2026 WNBA Draft Mock: Detailed Analysis for Alofoke Deportes
While WNBA labor negotiations continue, activity in the league doesn’t stop. The 2026 draft lottery is scheduled for Sunday.
Of the five head coaching vacancies, four already have owners, with only the position at the New York Liberty remaining. The Dallas Wings, with the highest probability of obtaining the first selection (44%), hired Jose Fernandez, former coach of the University of South Florida, at the end of October.
Fernandez’s program at USF had extensive contacts in Europe. In fact, 12 of the 14 players on the Bulls’ roster for the 2024-25 season are from outside the United States. This influenced Alofoke Deportes’ projection for the first selection, which now points to Awa Fam, a Spanish center. The mock draft update will be done on Sunday night, once the order of the first five selections is known.
Another notable change is the projection of four UCLA players in the first round.
Spain | Pivot | 1.93 meters
Fam’s agent revealed that competing in the WNBA is her “top priority” for 2026. She currently plays in Valencia, Spain, and will turn 20 in June. Her potential is very high and she could be another key piece for the Wings, after the selection of Paige Bueckers in 2025, who was Rookie of the Year last season.
- Minnesota Lynx: Lauren Betts
UCLA | Center | 2.01 meters | Senior
Betts remains a candidate for the first pick, a position she held in the first 2026 mock draft. She averaged 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks last season, with 59.6% field goal efficiency for the Bruins, who are currently ranked number 3.
- Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles
TCU | Base | 1.78 meters | Senior
Miles, coming from Notre Dame and playing his last season at TCU, has been key for the Horned Frogs. He averages 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists, shaping up to be the best point guard among college seniors.
- Washington Mystics: Azzi Fudd
UConn | Guard | 1.80 meters | Senior
Fudd averaged 13.6 points and 43.6% accuracy from the three-point line last season. This season, she averages 17.8 points and 4.5 assists, with 45.2% effectiveness in three-point shots for the Huskies, who are ranked number 1. Her shooting ability could lead her to a higher draft pick.
- Chicago Sky: Flau’jae Johnson
LSU | Guard | 1.78 meters | Senior
Johnson will demonstrate his ability to run the court this season. He averages 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for LSU, which is ranked number 5. Although the schedule has not been 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 expansion teams; for now, Latson is here and the Portland Fire are 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, she averages 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Her 44.4% three-point shooting percentage is a small sample size, but could be a big breakthrough 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 points per game last season, he is now with the Rebels and averages 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. McMahon can improve his position by showing his defensive progress, 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% success rate, but his history 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 team (19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds for Wisconsin last season) to finishing his career at UConn. His stats will go down, but his draft value will increase. He 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 for her final season with the Gamecocks and has adapted well. She leads South Carolina in rebounds (10.6) and blocks (2.0) and averages 13.2 points. She is a traditional center, but there is still room for these 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, and 2.4 assists, with a 47.4% three-point shooting percentage. He became a 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 Perfumerías Avenida. Teammate of Fam in the Spanish national team, Martin Carrion also helped advance to the EuroBasket final this summer. She will turn 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, 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
Rice averages 13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. If he improves his three-point shot, it will help him. Last season, he shot 36.5% from beyond the arc.
- Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | Forward | 1.80 meters
Angloma averaged 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds for France in the Women’s U19 World Cup this summer. She will turn 20 in June.
