The 2026 WNBA Draft: Prospects and Emerging Talent
While WNBA labor negotiations continue, activity in the league doesn’t stop. The 2026 draft lottery is scheduled for Sunday, promising excitement and anticipation.
One of the most notable aspects is the hiring of Jose Fernandez as the head coach of the Dallas Wings, the team with the highest probability of obtaining the first pick (44%). Fernandez, with an outstanding career at the University of South Florida, has demonstrated a special ability to recruit European talent. In fact, his program had a significant presence of international players, which suggests a strategic approach for the future of the team.
In our projection, Awa Fam, Spanish pivot, tops the list of potential selections. After the order of the top five selections is defined, we will update our mock draft on Sunday night.
Another notable change is the projection of four UCLA players in the first round.
Spain | Pivot | 1.93 meters
Fam’s agent has stated that competing in the WNBA is his “top priority” for 2026. He currently plays in Valencia, Spain, and will turn 20 in June. His potential is very high, and he could be another key piece for the Wings, after Paige Bueckers was the WNBA Rookie of the Year last season.
- Minnesota Lynx: Lauren Betts
UCLA | Center | 2.01 meters | Senior
Betts remains a strong candidate for the first pick, a position she held in our first 2026 mock draft last month. She was an All-American last season and is currently averaging 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks, with 59.6% field goal efficiency for the Bruins.
- Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles
TCU | Base | 1.78 meters | Senior
Miles, transferred from Notre Dame, is playing his final college season at TCU and has been key for the team. He averages 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists and seems to be the best point guard among college seniors.
- Washington Mystics: Azzi Fudd
UConn | Guard | 1.80 meters | Senior
Last season, Fudd averaged 13.6 points and 43.6% three-point shooting for the national champions. This season, for the Huskies, she is averaging 17.8 points and 4.5 assists, with 45.2% three-point shooting. With her excellent shooting ability, Fudd could be drafted higher.
- Chicago Sky: Flau’jae Johnson
LSU | Guard | 1.78 meters | Senior
The Tigers, with a strong guard presence, will showcase Johnson’s ability to run the court this season. He averages 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for LSU. Although LSU’s 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 | 1.73 meters | Senior
The WNBA has not yet defined the selection order for the two expansion teams; for now, we have 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, she averages 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Her 44.4% three-point shooting percentage is from too small a sample (4 of 9) to judge yet, but it would be a big step if she maintains it.
- Portland Fire: Cotie McMahon
Ole Miss | Forward | 1.83 meters | Senior
After three years at Ohio State, where he averaged 16.5 PPG last season, he is now with the Rebels and averages 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. McMahon can improve his game by showing defensive improvement, and Ole Miss is a good place to do it.
- Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens
UCLA | Guard | 1.80 meters | Senior
Kneepkens’ greatest skill is stretching defenses with his three-point shot. He currently has a 34.5% effectiveness from the three-point line, but his history (previously playing at Utah) suggests that it will increase. He averages 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
- Washington Mystics: Serah Williams
UConn | Power Forward | 1.93 meters | Senior
Williams went from being the star of a team with a 13-17 record (19.2 PPG and 9.8 RPG for Wisconsin last season) to finishing her career with the Huskies. Her stats will decrease, but her draft value will increase with a program that regularly sends players to the WNBA. She averages 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds for UConn.
- Indiana Fever: Madina Okot
South Carolina | Pivot | 1.98 meters | Senior
Okot, from Kenya, transferred to spend his final season with the Gamecocks and has adapted well. She leads South Carolina in rebounds (10.6) and blocks (2.0), while averaging 13.2 points. 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 | 1.83 meters | Senior
Jaquez has had a good start for the Bruins, averaging 15.6 points, 7.8 rebounds (tied with Betts to lead the team) and 2.4 assists, shooting 47.4% from the field. Jaquez became a full-time starter for UCLA last season and should improve his draft position if he continues to improve his three-point shot.
- Connecticut Sun: Iyana Martin Carrion
Spain | Base | 1.73 meters
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: Janiah Barker
Tennessee | Power Forward | 1.93 meters | Senior
Barker previously played for Texas A&M and UCLA, and will finish her college career at Tennessee. Her skills have always been of interest to WNBA evaluators, but she will need to show consistency during this season. She averages 14.4 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Lady Vols.
UCLA | Base | 1.80 meters | Senior
As good as the Bruins were last season in reaching the Final Four, they could be better this season. Rice is averaging 13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Some improvement in three-point shooting, currently at 30.8%, will help. Last season, he shot 36.5% from the three-point line.
- Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | Forward | 1.80 meters
The Sun’s coach, Rachid Meziane, from France, is familiar with Angloma, who plays for the Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA). Angloma averaged 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds for France in the U19 Women’s World Cup this summer. She turns 20 in June.
