WNBA draft 2026 predictions: Will Azzi Fudd or a Spanish prodigy go No 1 overall?

The No 1 wide prime will beryllium …

For nan past 3 years, nan No 1 prime has been a foregone conclusion: Aliyah Boston successful 2023, Caitlin Clark successful 2024, Paige Bueckers successful 2025. This twelvemonth has overmuch little certainty. Will nan Dallas Wings spell for a large aliases a guard? How did UConn’s exit and UCLA’s triumph impact nan banal of their stars? It’s a toss-up, but I’ll spell pinch Awa Fam. She’s only 19, but her athleticism and pick-and-roll crippled will make her a beardown complement to Bueckers successful Dallas. EB

Awa Fam. Not nan astir polished imaginable successful nan class, but possibly nan 1 pinch nan highest ceiling. The Spanish halfway has master acquisition pinch Valencia and held her ain against immoderate of nan WNBA’s champion successful a Fiba World Cup qualifying tourney conclusion to nan United States past month. She moves fluidly for her 6ft 4in frame, shoots pinch touch and sounds nan crippled well. For Dallas, her expertise to agelong nan level and turn alongside Bueckers fits a semipermanent build. BAG

Azzi Fudd. There’s a batch of statement correct now astir what teams request and who complements which strategy nan best, but Fudd makes consciousness for nan Wings if Dallas are building astir Paige. Their acquisition will thief nan Wings get wherever they want to beryllium a small faster than they whitethorn otherwise. SK

As overmuch arsenic it apt saddens Bueckers, who would nary uncertainty relish a reunion pinch UConn spouse Fudd, statement appears to beryllium consolidating astir Awa Fam. With Bueckers and Fam, a three-level scorer who could go nan first overseas subordinate to spell No 1 since treble convention MVP Lauren Jackson, Dallas person a chance astatine a one-two punch they tin really build around. AL

The squad who had nan champion description draught was …

The Toronto Tempo took immoderate inspiration from Golden State’s travel from description squad to contender past season: their GM said they want to triumph “immediately”. Julie Allemand should slot successful arsenic a starting constituent guard, and Aaliyah Nye and Nyara Sabally person acquisition connected title rosters. Marina Mabrey has competed astatine an All-Star level earlier and could get location for existent if she improves her consistency. EB

Toronto Tempo. After nan Golden State Valkyries sold retired each their games and became nan first description broadside to scope nan playoffs successful their inaugural season, nan expectations astir first-year teams person been raised. The knowledgeable halfway of Allemand, Mabrey and Maria Kliundikova will thief Toronto beryllium much competitory correct away, though nan playoffs whitethorn still beryllium a fewer years off. BAG

This 1 is tough! Both teams made really compelling choices. I’m inclined to opportunity nan Toronto Tempo because their description draught selections are easy to understand, but it feels for illustration nan Fire are hoping to make a Valkyries-esque scatter this season. SK

Toronto Tempo. Mabrey (a stone-cold baller) is simply a helluva pickup, and Sabally (who helped clinch nan Liberty’s 2024 WNBA title) is simply a beguiling seasoned who could yet pat into her existent imaginable arsenic new-old coach Sandy Brondello puzzles done nan Tempo’s rotations. That said: I don’t spot either squad being arsenic bully retired of nan container arsenic nan Valkyries, who scrapped their measurement to a 2025 playoff spot and aren’t apt to springiness immoderate crushed to this year’s newcomers. AL

This will beryllium a bully draught for …

UCLA Bruins. Lauren Betts only improved her lawsuit to beryllium a top-five prime by starring nan Bruins to nan nationalist title and earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Who will beryllium nan 2nd UCLA subordinate disconnected nan board? That’s nan large question. Gianna Kneepkens is 1 of nan astir talented shooters successful nan class, while Gabriela Jaquez (21 points and 10 rebounds successful nan final) and Kiki Rice (12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds successful nan tournament) had standout postseasons. UCLA could go nan first schoolhouse pinch 4 first-rounders since UConn’s Fab Four successful 2002. EB

UCLA players. The Bruins’ title tally turned an already respected group into nan communicative of nan draft. Betts, Rice, Jaquez, Kneepkens and Angela Dugalic each gained traction astatine nan perfect clip and aggregate mocks spot UCLA flooding nan first information pinch players who look instantly usable successful pro rotations. BAG

The Washington Mystics are poised to prime up rather a fewer players successful nan first round. Washington person nan No 4, 9, and 11 picks, which could spot them drafting Betts, Olivia Miles, aliases moreover Fam astatine that apical spot, arsenic good arsenic perchance Cotie McMahon, Jaquez, aliases Ta’Niya Latson. SK

The Atlanta Dream, who scored all-star Angel Reese successful a daze waste and acquisition for 2 noodle packs and a jar of Ragu. She gives nan Dream thing their modulation discourtesy sorely needed – a subordinate who tin nett them other possessions disconnected nan glass. All they’re missing now is shooting, and TCU’s Marta Suarez aliases UCLA’s Jaquez (if she falls aliases they waste and acquisition up to get her) would neatly fresh nan bill. AL

Whose banal has risen much successful nan past month?

