Dallas Wings: Looking Ahead with the First Pick in the WNBA Draft
The Dallas Wings once again have the first pick in the WNBA draft. The league’s history suggests that having two consecutive top picks is a significant boost for a franchise.
The draft lottery on Sunday held no surprises, as the top five teams (Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky) maintained their positions according to the odds.
In the mock draft prior to Friday’s draft, Awa Fam, a teenage pivot player from Spain, was projected as the first pick. She remains a strong candidate to join the Wings, whose new coach, Jose Fernandez, recruited extensively in Europe while at South Florida.
However, after witnessing the shooting performance of UConn guard Azzi Fudd at the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase last weekend, the number one spot now leans towards the Huskies’ senior.
The first draft pick from last year, Paige Bueckers, and Fudd are elite players who complement each other and could be pillars to bring the Wings back to the playoffs.
Bueckers and Fudd have spoken openly about their relationship, but that’s not unusual in the league. They have proven to be very good teammates, leading the Huskies to a national championship in April.
WNBA labor negotiations, of course, are ongoing (the previously extended deadline is November 30) and after a new collective bargaining agreement, there will be expansion drafts for the new franchises in Toronto and Portland, Oregon, in addition to free agency.
That should all take place before the April draft, when we’ll have much more information about each team’s composition.
But for now, here’s the most recent mock draft, which again has four UCLA players in the top 15 as projected first-round picks.
1. Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd
UConn | Guard | 5 feet 11 inches | Senior
In the victories over Michigan on Friday and Utah on Sunday, Fudd scored a total of 55 points with 58.1% shooting. On the season, she averages 21.0 points per game with 51.1% shooting overall and 54.8% from beyond the arc. Fudd has dealt with injuries in her career, but if she stays healthy, she is an outstanding offensive player who will be highly valued in the WNBA.UConn’s Azzi Fudd has been consistently projected as a lottery pick. After Sunday’s draft lottery, she moved up to number 1.Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
2. Minnesota Lynx: Awa Fam
Spain | pivot | 6 feet 4 inches
Fam’s agent told ESPN that competing in the WNBA is her “top priority” for 2026. She currently plays for Valencia in Spain and will turn 20 in June. Her potential seems very high. Due to her youth, she will likely need some time to fully develop. The Lynx could bring her along at a pace that allows her to flourish.
3. Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles
TCU | base | 5 feet 10 inches | senior
Miles, a transfer from Notre Dame playing her final college season at TCU, has been just what the Horned Frogs needed. She averages 18.3 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 7.5 assists per game and appears to be the top point guard pick among college seniors. Miles could be a standout in the backcourt for the future of the Storm.0:21Olivia Miles with the 2 PtOlivia Miles with the 2 Pt, 11/23/2025
4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts
UCLA | center | 6 feet 7 inches | senior
Betts was the first pick in our first 2026 mock draft in October. A first-team All-American last season, she’s off to a good start (15.7 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 2.2 blocks per game) as a senior and hasn’t done anything to fall down the draft board. But true pivots 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 (guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen) in the Mystics’ young core.
5. Chicago Sky: Flau’jae Johnson
LSU | Guard | 5 feet 10 inches | Senior
The Tigers, with a strong presence of guards, will showcase Johnson’s ability to run the court this season. She averages 17.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game for the number 5 LSU. The conference game schedule has not been a challenge for them, but Johnson has already proven her worth in three years of playing in the SEC.
6. Toronto Tempo: Ta’Niya Latson
South Carolina | guard | 5 feet 8 inches | senior
The expansion team draft order will be decided by lottery; for now we have Tempo here and Portland Fire in the number 7 spot. 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 number 2, he averages 18.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game. His 54.5% from 3-point shooting is from too small a sample (6 of 11) to judge yet, but that would be a big step if he maintains it.
7. Portland Fire: Cotie McMahon
Ole Miss | Guard | 6 ft 0 in | Senior
After three years at Ohio State, where her 16.5 points per game were her personal best last season, she is now with the number 13 Rebels and averages 17.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. McMahon can help herself by showing defensive improvement, and Ole Miss is a good place to do it.
8. Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens
UCLA | Guard | 5 feet 11 inches | Senior
Kneepkens’ greatest skill is stretching defenses with his 3-point shooting. He is currently at 36.7% from beyond the arc, the lowest of his career, but his history (playing previously at Utah) suggests that will go up. He averages 12.7 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game.1:17Southern Jaguars vs. UCLA Bruins: Game Highlights
9. Washington Mystics: Serah Williams
UConn | power forward | 6 feet 4 inches | senior
Williams went from being the star of a 13-17 team (19.2 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game for Wisconsin last season) to finishing her career with the number 1, talent-filled Huskies. Her stats will go down, but her draft value will go up with a program that regularly places players in the WNBA. She averages 7.2 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game for UConn.
10. Indiana Fever: Madina Okot
South Carolina | pivot | 6 feet 6 inches | senior
Okot, who is from Kenya, transferred to spend her final season with the Gamecocks, and she has fit in well. She leads South Carolina in rebounds (10.8 rebounds per game) and blocks (2.2 blocks per game) while averaging 13.3 points per game. Like Betts, she is a more traditional center, but there is still a place for those players in the WNBA, especially if they defend well.
11. Washington Mystics: Gabriela Jaquez
UCLA | Guard | 6 feet 0 inches | Senior
Jaquez has been solid for the Bruins, averaging 14.0 points per game, a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 39.1% from behind the arc. Jaquez became a full-time starter for UCLA last season and should help her draft stock if she continues her improvement in 3-point shooting.
12. Connecticut Sun: Iyana Martin Carrion
Spain | base | 5 feet 8 inches
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 final of the EuroBasket championship this summer. She turns 20 in January.
13. Atlanta Dream: Kiki Rice
UCLA | base | 5 feet 11 inches | 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 per game, 7.2 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game. Some improvement in 3-point shooting (currently at 30.8%) will help. Last season, he shot 31.3% from behind the arc, the best of his career.
14. Seattle Storm: Janiah Barker
Tennessee | power forward | 6 feet 4 inches | senior
Barker previously played for Texas A&M and UCLA, and will now finish her college career at No. 15 Tennessee. Her skillset at her size has long interested WNBA evaluators, but she will need to show consistency during this season. She averages 15.2 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Lady Vols.
15. Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | forward | 5 feet 11 inches
Sun coach Rachid Meziane, from France, is, of course, familiar with Angloma, who plays for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA). Angloma averaged 17.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game for France in the U19 Women’s World Cup this summer. She turns 20 in June.
