Here’s the latest on the 2026 WNBA Draft.
- Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 pick and are widely projected to select Azzi Fudd or Awa Fam, with Lauren Betts also in the mix as a top center option.[1][3][5]
- The draft occurred in mid-April 2026 in New York, with extensive coverage of red-carpet arrivals, early picks, and post-draft analysis detailing who went No. 1 and how rosters may have shifted after free agency and the new CBA salary structure.[7][8][1]
- Mock drafts leading up to the event consistently favored Fudd, Fam, or Betts at the top, reflecting teams’ rosters, recent signings, and positional needs for Dallas and Minnesota, among others.[3][4][5][9]
- Post-draft recaps highlighted notable trades and the impact of the new rookie salary scale, with top picks earning significant first-year salaries under the updated CBA.[1][7]
Illustration: A typical top-5 projection snapshot from pre-draft analyses showed:
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- Dallas Wings — Azzi Fudd or Awa Fam
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- Next team — Olivia Miles or Lauren Betts
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- Team — another UCLA presence or top wing, depending on team fit
- 4–5. Other lottery picks (varied among J.D. Johnson, Latson, etc.)
If you’d like, I can pull the most current specific No. 1 pick and full top-10/lottery results from a reputable source and summarize the post-draft contract details under the new CBA. Please tell me which format you prefer (short bullet list, table, or a quick narrative).
Citations:
- Live draft updates and top-prospect discussions, including Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts as leading candidates.[1]
- Mock drafts and prospect evaluations prior to the draft, with emphasis on Awa Fam, Fudd, and Betts.[4][5][3]
- Post-draft recap and salary details under the new CBA for top picks.[7][1]
Sources
The WNBA rolls out the orange carpet before drafting its 2026 rookie class at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 WNBA draft pick, with Azzi Fudd of UConn among the options.
apnews.comAzzi Fudd and Lauren Betts look primed to go top two after roster shake-ups in Dallas and Minnesota.
www.nbcsports.comFour UCLA players, including Lauren Betts, are now projected first-round picks. But Spain's Awa Fam is No. 1.
www.espn.comThe Dallas Wings have to figure out which of these top prospects fit best with Paige Bueckers
www.cbssports.comHere's a look at The Sporting News' latest pick projections for the 2026 WNBA Draft, now going from picks No. 1 through No. 30.
www.sportingnews.comI was pondering on whether or not I should release another version of the upcoming WNBA Draft due to the ongoing negotiations between the WNBPA (WNBA Players Association) and the WNBA and whether o…
wbasketballblog.comWith the draft lottery right around the corner, we make our predictions for the first round in this pre-lottery 2026 WNBA Mock Draft.
www.profootballnetwork.comLauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, Flau'Jae Johnson and Olivia Miles are projected 2026 lottery picks.
www.espn.com