Dallas Wings Secure First Pick in WNBA Draft: Who Will Be Chosen?
The Dallas Wings position themselves once again at the top of the WNBA draft, securing the first pick. League history suggests that having two consecutive top picks can be a significant boost for any franchise. Sunday’s draft did not bring any surprises, with the top five teams – Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky – maintaining their positions according to the odds.
In a mock draft prior to the draft, it was anticipated that Awa Fam, a young player from Spain, would be the first to be selected. Although she remains a strong candidate to join the Wings, the situation has changed after the performance of Azzi Fudd, the UConn guard, in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.
Last year’s draft picks, Paige Bueckers, and Fudd are elite players who could be the key pieces to take the Wings to the playoffs consistently.
Labor negotiations in the WNBA continue, and after a new collective bargaining agreement, expansion drafts will be held for the Toronto and Portland, Oregon teams, in addition to free agency. All this will precede the April draft, where more information will be available on the composition of each team.
For now, this is the new mock draft, which includes four UCLA players in the first rounds.
Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd
UConn | Guard | 5-11 | Senior
Fudd scored a total of 55 points with 58.1% effectiveness in the games against Michigan and Utah. In the season, she averages 21.0 points per game with 51.1% overall effectiveness and 54.8% from the three-point line. Although she has dealt with injuries, if she stays healthy, she is an outstanding offensive player, highly valued in the WNBA.UConn’s Azzi Fudd has been consistently projected as a lottery pick. After Sunday’s draw, she moves up to number 1.Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
Minnesota Lynx: Awa Fam
Spain | Pivot | 6-4
Fam’s agent stated that competing in the WNBA is her “main priority” for 2026. She currently plays in Valencia, Spain, and will turn 20 in June. Her potential is very high, but due to her age, she will likely need time to fully develop. The Lynx could guide her at a pace that allows her to flourish.
Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles
TCU | Base | 5-10 | Senior
Miles, transferred from Notre Dame, is playing his final college season at TCU and has been key for the Horned Frogs. He averages 18.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game and seems to be the best point guard among college seniors. Miles could be a prominent figure in the future of the Storm.0:21Olivia Miles with the 2 PtOlivia Miles with the 2 Pt, 11/23/2025
Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts
UCLA | Center | 6-7 | Senior
Betts was the first pick in our first 2026 mock draft in October. She is a First Team All-American from last season, and she’s off to a good start (15.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks per game) as a senior. Traditional centers in today’s WNBA might not fit as comfortably into offensive systems until they adapt to the style of play. Still, Betts is very talented and could join two star rookies from last season: Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, in the Mystics’ young core.
Chicago Sky: Flau’jae Johnson
LSU | Guard | 5-10 | Senior
The Tigers, with a large number of guards, will showcase Johnson’s ability to run the court this season. He averages 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for LSU. Although the schedule hasn’t been very demanding, Johnson has already proven his worth in three years of playing in the SEC.
Toronto Tempo: Ta’Niya Latson
South Carolina | Guard | 5-8 | Senior
The expansion team draft order will be decided by lottery; for now, we have Tempo here and Portland Fire at number 7. Latson led Division I in scoring with 25.2 points per game last season with Florida State. Now, in a more balanced offense with South Carolina, he averages 18.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. His 54.5% three-point shooting percentage is from too small a sample (6 of 11) to judge yet, but it would be a big step if he maintains it.
Portland Fire: Cotie McMahon
Ole Miss | Guard | 6-0 | Senior
After three years at Ohio State, where his 16.5 points per game were his career high last season, he is now with the Rebels, averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. McMahon can improve by showing better defense, and Ole Miss is a good place to do it.
Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens
UCLA | Guard | 5-11 | Senior
Kneepkens’ greatest skill is stretching defenses with his 3-point shooting. He currently has a 36.7% from the three-point line, but his track record suggests that will increase. He averages 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.1:17Southern Jaguars vs. UCLA Bruins: Game HighlightsSouthern Jaguars vs. UCLA Bruins: Game Highlights
Washington Mystics: Serah Williams
UConn | Power Forward | 6-4 | Senior
Williams went from being the star of a 13-17 team (19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game for Wisconsin last season) to finishing her career with the talented Huskies. Her stats will decrease, but her draft value will increase with a program that regularly sends players to the WNBA. She averages 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for UConn.
Indiana Fever: Madina Okot
South Carolina | Pivot | 6-6 | Senior
Okot, from Kenya, transferred to spend his final season with the Gamecocks and has adapted well. He leads South Carolina in rebounds (10.8 per game) and blocks (2.2 per game) while averaging 13.3 points per game. Like Betts, he is a more traditional pivot, but there is still a place for those players in the WNBA, especially if they defend well.
Washington Mystics: Gabriela Jaquez
UCLA | Guard | 6-0 | Senior
Jaquez has been solid for the Bruins, averaging 14.0 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game (the most on the team), and 2.8 assists per game, with 39.1% effectiveness from the three-point line. Jaquez became a full-time starter for UCLA last season and should improve his draft value if he continues to improve his three-point shooting.
Connecticut Sun: Iyana Martin Carrion
Spain | Base | 5-8
In April, she was named Young Player of the Year for her debut season in the EuroLeague with Perfumerias Avenida. Teammate of Fam in the Spanish national team, Martin Carrion also helped that team advance to the EuroBasket final this summer. She turns 20 in January.
Atlanta Dream: Kiki Rice
UCLA | Base | 5-11 | Senior
As good as the Bruins were last season in reaching the Final Four, they could be better this season. Rice is averaging 14.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. An improvement in three-point shooting (currently at 30.8%) will help. Last season, he had a career-high 31.3% from the three-point line.
Seattle Storm: Janiah Barker
Tennessee | Power Forward | 6-4 | Senior
Barker previously played for Texas A&M and UCLA, and will now finish her college career at Tennessee. Her skillset for her size has long interested WNBA evaluators, but she will need to demonstrate consistency throughout this season. She averages 15.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Lady Vols.
Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | Guard | 5-11
The Sun’s coach, Rachid Meziane, from France, is familiar with Angloma, who plays for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA). Angloma averaged 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for France in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup this summer. She turns 20 in June.
