Race for the 2026 WNBA Draft: Teams in the Fight for the Number 1 Pick
In the horizon of the 2025 season, five WNBA teams are competing for the opportunity to select who could be the next emblematic figure of the league. The Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky are in the running to obtain the coveted first overall pick in next year’s WNBA draft. The ultimate winner will be determined by a lottery.
UCLA’s Lauren Betts is considered the player with the most potential to be number one in the draft, according to forecasts.
Key Details of the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery
Date and How to Watch
The draft lottery will take place on Sunday, November 23. Fans will be able to follow the excitement through the live broadcast.
Raffle Format
The process involves the extraction of four numbered balls from 1 to 14. These balls will determine a four-digit combination, and the team assigned to that combination will secure the first selection. The same procedure applies for the second selection, while the selections from the third to fifth positions will be based on the teams’ records during the previous two regular seasons.
Team Selection and Probabilities
The lottery odds are based on the accumulated results of the last two WNBA regular seasons, considering the five teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs in the most recent season.
- Dallas Wings (420 out of 1,000 possibilities)
- Minnesota Lynx, via Chicago Sky (261 out of 1,000 possibilities)
- Seattle Storm, via Los Angeles Sparks (167 out of 1,000 possibilities)
- Washington Mystics (97 out of 1,000 possibilities)
- Chicago Sky, via Connecticut Sun (55 out of 1,000 possibilities)
2026 WNBA Draft Date
The 2026 WNBA draft is scheduled for April 13th.
