Plenty of prospects beyond the opening round of the recent draft are capable of making lasting contributions in the WNBA.
Good things come to those who wait, and that may be the case for certain WNBA rookies chosen beyond the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft.
The latest selections featured several prominent headliners in the opening round, but this deep class featured several prized prospects capable of making a difference in their professional debuts. Ballislife has five players best-positioned for success both now and later…
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Connecticut Sun (18th overall)
Disregard Leger-Walker as a second-round prospect at your own risk. She managed to make it to New York with an assist from teammate Angela Dugalić, who sacrificed two seats at her draft table to make sure Leger-Walker could be in attendance with her mother when she became the sixth UCLA Bruin chosen.
Charlisse Leger-Walker today
• 17 points
• 9 rebounds
• 8 assists
• 4/8 3PM
• 6/12 FGpic.twitter.com/2d0mDAuqzc
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) January 18, 2026
At first glance, Leger-Walker may face an uphill battle in the final tour of Uncasville: the Sun’s transition into Comets feels like it’ll be headlined by Leila Lacan and Saniya Rivers at the point, and further assistance figures to come from Migna Touré and veteran arrivals Kennedy Burke and Diamond Miller. Leger-Walker, however, has a chance to immediately help one of the team’s biggest on-floor needs: she used her year in Westwood to develop a reputation as a strong facilitator, dishing out over five assists per game to lead the way for the eventual national champions.
The Sun franchise is looking for faces to lead it into its transformation into the rebooted Comets. Leger-Walker has the makings of being a solid complementary piece both now and later. The fact that she’s making this journey with fellow former Bruins Gianna Kneepkens only boosts the odds further in her favor.
Ta’Niya Latson, Los Angeles Sparks (20th overall)
Just over a year ago, Ta’Niya Latson engaged in a move that simultaneously bet on and supported herself: she fled Florida State, where she was the undisputed headliner for the Seminoles (averaging over 21 points a game in each of her three Tallahassee tours and leading the nation in scoring in 2025) and more, for the championship haven of South Carolina.
Latson endured several dips in traditional categories but accomplished her goal of creating a more well-rounded game. She countered the scoring slack by taking considerable leaps in her mid-range game and defense while also landing praise for her on-floor leadership as the Gamecocks staged another run to the national title game.
Welcome to the Los Angeles Sparks Ta’niya Latson pic.twitter.com/QZy1SGLvVP
— Jayden (@HoodiJay) April 14, 2026
Being drafted by the Sparks allows Latson to continue that best of both worlds journey: she joins a SoCal group that flourished offensively under the watch of Lynne Roberts (placing second in scoring and field goal percentage in the former Utah boss’ debut) and one that’s still searching for a lasting identity as it seeks to inch toward the W’s penthouse. The fact that she’s arriving after the Sparks’ trade of Rickea Jackson only gives her a better chance to make an impact immediately.
Serah Williams, Portland Fire (33rd overall)
The traditional center is an increasingly endangered species in a basketball world that continues to spotlight a positionless approach. It enjoyed something of a resurgence in the early going of this draft, with Awa Fam and Lauren Betts hearing their names called in the top four before Madina Okot likewise earned a first-round invite.
Serah Williams and oneee pic.twitter.com/SCPbB2P4Bm
— Shabazz (@ShowCaseShabazz) February 1, 2026
The paint prowess proved fleeting, as no center was chosen again until Williams became the second and final UConn alumna chosen after her teammate Azzi Fudd went first. Serah Williams was another undeniable headliner who opted to hone her game in the transfer portal (previously starring at Wisconsin).
She fell victim to the continued emergence of Blanca Quiñonez and Sarah Strong, as well as UConn’s dedication to smaller lineups, but going to the expansion proceedings of Portland should provide the perfect brand of fresh start.
Williams has a decent opportunity to latch onto Portland’s early endeavors, even if it’s only as one of the developmental players at first. The battle to reach the inaugural roster, featuring intriguing veterans (i.e., Chloe Bibby, Megan Gustafson) and prospects (i.e., Nyadiew Puoch, though Williams is the only Pacific Northwest draftee in camp) alike under the watch of assistant coach Sylvia Fowles, should be a solid character builder in any event.
Manuela Puoch, New York Liberty (41st overall)
The Liberty raised but a whisper on draft night, ironically keeping to themselves with their draft capital rendered mostly irrelevant in this contending era defined by the antics of imported superstars.
Manuela Puoch with ELITE defence
Watch NBL1 South via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App & pic.twitter.com/7NG3AJSxxE
— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 30, 2025
But a supposed superteam is only as good as its depth stars and role players, and New York’s success has also partly relied upon stockpiled international talents: the rise of Leonie Fiebich was a major x-factor in the 2024 title run, Marine Johannes has long been a fan favorite, and a return trip is being planned with Pauline Astier, Raquel Carrera, and the returning Han Xu potentially playing big roles on the second unit.
Manuela Puoch, whose aforementioned sister Nyadiew landed first-round honors in 2024, obviously won’t be making a metropolitan impact this time around, but she’s well-positioned to be the Liberty’s next international caper. She’s one of the more raw prospects at 19 years old, but she held her own in 23 WNBL appearances, which followed a strong breakout in the supplemental showings (14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds during the 2025 NBL1 season).
Lani White, Minnesota Lynx (45th overall)
The latter part of the draft is usually reserved for stockpiling international talents or perhaps sentimental selections (i.e., the Toronto Tempo stockpiling Australian talents for original head coach Sandy Brondello to work with). For Cheryl Reeve and Co., the draft was good to the last drop, taking the well-traveled White with the final selection.
Lani White (@laniwhitee) rises and equalizes with undefeated #8 TCU
pic.twitter.com/QbAmWyYcb0
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) January 4, 2026
White made the rare transfer portal reset, sandwiching two tenures at Utah with a year at Virginia Tech. In her latter two tours, White firmly established herself as a strong shooter, going just over 45 percent with an extra point on the line. She was also willing to do the dirty work in the post if necessary, throwing around a 5’11 body to pull in just under four defensive boards a game.
A combination of the Lynx inviting several fringe veterans, potentially missing out on their international women working overseas, and the looming medical uncertainty on the road ahead could give White a unique opportunity to stick around. If anything, she could be groomed as a potential successor to the ever-present 3-point threats of Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, each of whom continues to generate a sense of consistency despite twilight looming.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
The post 2026 WNBA Draft: 5 Rookies Outside the First Round Best Positioned For Success appeared first on Ballislife.com.
