WNBA mock draft 2026: Azzi Fudd returns to projected No. 1

WNBA draft day is right here, and the league’s latest rookies are about to discover out the place they’re chosen. Before the draft begins Monday evening (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in New York, ESPN takes one final take a look at how the 45 picks would possibly shake out.

Our last projection comes with one other change on the high: UConn capturing guard Azzi Fudd returns because the projected No. 1 decide for the Dallas Wings, who’ve been busy throughout free company this previous week. The Wings are bringing again veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale, the No. 5 decide in 2019 who has spent her profession with Dallas. They even have 2025 Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers returning at guard. They added veteran free brokers Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, who had been each with the Minnesota Lynx final yr.

With Fudd being an elite 3-point shooter, plus her progress as a defender, she ought to match properly with the Wings. The different high guard within the draft, TCU‘s Olivia Miles, was the No. 1 decide in final week’s mock, however she is projected to be chosen very early.

History is also made Monday: National champion UCLA might turn into the primary staff to have a record six players drafted, as projected.

UConn | capturing guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Fudd was the Most Outstanding Player on the 2025 Final Four, however she did not have as robust an NCAA event this season. After a career-high 34 factors, together with eight 3-pointers, within the second spherical, Fudd totaled simply 31 factors on 12-of-39 capturing (30.8%) in her final three video games. She was 3-of-15 for eight factors within the Huskies’ nationwide semifinal loss to South Carolina. Still, she shot 42.2% from 3-point vary in her school profession. With her fast launch and footwork, her capturing ought to proceed to be vital on the subsequent degree.

TCU | level guard | 5-foot-10 | senior

Miles averaged a career-best 19.6 factors this season because the Horned Frogs went 32-6 and gained the Big 12 regular-season title. She had six triple-doubles this season, together with one within the first spherical of the NCAA event. Her courtroom imaginative and prescient is great. She made 73 3-pointers this season at TCU and likewise final season at Notre Dame. The Lynx have misplaced some key gamers in free company and may benefit from a younger level guard who can develop in Minnesota. Miles wants to enhance her protection, however she’s already offensively dynamic.

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Olivia Miles drops close to triple-double as TCU advances to the Elite Eight

Olivia Miles drops 28 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists as TCU places away Virginia 79-69.

Spain | heart | 6-foot-4

Fam, who’s averaging 9.2 factors and 5.0 rebounds for Valencia in Spain, is simply 19 and has a ton of potential. The Storm, who misplaced veteran ahead Nneka Ogwumike to Los Angeles in free company, most likely may benefit from selecting up one other younger publish participant. Considering how properly UCLA’s Lauren Betts performed her senior season, she is perhaps thought-about for this spot, too.

UCLA | heart | 6-foot-7 | senior

Betts helped her draft inventory through the NCAA event, a pleasant aspect profit to profitable the nationwide championship. She shot at the very least 60% from the sphere in all six NCAA event video games, ending with a 68.8 discipline objective proportion. She averaged 21 factors, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a couple of.8 blocks and was named the event’s Most Outstanding Player. Betts possible most closely fits the Mystics’ wants.

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UCLA routs South Carolina for first NCAA title

UCLA takes house the nationwide title after an enormous win over South Carolina.

France | small ahead | 5-foot-11

Angloma is averaging 15.5 factors and 5.6 rebounds for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA) in France’s premiere league, BWL. She would not flip 20 till June and sure can play small ahead or capturing guard within the WNBA. This previous week, the Sky parted with ahead Angel Reese and introduced in ahead Rickea Jackson in separate trades.

LSU | capturing guard | 5-foot-10 | senior

Johnson had ups and downs this season, however she has numerous capacity and would possibly want to play towards professionals to begin her subsequent stage of improvement. She averaged 19.0 factors and shot 52.4% within the Tigers’ three NCAA event video games. This season, she shot a career-best 39.3% from behind the arc (48 of 122) and tied a profession excessive with 89 assists. Her vitality and protection are two different robust factors for the growth franchise.

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Emotional Flau’jae Johnson displays on last sport at PMAC as a Tiger

Following LSU’s Sweet 16-clinching win, Johnson delivers a heartfelt reflection on her time in Baton Rouge, expressing gratitude for many who formed her journey.

South Carolina | level guard | 5-foot-9 | senior

It seems Johnson helped her draft inventory loads as a senior after displaying management, maturity and resilience. She displayed these qualities all through her profession at South Carolina, however they had been key in serving to the Gamecocks attain the nationwide championship sport once more and finish UConn’s unbeaten season. Johnson was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. She could be very robust and may successfully guard several types of gamers.

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Raven Johnson scores her 1,000th profession level

Raven Johnson pokes the ball free and lays in her 1,000th profession level for South Carolina.

Spain | level guard | 5-foot-8

Martin, who turned 20 in January, was a part of the Spanish staff that superior to the EuroBasket championship sport final summer time. Despite her youth, she has numerous expertise enjoying on the skilled degree. She is averaging 14.8 factors and 4.2 assists for Perfumerias Avenida in Spain’s LF Endesa. In 2023, she was the MVP of the FIBA U19 World Cup. The Valkyries would possibly see her as a stable addition at level guard.

9. Washington Mystics: Kiki Rice

UCLA | level guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Similar to her fellow UCLA seniors, Rice saved her finest for final. She averaged 14.9 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals and shot 49% from the sphere, 38.5% from past the arc and 90.2% on the foul line this season. All these numbers had been profession highs. She additionally averaged 4.6 assists and confirmed a lot poise in clutch conditions, together with her 4 free throws within the last 13 seconds that clinched UCLA’s nationwide semifinal win over Texas. She is from Bethesda, Maryland, and is perhaps reunited with UCLA teammate Betts within the WNBA.

