Dallas Wings Secure First Pick in WNBA Draft: Who Will Be Chosen?
The Dallas Wings, with the first pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, are in a privileged position. The history of the league suggests that having two consecutive top draft picks is a significant boost for any franchise. Sunday’s draw held no surprises, and the top five picks maintained their positions according to the odds.
The pre-draft draft on Friday anticipated Awa Fam, a young Spanish pivot, as the main candidate. Fam remains a strong option for the Wings, whose new coach, Jose Fernandez, recruited extensively in Europe during his time at South Florida.
However, after the outstanding performance of Azzi Fudd, UConn guard, at the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase, attention is focused on the Huskies’ senior player. This year’s draft promises to be exciting, with emerging talent and renewed strategies in each team.
Last year’s selection, Paige Bueckers, and Fudd are elite players who could take the Wings back to the playoffs.
WNBA labor negotiations are ongoing, with a deadline extended to November 30. After a new collective bargaining agreement, expansion drafts will be held for the new franchises in Toronto and Portland, Oregon, in addition to free agency.
All of this must happen before the April draft, when more information will be available about the composition of each team. For now, here is the most recent draft, which again has four UCLA players in the first rounds.
2026 WNBA Draft First Picks
Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd
UConn | Guard | 5 feet 11 inches | Senior
In victories over Michigan and Utah, 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 a highly valued offensive standout in the WNBA.UConn’s Azzi Fudd has been consistently projected as a lottery pick. After Sunday’s draw, she moved up to number 1.
Minnesota Lynx: Awa Fam
Spain | Pivot | 6 feet 4 inches
Fam’s agent said 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.
Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles
TCU | Base | 5 feet 10 inches | Senior
Miles, transferred from Notre Dame who is 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 and 7.5 assists and appears to be the best point guard among college seniors. Miles could be a standout in the backcourt for the future of the Storm.
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, 2.2 blocks) 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.
Chicago Sky: Flau’jae Johnson
LSU | Guard | 5 feet 10 inches | Senior
The Tigers, with many guards, will showcase Johnson’s ability to run the court this season. He averages 17.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for the number 5 LSU. The Tigers’ non-conference schedule hasn’t challenged them, but Johnson has already proven his worth in three years of playing in the SEC.
Toronto Tempo: Ta’Niya Latson
South Carolina | Guard | 5 feet 8 inches | Senior
The draft order for the expansion teams will be decided by lottery; for now we have the Tempo here and the 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’s number 2, she averages 18.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Her 54.5% 3-point shooting is from too small a sample (6 of 11) to judge yet, but that would be a big step if she keeps it up.
Portland Fire: Cotie McMahon
Ole Miss | Guard | 6 feet 0 inches | Senior
After three years at Ohio State, where her 16.5 points per game were a career high last season, she is now with the No. 13 Rebels and averages 17.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds. McMahon can help herself by showing defensive improvement, and Ole Miss is a good place to do it.
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 a career-low 36.7% from beyond the arc, but his history (playing previously at Utah) suggests that will go up. He averages 12.7 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
1:17Southern Jaguars vs. UCLA Bruins: Game Highlights
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 for Wisconsin last season) to finishing her career with the number 1 Huskies filled with talent. Her stats will go down, but her draft value will go up with a program that regularly puts players in the WNBA. She averages 7.2 points per game and 4.3 rebounds for UConn.
Indiana Fever: Madina Okot
South Carolina | Pivot | 6 feet 6 inches | Senior
Okot, originally from Kenya, transferred to spend her final season with the Gamecocks and has adapted well. She leads South Carolina in rebounds (10.8 rebounds) and blocks (2.2 blocks) while averaging 13.3 points per game. Like Betts, she is a more traditional post player, but there is still a place for those players in the WNBA, especially if they defend well.
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 and 2.8 assists, while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc. Jaquez became a full-time starter for UCLA last season and should help her draft stock if she continues to improve her 3-point shot.
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.
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 averages 14.0 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Some improvement in 3-point shooting, currently at 30.8%, will help. Last season, he shot 31.3% from beyond the arc, the best of his career.
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 throughout this season. She averages 15.2 points per game and 6.5 rebounds for the Lady Vols.
Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | Forward | 5 ft 11 in
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 for France in the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup this summer. She turns 20 in June.
