2026 WNBA Draft: Winners and Losers from a Historic Night in New York

The 2026 WNBA Draft is officially in the books, and it was a night of reunions, shattered records, and strategic maneuvering by the league’s newest expansion franchises. Held at The Shed in New York City on Monday night, the draft saw 45 players enter the professional ranks, led by a certain UConn superstar.

Here is a breakdown from a historic night for the W.

The Top Five Picks

1. Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd (G, UConn) – The Wings used the top pick to reunite Fudd with her former college teammate and reigning Rookie of the Year, Paige Bueckers.
2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles (G, TCU) – A dynamic playmaker who bolsters the Lynx backcourt.
3. Seattle Storm: Awa Fam (C, Spain) – The Storm went with international size to anchor their interior.
4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (C, UCLA) – The first of many Bruins to go off the board, providing elite rim protection.
5. Chicago Sky: Gabriela Jaquez (G, UCLA) – The Sky added versatile scoring and “out-drafted” her brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr., who was a mid-first-round NBA pick.

Expansion Teams: Toronto and Portland

1. The 2026 season marks the debut of the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. Both teams used their first-round picks to secure foundational talent:
2. Toronto Tempo (Pick 6): Selected Kiki Rice (G, UCLA), a high-IQ guard to lead their new offense.
3. Portland Fire (Pick 7): Selected Iyana Martín Carrión (G, Spain), bringing elite European playmaking to the Pacific Northwest.

Major Storylines & Historical Feats

1. The UCLA Takeover: The UCLA Bruins made history by having six players drafted in a single year, with five of them going in the first round alone—surpassing the record previously held by the 2002 UConn Huskies.
2. The Blockbuster Trade: The Golden State Valkyries (another 2026 expansion team) selected LSU star Flau’jae Johnson at No. 8, but immediately traded her rights to the Seattle Storm. In exchange, the Valkyries received the rights to second-round pick Marta Suárez and a 2028 second-round selection
3. Mystics Load Up: Washington was the most active team in the first round, walking away with three top-11 picks: Lauren Betts (4), Angela Dugalić (9), and Cotie McMahon (11).
4. 2026 WNBA Draft: Top 10 Picks

*Drafted by Golden State and traded to Seattle.

What’s Next: Training camps open soon as these rookies prepare for the preseason, which tips off on April 25, 2026.