The Dallas Wings Have the First Pick of the WNBA Draft: Who Will Be Chosen?
The Dallas Wings, once again, secure the first pick in the WNBA draft. League history suggests that having two consecutive top draft picks is a significant boost for any 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 based on the lottery odds.
In the mock draft prior to Friday’s draft, Awa Fam, a teenage post player from Spain, was projected as the first pick. She is a strong candidate to join the Wings, whose new coach, Jose Fernandez, recruited extensively in Europe during his time at South Florida.
However, after observing the performance of UConn guard Azzi Fudd at the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase last weekend, the number one spot seems to be leaning towards the Huskies’ senior.
WNBA labor negotiations are ongoing, with the deadline previously extended to November 30th. Following 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 we will have more information about the composition of each team. For now, here is the most recent mock draft, which once again includes four UCLA players among the possible 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 efficiency. So far this season, she averages 21.0 points per game with 51.1% overall efficiency and 54.8% from the three-point line. 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 moves up to number 1.Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
2. 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. Since she is so young, she will probably 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, transferred from Notre Dame and playing her final college season at TCU, has been just what the Horned Frogs needed. She averages 18.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 7.5 APG and appears to be the top point guard choice among college seniors. Miles could be a standout in the backcourt for the future of the Storm.0:21 Olivia Miles with 2 points, 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 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG) as a senior and hasn’t done anything to drop down the draft board. But true 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, 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 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.7 APG for the number 5 LSU. The conference’s non-competitive schedule hasn’t challenged 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 draft order for the expansion teams will be decided by lottery; for now we have the Tempo here and the Portland Fire in the number 7 spot. Latson led Division I in scoring with 25.2 PPG last season with Florida State. Now, in a more balanced offense with South Carolina, he averages 18.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 3.7 APG. His 54.5% 3-point shooting percentage comes 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 his 16.5 PPG was his career high last season, he is now with the number 13 Rebels and averages 17.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG. 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 shot. He currently has 36.7% from behind the arc, the lowest of his career, but his history (playing previously at Utah) suggests that will go up. He averages 12.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.7 APG.1:17 Southern 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 PPG and 9.8 RPG for Wisconsin last season) to finishing her career with the number 1, talent-filled Huskies. Her stats will go down, but her draft stock will go up with a program that regularly puts players in the WNBA. She averages 7.2 PPG and 4.3 RPG for UConn.
10. 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 RPG) and blocks (2.2 BPG) while averaging 13.3 PPG. 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.
11. Washington Mystics: Gabriela Jaquez
UCLA | Guard | 6 feet 0 inches | Senior
Jaquez has been solid for the Bruins, averaging 14.0 PPG, a team-high 7.8 RPG and 2.8 APG while shooting 39.1% from behind the arc. Jaquez became a full-time starter for UCLA last season and should help his draft stock if he continues to improve his 3-point shot.
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 averages 14.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG. 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 always interested WNBA evaluators, but she will need to show consistency during this season. She averages 15.2 PPG and 6.5 RPG for the Lady Vols.
15. Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | forward | 5 feet 11 inches
The Sun coach, Rachid Meziane, from France, is familiar with Angloma, who plays for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA). Angloma averaged 17.0 PPG and 5.5 RPG for France in the U19 Women’s World Cup this summer. She turns 20 in June.
