WNBA mock draft 2026: New No. 1 replaces UCLA's Betts at top
Four UCLA players, including Lauren Betts, are now projected first-round picks. But Spain's Awa Fam is No. 1.
www.espn.comHere’s the latest on the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Direct update
- The 2026 WNBA Draft took place on April 13, 2026, with Dallas Wings selecting Azzi Fudd No. 1 overall, and UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Olivia Miles among top picks in rounds 1–2. This event also featured expansion teams Tempo and Fire building rookie classes.[6][7][8]
Notable players and picks
- Azzi Fudd was widely projected and selected No. 1 by the Dallas Wings, reinforcing her status as a premier guard in the class.[4][5]
- Lauren Betts, a dominant post from UCLA, went among the top selections, confirming her status as a top interior anchor.[5][4]
- Olivia Miles, a high-IQ playmaker from Syracuse/Notre Dame connections, went into the draft with strong assist/steal credentials and landed in a competitive opening lineup.[6]
Draft impact and analysis
- Mock drafts leading into the draft varied, but consensus favored a mix of elite guards and bigs as top picks, with several UCLA affiliates and a few non-Pac-12 standouts drawing early attention.[4][5]
- Expansion teams entering the league added extra intrigue, influencing how teams valued immediate impact versus development potential in rookie classes.[8][6]
Where to watch and follow
- If you want real-time results, best sources included live-tracker pages and post-draft wrap-ups from major outlets, including NBC Sports and Sporting News.[1][6]
- You can also check post-draft analyses from ESPN and CBSSports for deeper looks at how picks fit team needs and future projections.[9][4]
Illustration (example)
- A top-pick table would look like:
- Pick 1: Dallas Wings — Azzi Fudd (G) — UConn
- Pick 2: Minnesota/Next team — Lauren Betts (C) — UCLA
- Pick 3: Seattle/Wings via LAS — Awa Fam Thiam (F) — Valencia/Spain
- Pick 4: Washington Mystics — Olivia Miles (G) — Notre Dame
If you’d like, I can summarize specific teams’ draft-day strategies, or compile a compact list of all first-round picks with positions, schools, and current team destinations. I can also pull a quick, clean table of all 3 rounds if you want a reference sheet.