The 2026 WNBA Draft is forthcoming, and 15 teams will select 45 players from three rounds. Amid the free agency chaos, the league will see its first official draft since the new collective bargaining agreement. This year’s festivities include expansion teams Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.
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Curt Miller and the Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 pick for the second consecutive season. Paige Bueckers was the consensus top pick last year, but who will Dallas select this time around? Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts, Olivia Miles, and Awa Fam are all top candidates in the deep class. Ultimately, who will be selected first overall? 15 prospects will make their orange carpet debuts in the Big Apple. Will there be chaos and mock drafts shredded? Or will the draft go as predicted?
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Ballislife has our staff mock draft selections and predictions from the first round, courtesy of Sara Jane Gamelli and Geoff Magliocchetti.
*Selections were made mid-free agency*
1. Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd, UConn
At first, I initially had Lauren Betts, of UCLA, heading to the Lone Star state No. 1 overall. That was until the Wings wheeled and dealt, creating free agency chaos by signing former Lynx pair Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith. The Wings additionally signed Li Yueru and Awak Kuier, which presents even more depth. Now, Dallas has my attention.
Azzi Fudd goes No. 1 overall to the Wings and will reunite with former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers, with whom she won an NCAA National Championship. Given that Dallas re-signed long-time veteran Arike Ogunbowale to a multi-year deal, it’s clear the case for Fudd has gained momentum. A two-way guard, Fudd is the top flamethrower in the draft and ranked fifth in 3-point percentage (44.7%) in her final year with the Huskies.
Fudd is a defensive-minded player who also led the country with 117 threes. Having familiarity with Bueckers could make them one of the most lethal duos in the WNBA. Dallas reconstructed its roster, and Fudd would be a perfect fit in the backcourt. This is especially true since she thrives off-ball and can get to her spots/cuts.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
2. Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago): Lauren Betts, UCLA
This offseason was supposed to be a no rough stuff type of deal for the Lynx, but they’ve endured several notable departures this offseason, none more glaring than those of Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith. That doesn’t even account for the status of franchise face Napheesa Collier after she spent this season recovering from ankle surgeries.
It’d be foolish to count the Lynx out until we see an actual sample size, though, especially if they land the talents of a game-changer like Betts. A year of working with Collier in any capacity would make for one heck of a gap year, if the Lynx are so inclined to engage in one, of course. If not, Lauren Betts would quickly make up for the lost post prowess.
-Geoff Magliocchetti
3. Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles): Olivia Miles, TCU
Olivia Miles was a projected top-pick in last year’s WNBA Draft before returning to college. Having transferred to TCU from Notre Dame, Miles bet on herself. Several mock drafts expected her to land with the Seattle Storm last year, and here we are.
I do expect Miles to get drafted among the top three, but I like the fit with Seattle. Yes, the team did implode following the firing of former head coach Noelle Quinn. In free agency, Skylar Diggins, Brittney Sykes, Gabby Williams, and Nneka Ogwumike bolted for greener pastures.
The last four days of free agency have been a whirlwind, but the Storm locked up its frontcourt by re-signing Ezi Magbegor. Although it’s always a possibility she could be later traded, both Magbegor and Dominique Malonga have the chance to become the franchise cornerstones… and so does Miles.
It would be an adjustment for Miles, who led TCU to the Elite Eight. She would instantly become the team’s leading point guard and franchise face. Miles is the most elite point guard in this draft class, with incredible court vision, IQ, and facilitating skills.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
4. Washington Mystics: Awa Fam, Spain
The draft might’ve been the perfect recess from the free agency frenzy. But the Mystics’ strategy could well center (pun intended) on the fate of Shakira Austin, who has a max offer sheet from the Toronto Tempo. That could lead them to take a waiver on Fam, the international sensation looking to shake things up at the top.
If anything, Washington could use a little build with Stef Dolson moving on, and Fam’s propensity for playmaking, particularly off the pick-and-roll, could mesh really well with last year’s yields of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen.
-Geoff Magliocchetti
5. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut): Kiki Rice, UCLA
The Sky have been making waves across the W world in free agency. Once considered a struggling franchise, the Sky have invested in several players this week. After shipping Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream, the Sky has since signed Skylar Diggins, DiJonai Carrington, Azurà Stevens, Rachel Banham, Courtney Vandersloot, and Elizabeth Williams.
Under contract are Kamilla Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld, and Jacy Sheldon. In my defense, I made my draft pick before Vandersloot re-signed. I personally feel Kiki Rice is a steal in the draft and could be the face of the franchise in the future. Throughout her entire NCAA career, she’s been an elite defender and so much more with the UCLA Bruins.