Outside anyone pinch “UCLA” adjacent to their name, I’ll opportunity South Carolina’s Raven Johnson. Before this season, she was already 1 of nan astir dressed up players successful nan history of a very dressed up program. The Gamecocks’ title-game tally boosted that résumé, leaving her pinch 4 nationalist title appearances, 5 Final Fours and 5 convention championships. The SEC Defensive Player of nan Year played a cardinal portion successful shutting down Fudd and Sarah Strong successful nan Final Four, holding UConn to their fewest points since 2022. She could jump into nan apical 10. EB

Raven Johnson. Her other twelvemonth astatine South Carolina seems to person done precisely what she needed. Her improved shooting, bid and all-around maturation person impressed draftniks, who person slotted her arsenic a first-round subordinate who could thief a bully squad pinch defense, spot and winning habits. BAG

It’s beautiful reliable to contradict that UCLA’s Betts, Jaquez, Kneepkens, and Rice are each getting moreover much attraction post-tournament, and they merit it. All 4 played important roles successful their triumph complete South Carolina successful Phoenix, and will beryllium assets to immoderate squad that drafts them. SK

Feels for illustration Iyana Martin has been drafting much buzz since her flashy tally successful for Spain successful caller Fiba World Cup qualifiers. At conscionable 20 years old, she’s sewage a ton of room for maturation – and astatine a flimsy 5ft 9in, she’ll surely person to deed nan weights to support from getting bodied disconnected nan shot by nan W’s brawny perimeter defenders. AL

Raven Johnson whitethorn leap up into nan apical 10 aft an awesome assemblage season. Photograph: John Locher/AP

Which world subordinate could surprise?

Frieda Bühner had a very short stint successful nan US assemblage crippled successful 2022-23, playing 4 games for Florida earlier she returned to Germany. She’s since had a bully profession successful nan Spanish league, averaging 17.1 points this season. Buhner besides has a coagulated world grounds for a 21-year-old: she came disconnected nan chair astatine nan Paris Olympics successful 2024 and was named to nan All-Star Five of past month’s Fiba World Cup qualifying tournament. EB

Frieda Bühner. She is not generating nan aforesaid buzz arsenic Fam, but nan floor plan is compelling: size, strength, accelerated decisions, interior scoring and encouraging indicators connected nan jumper. In nan correct developmental setting, she could upwind up looking for illustration 1 of nan steals of nan world group. BAG

Nell Angloma mightiness beryllium nan Juste Jocyte of this year’s draft. The France-to-USA pipeline is strong, and she could extremity up drafted higher than a batch of group think. She’s only 19 and has plentifulness of clip earlier she moreover touches her ceiling, and could beryllium a awesome plus for Toronto successful particular. SK

Stella Colas could get a look adjacent nan extremity of nan draft. The Frenchwoman had acquitted herself good successful 2nd section play past twelvemonth and overcame an uneven commencement to this play to show flashes of imaginative playmaking. But pinch truthful galore awesome guards available, she remains a agelong changeable to perceive her sanction called connected Monday night. AL

Later-round gem to watch

Israel’s Yarden Garzon didn’t person nan valedictory play she had hoped for aft transferring from Indiana to Maryland. But her magnitude is simply a cleanable fresh for nan pro crippled and her scope is deep. If she tin deed threes arsenic consistently arsenic she did astatine Indiana, wherever she was knocking ‘em down astatine a adjacent 50% clip, she’ll ace a WNBA rotation – and quickly. EB

Hannah Stuelke. ESPN expert Rebecca Lobo much aliases little gave nan scouting study for why Caitlin Clark’s erstwhile Iowa teammate is specified an absorbing sleeper: motor, size, athleticism and existent upside arsenic a rim-runner. She still feels unfinished, which whitethorn push her into nan second- aliases third-round, but she could thrive if nan correct nine takes a flyer connected her. BAG

Keep an oculus connected Stuelke, Tennessee’s Zee Spearman, and Texas’s Rori Harmon. All 3 person room to turn and merit a spot location successful nan convention to maximize their potential. Harmon successful peculiar could astonishment a batch of group if nan correct squad takes a chance connected her. SK

Maggie Doogan from Richmond made headlines successful January erstwhile she group nan grounds for astir points (48) successful a Division I game. She changeable 50.6% from nan level this play to spell pinch 21.1 points per game. She won’t spell arsenic precocious successful this year’s draught arsenic Maddy Siegrist, different crafty scorer from a mini school, but she has capable akin traits that she could make an effect astatine a team’s training camp. Another to watch: Harmon. She’s undersized astatine 5ft 6in and has immoderate shooting weaknesses, but she proved herself arsenic 1 of nan country’s champion on-ball defenders successful nan Longhorns’ tally to nan Final Four. AL

Who drafted nan champion past year?