South Carolina | heart | 6-foot-6 | senior

Okot averaged 12.8 factors, 10.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks for the nationwide runner-up Gamecocks. South Carolina hoped she would get another yr of school eligibility, however the NCAA denied the request. She performed simply two years within the U.S. school system — at Mississippi State in 2024-25 and South Carolina this season — after competing two years in school in her native Kenya. She will want to be taught extra on the fly within the WNBA however could possibly be one other huge goal for level guard Caitlin Clark.

Ole Miss | small ahead | 6-foot | senior

McMahon may have to transition to the perimeter within the WNBA and enhance her 3-point capturing. She has labored on that through the previous two seasons. This season, after transferring to Ole Miss after three years at Ohio State, McMahon averaged a career-high 19.5 factors and had a career-best 36 3-pointers. But she shot 28.6% from behind the arc. McMahon’s bodily type ought to translate properly within the WNBA.

UCLA | capturing guard | 6-foot | senior

If somebody noticed solely Jaquez’s nationwide championship sport efficiency — 21 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and sufficient vitality to gentle up the world — that may be cause to draft her. But she has on condition that form of effort for 4 seasons at UCLA. She averaged a career-high 13.5 factors and shot 53.9% from the sphere, 39% on 3-pointers and 86% on free throws — all profession bests. It will probably be an emotional season for the Sun and their followers, realizing the franchise is shifting to Houston in 2027. But a participant equivalent to Jaquez might nonetheless turn into a fan favourite.

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Emotional Gabriela Jaquez reacts to UCLA’s nationwide title victory

UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez discusses her emotions following the Bruins profitable their first NCAA girls’s basketball nationwide championship.

South Carolina | capturing guard | 5-foot-8 | senior

Latson transferring from Florida State to South Carolina for her senior season labored out properly. She helped lead the Gamecocks to the nationwide championship sport thanks to an enormous efficiency — 16 factors and 11 rebounds — towards UConn within the semifinals. She averaged 14.1 factors and three.6 assists this season and confirmed she might play South Carolina-style protection. The Dream have stated they are going to be drafting much less on “need” and extra on finest out there participant, and Latson matches that definition if she’s nonetheless on the board.

TCU | small ahead | 6-foot-3 | senior

A local of Oviedo, Spain, Suarez performed two seasons at Tennessee and two at Cal earlier than going to TCU. But what she confirmed in her lone season in Fort Worth, Texas, is perhaps sufficient to make her a first-round decide. Suarez averaged 17.1 factors and seven.4 rebounds whereas hitting a team-best 84 3-pointers. Her 33-point, 10-rebound efficiency in TCU’s Sweet 16 victory over Virginia was her most spectacular NCAA event sport. If the Storm additionally draft Fam, it is perhaps good for her to have a fellow Spaniard on the staff.

UCLA | capturing guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Kneepkens’ most well-known ability is long-range capturing. She spent 4 years (with one damage redshirt season) at Utah earlier than transferring to UCLA as a senior, a call that labored out nice for her and the nationwide champion Bruins. Her scoring common dipped, as anticipated, with extra expertise round her. But Kneepkens nonetheless shot 42.9% from behind the arc (87 of 203). She completed her school profession at 43.1% from 3-point vary (335 of 777).

Second spherical

16. Seattle Storm: Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA, PG

17. Portland Fire: Angela Dugalic, UCLA, PF

18. Connecticut Sun: Janiah Barker, Tennessee, PF

19. Washington Mystics: Ashlon Jackson, Duke, SG

20. Los Angeles Sparks: Raegan Beers, Oklahoma, C

21. Chicago Sky: Tonie Morgan, Kentucky, PG

22. Toronto Tempo: Frieda Bühner, Germany, PF

23. Golden State Valkyries: Yarden Garzon, Maryland, SG

24. Los Angeles Sparks: Justine Pissott, Vanderbilt, SG

25. Indiana Fever: Taina Mair, Duke, PG

26. Toronto Tempo: Rori Harmon, Texas, PG

27. Phoenix Mercury: Laila Phelia, Syracuse, SG

28. Atlanta Dream: Maggie Doogan, Richmond, PF

29. Las Vegas Aces: Kierra Wheeler, West Virginia, PF

30. Washington Mystics: Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State, PF

Third spherical

31. Dallas Wings: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor, PF

32. Chicago Sky: Cassandre Prosper, Notre Dame, SG

33. Connecticut Sun: Latasha Lattimore, Ole Miss, PF

34. Washington Mystics: Chance Gray, Ohio State, SG

35. Los Angeles Sparks: Kara Dunn, USC, SG

36. Toronto Tempo: Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt, PF

37. Portland Fire: Christeen Iwuala, Ole Miss, PF

38. Golden State Valkyries: Hannah Stuelke, Iowa, PF

39. Seattle Storm: Jessica Timmons, Alabama, SG

40. Indiana Fever: Shay Ciezki, Indiana, SG

41. New York Liberty: Mya Perry, Cincinnati, SG

42. Phoenix Mercury: Teonni Key, Kentucky, PF

43. Atlanta Dream: Lani White, Utah, SG

44. Las Vegas Aces: Micah Gray, Oklahoma State, SG

45. Minnesota Lynx: Serah Williams, UConn, C