Rice may just be 5’11”, but her vertical is quite impressive. She has the poise and elite decision-making that could make a difference in Ch-Town. Although she’s projected to be selected later, she’s pro-ready.
Rice had a career senior season, averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. Not to mention, she shot a career-best 38.5 percent from three and 45.8 percent from the floor. While defense defines her, she can do it all.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
6. Toronto Tempo: Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA
Toronto has wasted no time getting down to business, building a backcourt headlined by Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes. Such an attack can continue with the versatile Gabriela Jaquez, one of the prominent risers with her tournament performance.
The space she generates, not to mention the extra defensive tenacity, would be coveted by any team, but it can be downright explosive for an expansion team looking to get off on the right foot.
-Geoff Magliocchetti
2026 WNBA Offseason: 2026 WNBA Free Agency Tracker | Collective Bargaining Agreement Deal | Angel Reese Traded to Atlanta Dream | WNBA Expansion Draft | Player Contracts (East) | Player Contracts (West) | Free Agency Core Tags
WNBA Player News: Nneka Ogwumike Returns to LA | Jackie Young Returns to Aces | Tempo Land Mabrey, Sykes | Kelsey Mitchell Returns to Indiana Fever | Aces Bring Back Core | BG Lands in Connecticut | Liberty Sign Satou Sabally | Skylar Diggins Headed to Chicago
7. Portland Fire: Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
I was torn between selecting Flau’jae Johnson No. 5 overall to the Sky, but I strongly believe that she has the opportunity to become a franchise face in the Rose City. One of the two expansion teams, Portland, hasn’t made a huge splash in free agency and signed Bridget Carleton to a three-year deal at the max.
In the draft, the Fire selected and signed Chloe Bibby, Maya Caldwell, Emily Engstler, and Maya Caldwell. That said, Portland very much needs size, but Johnson is one of the best players available on the board.
By selecting her at No. 7, Johnson could become the leader of this team, since there’s no real defined player at this time. She’s a proven winner, won a national championship with LSU, and led the Tigers to multiple Elite Eight appearances. Johnson is versatile and can get downhill. I can’t think of a better team to develop her game and fine-tune her game. Given that Portland is headed for long-term development, this is a perfect opportunity for Johnson. Plus, Damian Lillard and Johnson could bond in their music careers.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
8. Golden State Valkyries: Raven Johnson, South Carolina
What can Golden State do to retain the momentum of their fabulous freshman tour? Landing a sterling first-round riser like Raven Johnson would certainly be a strong step in the right direction. Johnson went for quality, not quantity, in her fifth and final tour of Columbia, averaging at least four points, assists, and rebounds.
She also left a profound impact on head coach Dawn Staley, who claimed that Johnson will be the player she’ll miss most of all upon her professional entry. Coming from the woman who oversaw the rise of Aaliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, and more, that’s praise that reigns in the stratosphere.
-Geoff Magliocchetti
9. Washington Mystics (from Seattle): Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
I’m going with the Washington Mystics to select South Carolina guard Ta’Niya Latson No. 9 overall. The Mystics are an intriguing franchise, one that many say mirrors the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
Washington hit a grand slam by drafting Georgia Amoore, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Although they narrowly missed the playoffs, the team is preserving its youth while building for the future. Over the next three years, the Mystics will hold 14 draft picks.
My pick was contingent on center Shakira Austin, who received a restricted qualifying offer from Washington on April 7. Subsequently, Austin has signed a multi-year offer sheet with the Toronto Tempo, and the Mystics have two days to match that. If she doesn’t return, the Mystics will need frontcourt depth, especially since Stefanie Dolson departed for the Storm.
Amoore is technically the point guard, but she’s next to see action on the hardwood due to suffering an ACL injury last year. Latson could be a steal in the draft and is a player who led the nation in points (25.2 PPG) during her junior year at Florida State. She since transferred to South Carolina for her senior year.
Latson can score in bunches, and her ability to finish and drive is second-to-none. In 2025, she shot a career-high 48.6 percent from the field and averaged 14.1 points and 3.1 assists under Dawn Staley and a loaded Gamecocks squad. Her scoring production dipped, but South Carolina rostered several weapons.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
10. Indiana Fever: Nell Angloma, France
With Caitlin Clark back in the fold, Indiana will face sizable expectations after last year’s semifinal run. Indiana splurged on veterans of the familiar and new variety alike, with Clark and Aliyah Boston still on their rookie deals, but that could create a bit of a barrier for young players seeking minutes.
