WNBA: 2026 Draft Analysis and Standout Players
While WNBA labor negotiations continue, activity in the league doesn’t stop. The 2026 draft lottery will take place on Sunday.
Four of the five head coaching vacancies in the league have already been filled, with the exception of the New York Liberty. The Dallas Wings, with the highest odds (44%) of obtaining the first pick, hired Jose Fernandez, coach of South Florida, at the end of October. His USF program has extensive recruiting contacts in Europe, with 12 of the 14 players on the Bulls’ team for the 2024-25 season coming from outside the United States. This has influenced our projection of the top picks.
Spanish pivot Awa Fam rises to number 1 in this edition. After the draw establishes the order of the top five picks, we will update the mock draft on Sunday night.
Another notable change: four UCLA players are now projected as first-round picks.
Spain | Pivot | 1.93 meters
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 and she 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 is still in contention for the first pick, which is where we had her in our first 2026 mock draft last month. She was a First Team 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 and playing her final college season at TCU, has been exactly what the Horned Frogs needed. She averages 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists and appears 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 shot 43.6% from the three-point line for the national champions. This season, for the Huskies, she averages 17.8 points and 4.5 assists, with 45.2% effectiveness from the three-point line. With her elite shooting ability, Fudd could move up.
- Chicago Sky: Flau’jae Johnson
LSU | Guard | 1.78 meters | 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, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for LSU. The non-competitive conference schedule hasn’t challenged them, but Johnson already proved 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 specified the selection order of the two expansion teams; for now, we have the Tempo here and the Portland Fire at number 7. 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 efficiency 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 his 16.5 PPG was his best mark last season, he is now with the Rebels and averages 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. McMahon can improve 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 is currently at a career-low 34.5% from beyond the arc, but his track record (playing previously at Utah) suggests that he will improve. 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 13-17 team (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 places players in 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), averaging 13.2 points. She is more of a traditional center, 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 (the best on the team) plus 7.8 rebounds (tied with Betts to lead the team) and 2.4 assists, with 47.4% effectiveness from the arc. Jaquez became a full-time starter for UCLA last season and should help 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 Perfumerías 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 skillset has interested WNBA evaluators for a long time, but she will need to demonstrate 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 beyond the arc.
- Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | Forward | 1.80 meters
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 for France in the U19 Women’s World Cup this summer. She turns 20 in June.
