Tianna Hawkins, center, will be one of six former Maryland players on the court Wednesday when the Washington Mystics host the Connecticut Sun. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Tianna Hawkins and Alyssa Thomas became close over three seasons playing college basketball together at Maryland. They still remain in touch even though their WNBA careers landed them in separate destinations, Hawkins with the Washington Mystics and Thomas on the Connecticut Sun.

They’ll certainly engage in jovial banter before and after Wednesday’s matchup at Verizon Center.

The conversation won’t be so cordial, however, once they step onto the court for tip-off.

“It’s funny because I don’t know if anyone notices, but we always talk trash to one another,” said Hawkins, the second-leading rebounder in Terrapins history behind Thomas. “She’s a great player. We go at it and we go at each other, but we have respect for each other.”

Friendly rivalry aside, the game also will serve as a reunion of six former Maryland standouts who played for Terrapins Coach Brenda Frese. In addition to Hawkins, the Mystics signed point guard Kristi Toliver in the offseason and selected Shatori Walker-Kimbrough No. 6 overall in April’s draft.

The Sun, meanwhile, features Thomas at starting power forward along with top reserve Lynetta Kizer and rookie forward-center Brionna Jones, who with Walker-Kimbrough helped the Terrapins reach consecutive Final Fours in 2014 and ’15.

There are eight former Maryland players overall in the WNBA, the most from any school other than Connecticut’s 14.

“I think most people wouldn’t even realize that, and that’s something we’re really proud of,” Frese said. “The biggest thing is, I think our players after they spend four years here are really prepared for the next level. As they play in the WNBA or overseas, teams will know they’re getting trusted players that know how to work and compete and win and do things the right way.”

The most decorated among the ex-Terrapins in Wednesday’s matinee is Toliver, who made the defining shot in program history. Then a freshman, her three-pointer with six seconds left in the 2006 national championship game forced overtime against heated rival Duke.

Toliver and teammate Marissa Coleman then each sank a pair of free throws in the extra session to help secure a 78-75 triumph. Coleman plays for the Indiana Fever after spending her first three WNBA seasons in the nation’s capital.

Another all-American on that Terrapins national championship team was center Crystal Langhorne , who is with the Seattle Storm after she played her first six seasons with the Mystics.

“Coach B recruits good players, so good players should be in the league,” said Toliver, who won a WNBA title last year with the Los Angeles Sparks. “I didn’t even think about that there will be so many Terps on the floor [Wednesday], but that’s good. That’s good for the program. It’s good for the league. A lot of different generations will be on the floor, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be the oldest one.”

Frese recalled thinking not long after she began recruiting Toliver that the 5-foot-7 sharpshooter was destined for the WNBA. Not so much when Frese first drew interest from Waker-Kimbrough and Jones.

Walker-Kimbrough at times even questioned whether she had the skills to thrive at Maryland when other major programs weren’t pursuing her. Frese assured Walker-Kimbrough otherwise, and by the time her college career had ended, she was No. 4 all time in scoring in school history and one of four Maryland players to amass 2,000 career points.

A banner bearing her number and name hangs from the rafters at Xfinity Center, as does one for Jones, who is third in career rebounds at Maryland and sixth in scoring. Jones was drafted No. 8 overall after a rigorous physical fitness regimen transformed her body during four years in College Park.

“I think it says a lot about our program,” said Walker-Kimbrough, who often exchanges text messages with Jones. “Pros come from there. Coach B has done a great job. We’re one big family. We were just in Seattle, and I went out to eat with Crystal Langhorne. Kristi looks out for me now.”

Maryland’s up-tempo offensive attack has been conducive to preparing players for the WNBA, according to Mike Thibault, the head coach and general manager of the Mystics (3-2). This past season, for instance, Maryland was second in Division I in scoring offense, with Walker-Kimbrough and Jones among the country’s most polished finishers at the rim.

Frese also continues to emphasize rebounding, which played no small role in getting Thomas, Hawkins, Jones and Kizer to the WNBA. Thomas and Kizer are second and third, respectively, on Connecticut (1-4) in rebounding this year.

“They’ve been getting in a lot of good players since Brenda’s been there,” Thibault said. “Good programs produce players that coaches in our league like. They know they’ve been well coached. They know they have pro skills, so I’m assuming there’ll be a few Maryland fans at the game on Wednesday.”

Frese’s contingent is expected to number about 30, including her assistants and public relations staff. One of Frese’s former assistants, David Adkins, serves as the Washington Wizards’ player development coach.

As to which team she plans to cheer for, it’ll be straight down the middle. That makes perfect sense, Frese pointed out, given that there are three of her former players each on the Mystics and Sun.

“I root for Maryland,” she said laughing. “I just root for their success.”