Dallas Wings: A Bright Future with Azzi Fudd at the Helm?
The Dallas Wings team is once again in the privileged position of having the first pick in the upcoming WNBA draft. The history of the league teaches us that having two consecutive top draft picks is usually 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 according to the odds.
In the mock draft prior to the draft, Awa Fam, a young post player from Spain, was projected to be the first pick. Although she remains a strong candidate to join the Wings, attention has focused on the outstanding performance of Azzi Fudd, guard from the University of Connecticut, in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.
Fudd, currently in his final year of college, could be the key for the Wings to aim for the top.
Last season, Paige Bueckers, the draft’s most outstanding player and WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2025, and Fudd, are elite players who could be the foundation to bring the Wings back to the playoffs.
Bueckers and Fudd have openly expressed their relationship, something that is not unusual in the league. Both have proven to be excellent teammates, leading the Huskies to a national championship in April.
WNBA labor negotiations are ongoing, with a deadline extension until November 30. After a new collective 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, this is the most recent mock draft, which again includes four UCLA players as possible first-round picks.
1. 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 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. Although she has dealt with injuries in her career, if she stays healthy, she is an outstanding offensive player who will be highly valued in the WNBA.Azzi Fudd from UConn has been consistently projected as a lottery pick. After Sunday’s draft lottery, she has moved up to number 1.
2. Minnesota Lynx: Awa Fam
Spain | Pivot | 6 feet 4 inches
Fam’s agent said that competing in the WNBA is her “main 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 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 exactly what the Horned Frogs needed. She averages 18.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game and appears to be the best point guard among college seniors. Miles could be a standout player in the backcourt for the future of the Storm.0:21 Olivia Miles with 2 Pt
4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts
UCLA | Center | 6 feet 7 inches | Senior
Betts was number 1 in our first 2026 mock draft in October. Being a first-team All-American last season, she’s off to a good start (15.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) as a senior and hasn’t done anything to drop her in the draft. But true pivots in the current WNBA might not fit as comfortably into offensive systems until they adjust 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 large number of guards, will showcase Johnson’s ability to run the court this season. He averages 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for LSU, ranked number 5. The Tigers’ non-conference schedule hasn’t challenged them, but Johnson has already proven his worth in three years of playing in the SEC.
6. Toronto Tempo: Ta’Niya Latson
South Carolina | Guard | 5 feet 8 inches | Senior
The expansion team draft order will be decided by lottery; for now we have Tempo here and 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, ranked number 2, she averages 18.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Her 54.5% three-point shooting percentage is from too small a sample (6 of 11) to judge yet, but it would be a big step if she maintains it.
7. Portland Fire: Cotie McMahon
Ole Miss | Alera | 6 feet 0 inches | Senior
After three years at Ohio State, where her 16.5 points per game were a personal record last season, she is now with the No. 13 ranked Rebels, averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. 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 shooting. He currently has a 36.7% from the three-point line, the lowest of his career, but his history (playing previously at Utah) suggests that it will increase. He averages 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.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 points and 9.8 rebounds per game for Wisconsin last season) to finishing her career with the talent-rich, No. 1-ranked Huskies. Her stats will decrease, but her draft value will increase with a program that regularly takes players to the WNBA. She averages 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game 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 rebounds per game) and blocks (2.2 blocks per game) while averaging 13.3 points per game. Like Betts, she is a more traditional center, 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 points, a team-high 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, with 39.1% effectiveness from the three-point line. Jaquez became a full-time starter for UCLA last season and should help his draft value if he continues to improve his 3-point shooting.
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 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Some improvement in 3-point shooting, currently at 30.8%, will help. Last season, he shot 31.3% from the three-point line, 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, given her size, has long interested WNBA evaluators, but she will need to show consistency throughout this season. She is averaging 15.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Lady Vols.
15. Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | Alera | 5 feet 11 inches
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 per game for France in the U19 Women’s World Cup this summer. She turns 20 in June.
