The 2026 WNBA draft, held on April 13 at The Shed in New York City, delivered a night of opportunity as teams selected from a talented class without a clear top prospect.
The Dallas Wings, who held the No. 1 overall pick for the second consecutive year, faced one of the toughest decisions of the night.
Talks centered on whether it should prioritize a guard or a post presence.
Prospects like Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd and Awa Fam Thiam were the main pre-draft candidates.
Ultimately, the Wings selected Fudd from the University of Connecticut, adding an elite scorer to their roster.
The Minnesota Lynx selected Texas Christian University guard Olivia Miles with the No. 2 pick, adding a playmaker known for her court vision. At No. 3, the Seattle Storm drafted Fan Thiam from Spain, one of the top international prospects in the draft.
Expansion teams were among the headlines of the night. With the No. 6 pick, the Toronto Tempo selected University of California, Los Angeles’ Kiki Rice as the franchise’s inaugural pick.
One selection later, the league’s second new franchise, the Portland Fire, selected Iyana Martín Carrión from Spain.
UCLA, fresh off a national championship, set a new WNBA record for the most first-round selections from a single school, with five players drafted in the first round. At No. 4, the Washington Mystics selected Betts, a dominant center, and later added Angela Dugalić at No. 9.
The Chicago Sky drafted Gabriela Jaquez at No. 5, a versatile guard known for her defense and scoring ability. The Connecticut Sun capped the first round, drafting Gianna Kneepkens at No. 15, adding a three-point shooter to their roster.
In the second round, the Sun selected Charlisse Leger-Walker, making UCLA the first program to have six draftees in a single WNBA draft.
Despite the historical selections, one of the most striking moments of the night was a major trade. Louisiana State University star Flau’jae Johnson was selected No. 8 overall by the Golden State Valkyries before being traded to the Storm.
In exchange, Golden State received Seattle’s No. 16 pick, Marta Suárez from TCU, along with a 2028 second-round selection.
Another notable trade involved UConn’s Serah Williams, who was drafted 33rd overall by the Connecticut Sun. Later in the night, she was traded to the Portland Fire in return for the 37th pick, 2027 third-round pick Taylor Bigby from TCU.
The Indiana Fever selected Raven Johnson at No. 10, adding a tough defender. The Atlanta Dream drafted Madina Okot, bringing strong rebounding, while the Los Angeles Sparks picked Ta’Niya Latson at No. 20, a guard known for offensive production. As the 30th season of the WNBA is set to begin on May 8, the rookies look poised to make a name for themselves.