The Mystics struggled to adjacent retired games past twelvemonth and couldn’t ace nan apical of nan East, but 2 of their 3 first-round picks – Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron and Stanford’s Kiki Iriafen – had standout seasons. They shattered franchise records and were 2 of 3 rookies (the different being Bueckers) to beryllium All-Star selections. Washington are nan only squad pinch 2 top-10 picks this twelvemonth – but they besides fired their GM a week earlier nan draft. We’ll person to spot really that useful out. EB

The Wings. If you onshore nan Rookie of nan Year, you are successful nan statement by default. Bueckers has fixed nan Wings a existent centerpiece connected and disconnected nan court. The results lagged arsenic nan Wings shared nan WNBA cellar pinch Chicago, but that is secondary. The draught is astir acquiring nan champion plus available, and nary subordinate from past year’s people offered much contiguous aliases semipermanent value. BAG

I deliberation it’s difficult to opportunity anyone but nan Wings, right? Bueckers is simply a generational talent and a beardown leader, particularly for personification who is still truthful young. The Mystics besides picked up a full postulation of players whose names we’ll beryllium proceeding for years to come. SK

Mystics GM Jamila Wideman did a bully occupation grabbing Citron, Iriafen, Georgia Amoore and Lucy Olsen earlier guidance showed her nan doorway aft one play in nan role. Three retired of nan 4 turned retired to beryllium gainful contributors – not slightest Citron, an All-Star (with Iriafen) who vanished runner-up to Bueckers for rookie of nan year. Where nan squad goes from present is anyone’s guess, but it can’t beryllium said they weren’t group up for success. AL

The apical 10 picks will be* …

Ella Brockway’s apical 10

1. Dallas Wings — Awa Fam, center, Spain

2. Minnesota Lynx — Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn

3. Seattle Storm — Olivia Miles, constituent guard, TCU

4. Washington Mystics — Lauren Betts, center, UCLA

5. Chicago Sky — Kiki Rice, constituent guard, UCLA

6. Toronto Tempo — Flau’jae Johnson, shooting guard, South Carolina

7. Portland Fire — Gabriela Jaquez, shooting guard, UCLA

8. Golden State Valkyries — Nell Angloma, forward, France

9. Washington Mystics — Gianna Kneepkens, shooting guard, UCLA

10. Indiana Fever — Raven Johnson, constituent guard, South Carolina

Bryan Armen Graham’s apical 10

1. Dallas Wings — Awa Fam, center, Spain

2. Minnesota Lynx — Lauren Betts, center, UCLA

3. Seattle Storm — Olivia Miles, constituent guard, TCU

4. Washington Mystics — Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn

5. Chicago Sky — Kiki Rice, guard, UCLA

6. Toronto Tempo — Iyana Martín, constituent guard, Spain

7. Portland Fire — Gabriela Jaquez, shooting guard, UCLA

8. Golden State Valkyries — Gianna Kneepkens, guard, UCLA

9. Indiana Fever — Flau’jae Johnson, shooting guard, LSU

10. Indiana Fever — Raven Johnson, constituent guard, South Carolina

Stephanie Kaloi’s apical 10

1. Dallas Wings — Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn

2. Minnesota Lynx — Awa Fam, center, Spain

3. Seattle Storm — Olivia Miles, constituent guard, TCU

4. Washington Mystics — Lauren Betts, center, UCLA

5. Chicago Sky — Flau’jae Johnson, shooting guard, LSU

6. Toronto Tempo — Nell Angloma, forward, France

7. Portland Fire — Raven Johnson, constituent guard, South Carolina

8. Golden State Valkyries — Gianna Kneepkens, shooting guard/wing, UCLA

9. Washington Mystics — Cotie McMahon, forward, Mississippi

10. Indiana Fever — Ta’Niya Latson, shooting guard, South Carolina

Andrew Lawrence’s apical 10

1. Dallas Wings — Awa Fam, center, Spain

2. Minnesota Lynx — Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn

3. Seattle Storm — Nell Angloma, forward, France

4. Washington Mystics — Lauren Betts, center, UCLA

5. Chicago Sky — Olivia Miles, constituent guard, TCU

6. Toronto Tempo — Kiki Rice, guard, UCLA

7. Portland Fire — Raven Johnson, constituent guard, South Carolina

8. Golden State Valkyries — Ta’Niya Latson, shooting guard, South Carolina

9. Washington Mystics — Flau’jae Johnson, shooting guard, LSU

10. Indiana Fever — Gabriela Jaquez, shooting guard, UCLA

* This is what our writers deliberation nan bid will be, alternatively than what they deliberation it should be.