR Gran Canaria in 2019, playing her first four seasons in the Canary Islands. During that developmental period, she learned the rhythm of a long European season, competing in league play and domestic cup competitions while continuing to grow physically. The four-year run gave her consistent minutes and the kind of professional maturity that few teenage imports receive in European basketball.
While she was building her résumé in Spain, Koné also became eligible for the WNBA Draft. Her selection by the New York Liberty in 2022 confirmed what her Spanish coaches had seen: a forward with the size to defend multiple positions and the skill to contribute offensively. The Liberty brought her in knowing she would likely stay overseas for the 2022 season, with the plan of integrating her into the roster in 2023.
WNBA Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Koné’s WNBA career began with a setback. After joining the Liberty’s 2023 training camp, she did not make the opening day roster and was waived on May 16, 2023. Two days later, on May 18, 2023, the Chicago Sky claimed her off waivers, and she went on to appear in 20 games during her rookie season. She averaged 3.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game, providing the Sky with frontcourt depth and a glimpse of her long-term potential.
On April 14, 2024, Koné was traded to the Minnesota Lynx as part of a package that included a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and the rights to swap a 2026 first-round pick, in exchange for Nikolina Milić and the 7th overall pick in 2024. Her time in Minnesota was brief, as on August 20, 2024, she was moved again, this time to the Washington Mystics alongside Olivia Époupa and a 2026 second-round pick in exchange for Myisha Hines-Allen. Across the 2024 WNBA season, Koné was part of a Minnesota Lynx squad that won the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, a notable early achievement on her WNBA résumé.
Atlanta Dream Era (2025–Present)
Koné’s stint with the Washington Mystics ended on August 5, 2025, when she was waived. Twelve days later, on August 17, 2025, she signed with the Atlanta Dream, joining a roster competing for a postseason push. The move gave her a fresh opportunity to show her development and to play a more consistent role as the 2025 season progressed.
Internationally, Koné continued her long association with Spanish basketball. After completing her four seasons at SPAR Gran Canaria, she joined CB Avenida (also known as Perfumerías Avenida) for the 2023–2025 stretch, further raising her profile in one of Europe’s top women’s leagues. In July 2025, she signed with CAB Estepona Jardin of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto, where she currently plays alongside her WNBA commitments.
Playing Style and Strengths
Koné is a 1.91 m forward whose game is built around length, rebounding, and the ability to defend multiple positions. At 82 kg, she combines enough strength to battle in the post with the mobility to step out and operate away from the basket. Her time in Spain’s technical, possession-driven leagues has sharpened her fundamentals, and her WNBA stints have shown her growing comfort handling the physicality of North American basketball.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most significant early milestones of Koné’s WNBA career came in 2024, when she was part of the Minnesota Lynx team that won the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Being claimed off waivers by the Chicago Sky in 2023 and bouncing between three WNBA franchises in a single season also stand out as defining moments, highlighting her resilience and adaptability in a competitive league.
Sika Koné Career Wins
Across her professional career, Koné’s most verified team achievement is the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, won during her time with the Minnesota Lynx. Her résumé also includes four seasons with SPAR Gran Canaria in Spain, a stint with CB Avenida, and ongoing play with CAB Estepona Jardin, all of which reflect a player who has been part of competitive winning environments in Europe. Additional individual or team titles are not detailed in the available sources.
WNBA Highlights
Koné’s WNBA highlights include her debut season with the Chicago Sky in 2023, where she appeared in 20 games and averaged 3.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. The 2024 campaign saw her traded twice, first to the Minnesota Lynx and then to the Washington Mystics, before she signed with the Atlanta Dream in August 2025. The 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship with Minnesota stands as the centerpiece of her WNBA résumé so far.
Other Wins & Performances
In Spain, Koné’s most prominent run came with SPAR Gran Canaria from 2019 to 2023, followed by her time at CB Avenida from 2023 to 2025. Since July 2025, she has been a player for CAB Estepona Jardin in the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto, continuing her long-term commitment to top-level Spanish women’s basketball.
Sika Koné Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Public information about Sika Koné’s parents and immediate family is limited in available sources. What is known is that she was born and raised in Bamako, Mali, and emerged from a basketball culture that has produced a growing number of international players. Her path to professional basketball at 17 reflects a family and community environment that supported her athletic development.
Personal Life
Koné keeps her personal life largely private, and available sources do not provide verified details about a spouse, partner, or children. She is widely recognized professionally as a forward who splits her season between the WNBA and the Spanish Liga Femenina, with her listed residence tied to her club commitments.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Sika Koné. After being waived by the Washington Mystics on August 5, 2025, she quickly found a new home, signing with the Atlanta Dream on August 17, 2025, and providing the team with frontcourt depth for the back end of the WNBA schedule. The midseason move gave her a chance to compete in a new system and to showcase her development since her 2023 rookie year.
At the club level, 2025 also marked a new chapter in Spain, as Koné joined CAB Estepona Jardin of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto in July 2025, stepping into a fresh environment after her time with CB Avenida. Balancing her WNBA role with her Spanish club duties is a familiar rhythm for her and continues to define her professional schedule.
Looking ahead, Koné’s combination of size, European experience, and WNBA seasoning positions her as a long-term contributor in the league. Continued strong showings with the Atlanta Dream, combined with her role at CAB Estepona Jardin, should help her build on the foundation she has established since being drafted 29th overall in 2022.