The orange carpet is rolled up, the hugs with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert are in the books, and now the real fun starts. The 2026 WNBA Draft, held April 13 at The Shed in Manhattan, delivered glam, talent, new money, international flair, and expansion intrigue.
This wasn’t a sleepy draft night where everyone politely claps and pretends the board made perfect sense. There was movement, there was energy, and there were real statements made. Dallas doubled down on a UConn reunion, UCLA flooded the league with talent, Seattle went bold and young, and the expansion franchises in Toronto and Portland stepped into the spotlight with clear intent.
If you wanted a snapshot of where women’s basketball stands right now, this draft delivered it in full runway style, complete with heels and high tops.
The Top 5, With the Temperature Still Running Hot
To be eligible for the draft, players had to turn 22 in 2025 and renounce any remaining NCAA eligibility. College seniors without eligibility, along with international players turning 22 in 2026 who had not used collegiate eligibility, were also included.
While the first 10 picks may anchor this class, the broader takeaway is how much the league continues to expand and evolve, with more opportunities clearly on the horizon.
1. Dallas Wings - Azzi Fudd, Guard, UConn
Dallas, which finished 10-34 and last in the league in 2025, earned the No. 1 pick in the Draft Lottery and selected Fudd first overall. Her final season at UConn was the most complete of her career: 17.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.5 steals, and a blistering 44.7% from three. UConn’s official numbers also show she led the nation with 117 made threes.
That’s not just pretty shooting. It’s instant spacing for a Dallas backcourt built around former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
2. Minnesota Lynx - Olivia Miles, Guard, TCU
The Minnesota Lynx, which finished with the league’s best record at 34-10 in the 2025 season before falling in the semifinals, held the No. 2 pick via a previous trade with Chicago. With it, they selected Olivia Miles out of TCU, and this is one of those picks that feels both mature and dangerous.
TCU’s official stats list Miles at 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, while the Horned Frogs’ postseason awards release confirms she swept Big 12 Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors. She’s creative, poised, and already comfortable carrying a major role, which is exactly why this looks like such a clean fit for Minnesota.
3. Seattle Storm - Awa Fam, Center, Valencia Basket
Seattle, which finished 2025 just above .500 at 23-21, went big and international with Awa Fam, and the upside is easy to see. The official Storm release notes that Fam played 39 games across the 2025–26 EuroLeague and Liga Femenina Endesa competitions, averaging 8.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game, with a season high of 17 points against Fenerbahçe Opet.
At just 19 years old, she’s younger than most of this first-round class, but the Storm clearly view her as a long-term centerpiece, not a stash-and-forget novelty.
4. Washington Mystics - Lauren Betts, Center, UCLA
Lauren Betts at No. 4 might feel like a gift for Washington, which finished 2025 at 16-28, because it is. UCLA’s official stats list her at 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game on 58.2% shooting.
The accolades back it up. She was the face of a national champion and the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, a profile that clearly translates to the next level.
“Franchise center” is an overused phrase this time of year, but with Betts, it fits. She’s versatile, poised, and capable of stepping in and leading from day one. She’ll also reunite with UCLA teammate Angela Dugelić, whom the Mystics selected at No. 9 via a pick acquired from Seattle.
5. Chicago Sky - Gabriela Jaquez, Guard/Forward, UCLA
Jaquez gives Chicago one of the safer first-round bets in this class because the résumé is so complete. The Sky, which finished tied for last with Dallas at 10-34, add a marquee player who posted 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game as a senior while shooting 53.9% from the field, 39.0% from three, and 86.0% at the line.
She punctuated that run with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in the title win over South Carolina, about as clear a statement as you can make heading into the next level. She’s also one of six former UCLA teammates drafted into the WNBA this year, a reflection of just how strong that program was.
The Stories That Mattered Most
The headliner was No. 1 pick Fudd to Dallas out of UConn, largely because the fit is so obvious. The Wings needed shooting after finishing near the bottom of the league in three-point percentage last season, and Fudd shot 44.7% from deep at UConn. Add Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to that mix, and Dallas starts to look less like a rebuild and more like a team with a clear offensive identity. The Wings are not being handed anything, but the ceiling shifted quickly.
The second major storyline was UCLA dominating the draft board. The Bruins had a record six players selected, with five going in the first round. That’s not just volume, it’s impact. Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, Angela Dugalić, Gianna Kneepkens, and Charlisse Leger-Walker all heard their names called out of UCLA. The program didn’t just win a national title, it sent a core group straight into the league.
Then there’s the financial shift, which may matter most to the players. Fudd’s rookie deal under the new labor structure is rumored at $2.24 million over four years, including a $500,000 base salary, a significant jump from where top picks were even a few years ago. That’s a direct result of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement reached in March 2026, which raised the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million. It doesn’t resolve every pay discussion overnight, but it meaningfully changes what draft night represents. The WNBA is not just offering visibility, it’s offering a more viable business model.
The international presence also stood out. Awa Fam at No. 3 and Iyana Martín Carrión at No. 7 highlighted a growing willingness to invest in overseas talent, and the draft overall reflected a broader global footprint. For a league that has long talked about international growth, this was a step toward backing it up.
Where the Draft Stands Right Now
Right now, the draft feels less like a ceremonial handoff and more like a true talent pipeline into immediate opportunity. Expansion has helped. Toronto and Portland are now part of the league, creating more roster spots, more pathways for young players to break through, and more room for first-year players to land.
But WNBA rosters remain tight, with teams carrying just 11 to 12 players. Not every pick is guaranteed a spot on the bench or in the rotation. It still has to be earned. That’s what makes this next stretch so important. Draft night was the introduction. Training camp and opening week will determine who turns that moment into a full-time role.
Who Looks Primed for 2026
If we’re talking about the title race, the favorites are still the heavyweights. As of April 18 at 9:30 p.m. CT, FanDuel listed the New York Liberty at +220 to win the 2026 title, followed by Las Vegas at +460 and Indiana at +470. BetMGM had New York at +225, Las Vegas at +350, Indiana at +375, and Minnesota at +425. In other words, the draft may have shifted the mood, but it didn’t flip the top tier. New York, Las Vegas, Indiana, and Minnesota are still the teams everyone has circled.
That said, Dallas is the most intriguing team to monitor coming out of the draft. Not a favorite, not a finished product, but undeniably interesting. Fudd gives the Wings a cleaner roster shape, and if Bueckers makes the expected second-year leap, Dallas (+1800 at BetMGM) should be one of the league’s most watched teams from the opening tip.
Among rookies, Fudd has the clearest path to immediate impact, Miles has the best chance to contribute to a contender right away, and Betts may have the highest ceiling as a franchise frontcourt anchor. Keep an eye on Raven Johnson, who went to Indiana at No. 10 overall. The Fever didn’t draft her for upside alone, they drafted her to fit into winning basketball alongside Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
When the Season Begins
Circle Friday, May 8. The WNBA tips off its 30th season with three games, including Toronto’s debut against Washington, New York hosting Connecticut, and Golden State visiting Seattle. Portland returns the following night, Saturday, May 9th, against Chicago.
Also on May 9th, Dallas faces Indiana, a matchup that brings Caitlin Clark, Raven Johnson, and the Fever into focus. The defending champion Phoenix Mercury also take on Las Vegas.
Draft night was the introduction. Opening weekend is when the real story begins, and we won’t have to wait long to see who turns draft-night momentum into wins.
For more details, the official WNBA Draft Board remains the best source for pick order, teams, and player information, along with FAQs, prospect profiles, and transaction updates.
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