That makes Indianapolis prime territory for a project pick like Nell Angloma, a French forward who hasn’t hit her 20s. If Angloma is immediately ready for WNBA action, she could compete with Makayla Timpson for the right to fill Natasha Howard’s departed minutes.
-Geoff Magliocchetti
11. Washington Mystics: Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
And once again, the Washington Mystics are on the clock. This time, I’m taking them to select UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens. Kneepkens is a guard with size who can play multiple positions. Transferring to UCLA for her senior year, Kneepkens is a high-volume scorer who is another sleep pick in the draft.
Having averaged 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals with UCLA in her final year, she finished her college career shooting 43.1 percent from beyond the arc. Combine that with Sonia Citron, who’s a natural-born 3-point threat. This duo could bring much-needed scoring and 3-point prowess to the nation’s capital.
Kneepkens is a sterling shooter who takes efficient shots and has adapted to any situation so far. At 6 feet, she’s a solid rebounder, a versatile defender, who would fit in well with this developing Mystics squad. Given that Washington didn’t make too many free agency moves (thus far), I expect them to continue to build their roster through the draft.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
12. Connecticut Sun (from Phoenix): Cottie McMahon, Ole Miss
As it prepares to embark on its Comet era, patience will be a virtue when it comes to waiting on the final Sun pick(s) after they indirectly traded out of the top five. Fortunately, there’s a plethora of consistent options toward the bottom of the first round, particularly in the form of the creative scoring threat Cotie McMahon.
The former Ohio State Buckeye averaged just under 20 points in her lone tour of Oxford, partly stealing some of the spotlight from her SEC sisters. That creates more of a starry outlook for the future Texans, who found sterling defensive help in Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers during the last draft and now must fill in the scoring gaps, especially with Mabrey gone.
-Geoff Magliocchetti
13. Atlanta Dream: Angela Dugalić, UCLA
With the 13th overall pick, I’m taking the Atlanta Dream to select UCLA’s Angela Dugalić. Atlanta meant business when they re-signed Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, Jordin Canada, and Naz Hillmon in free agency. Nonetheless, they went out and traded for frontcourt strength in Angel Reese.
Taylor Thierry and Te-Hina Paopo are under contract, and I don’t think the Dream needs any more guard depth. At 6 ‘4”, Dugalić brings size to Atlanta, but is also a strong rebounder with strong defensive prowess. With Brittney Griner on her way to Connecticut, Dugalić would very much complement both Jones and Reese.
We can’t forget that Dugalić was a starter for UCLA’s Cori Close and produced off the bench in her senior season. She was more than capable of starting, which I think people may overlook. Against Duke in the Elite Eight, she delivered 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. She has the perfect amount of length and size around the rim that would solidify Atlanta’s frontcourt as one of the strongest.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
14. Seattle Storm (from Las Vegas): Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA
If a pickup game breaks out at The Shed, only UCLA would be able to form a five. The Bruins could’ve easily had six women in New York, as the efforts of Charlisse Leger-Walker were not forgotten by those gathered. Leger-Walker established herself as a solid two-star between UCLA and Washington State, and top-heavy Seattle is eager to restock the backcourt after losing veterans Skylar Diggins and Gabby Williams to the free agency chaos.
The lack of invite and a relatively late selection makes Leger-Walker particularly dangerous, as she’ll be a potential-packed talent burdened with almost nothing to lose.
-Geoff Magliocchetti
15. Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota): Rori Harmon, Texas
I wanted to take Madina Okot here, but the Connecticut Sun has plenty of frontcourt depth with Aaliyah Edwards. Aneesah Morrow, Brittney Griner, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa. The Sun will bid farewell to the Nutmeg state as it prepares to spend its final season in Connecticut before relocating to Houston. The team hasn’t made many free agency moves, as Lelia Lacan and Saniya Rivers are also on rookie-scale contracts.
I’m going to swing for the hills here. Some don’t see Rori Harmon as a first-round pick, but she would be a great addition to Connecticut. Having played her entire career for Texas, Harmon is an elite defender who would be a perfect fit for the Sun’s culture. Most have her projected as a second- or third-round pick due to her lack of scoring volume and 3-point shooting. And while Harmon didn’t take many threes, she shot a career-best 44.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Connecticut has some solid defenders, and Harmon’s shot is a work in progress. But a team such as Connecticut can improve that. Based on the players taken, free agency, and what Connecticut needs, I’m taking Harmon here. She has a small stature, but don’t let that stop you. Her defensive presence, along with the ability to facilitate, could form her into a nice backup role.
-Sara Jane Gamelli
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