The times main as much as the NCAA Match may be simply as large for WNBA Draft prospects because the event itself. By mid-March, most WNBA veterans have usually already signed in free company, leaving valuable few roster spots for incoming rookies and narrowing down who would possibly get drafted to the place.
However that is, after all, not a typical WNBA offseason. The league continues to barter a brand new collective bargaining settlement with the gamers, and there nonetheless hasn’t been an precise free company interval, which implies draft-related issues are simply as murky as they have been once we mocked out a again in January.
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Even so, there’s been a lot happening in faculty basketball and overseas. As we proceed to attend for the WNBA to achieve a deal, let’s revisit the primary spherical of the 2026 draft and talk about which prospects have helped their very own instances essentially the most since January.
1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam (Spain)
Beforehand projected: No. 1 (Dallas)
As a young person taking part in for one in every of Spain’s strongest golf equipment (Valencia), Fam hasn’t but had the chance to place up large numbers like lots of the different gamers in her draft class. She has, nevertheless, been extremely environment friendly in her time on the courtroom, taking pictures 62 p.c on 2-pointers in Spanish league play and 57.9 p.c in EuroLeague Girls. By way of pure upside, Fam is clearly a lottery decide, and her potential match alongside Paige Bueckers could also be too attractive for Dallas to move up. Her finest probability to show it will likely be with the Spanish nationwide group in the course of the FIBA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
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2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles (TCU)
Beforehand projected: No. 3 (Seattle)
Miles’ resolution to switch to TCU for her graduate season was a shocking one, however she’s confirmed that she will be able to spearhead a high-octane offense whatever the atmosphere. Miles is having essentially the most prolific scoring season of her profession at 19.6 factors per recreation, and as all the time, her peripheral stats are spectacular (6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.8 steals). Final years’ Lynx didn’t essentially want an explosive downhill attacker, however they’ve plenty of room to function in free company, and it’s onerous to think about them passing on a guard of Miles’ caliber.
3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd (UConn)
Beforehand projected: No. 4 (Washington)
Fudd’s draft inventory continues to rise as UConn places the ending touches on an undefeated common season. She’s been arguably the most effective shooter within the nation for years, and that definitely hasn’t modified—she’s taking pictures 44.6 p.c on 6.9 3-point makes an attempt per recreation. It’s Fudd’s enchancment in 2-point scoring (53.2) and defensive playmaking (2.5 steals per recreation) which were noticeable; she’s being thought to be much less of a taking pictures specialist and extra of an all-around participant, which ought to give groups extra confidence in deciding on her early within the draft.
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4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (UCLA)
Beforehand projected: No. 2 (Minnesota)
Betts’ numbers could also be down a bit from her spectacular junior marketing campaign, however the 16.4 factors, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks she averaged have been nonetheless sufficient to win her back-to-back Large Ten Participant of the 12 months and Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards. The difficulty is that it’s onerous to seek out an excellent touchdown spot for a participant of her archetype early within the draft, as many of the groups with excessive draft picks have extra urgent wants elsewhere. Regardless, Betts is just too gifted to drop out of lottery vary, and the Mystics may use one other towering presence of their frontcourt backing up (or taking part in alongside) Shakira Austin.
5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice (UCLA)
Beforehand projected: No. 7 (Portland)
It doesn’t matter what occurs in free company, it’s doubtless that Chicago goes to want one other level guard. From her management to her playmaking skill, Rice embodies all the things a WNBA group may need on the place, and he or she just lately added one other Large Ten championship and Large Ten Match Most Excellent Participant award to her prolonged resume. Ought to Rice captain a stacked UCLA roster to a different Ultimate 4 look within the upcoming NCAA Match, she might get drafted even sooner than this.
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6. Toronto Tempo: Flau’Jae Johnson (LSU)
Beforehand projected: No. 5 (Chicago)
Johnson stays one of the gifted two-way guards within the class, although she hasn’t been as constant as a senior as many anticipated. She’s scoring 13.8 factors per recreation and taking pictures 48.2 p.c on 2-pointers—the bottom such marks since her freshman season—and her free throw charge continues its downward pattern. Johnson is, nevertheless, taking pictures a career-best 40.2 p.c from lengthy vary, and he or she’s nonetheless proven the potential of pushing the envelope on each ends of the ground most of the time.
7. Portland Fireplace: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)
Beforehand projected: No. 6 (Toronto)
Latson’s offensive position hasn’t been practically as giant because it was throughout her time at Florida State, however she’s been a way more environment friendly 2-point scorer as a Gamecock (54.4 p.c) and he or she’s committing far fewer turnovers. There’s little question that Latson can rating in bunches, and her lone season at South Carolina has turned her into a greater all-around participant; the query is now whether or not she will be able to play her pure taking pictures guard place on the WNBA degree or if her peak (5-foot-9) will restrict her to extra of a combo guard position.
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8. Golden State Valkyries: Nell Angloma (France)
Beforehand projected: No. 11 (Washington)
No matter whether or not or not Angloma decides to play within the WNBA this summer season, she’ll be a high-upside decide for whichever group drafts her. She gained’t flip 20 years outdated till June, however she’s already one of many Ligue Féminine’s most athletic and productive gamers, and he or she’ll be capable to cling within the WNBA straight away, not less than bodily. The Valkyries have proven a willingness to take a position closely in worldwide expertise, so that they is perhaps extra affected person with Angloma than different groups would.
9. Washington Mystics: Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)
Beforehand projected: No. 8 (Golden State)
It’s going to be troublesome to discover a extra versatile wing participant on this class than Jaquez. She might not get the shine of her higher-profile UCLA teammates, however she’s been the glue that’s held all the things collectively for the Bruins, scoring at a extremely environment friendly clip from 2-point (62.1 p.c) and 3-point vary (41.1 p.c) from the ahead place. Jaquez nonetheless looks like a secure decide for a group to make later within the first spherical, particularly one which already has a longtime core like Washington.
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10. Indiana Fever: Raven Johnson (South Carolina)
Beforehand projected: No. 10 (Indiana)
It’s official: Johnson is lastly a reliable offensive menace. She’s having by far her finest collegiate season, taking pictures career-bests on 2-pointers (55.4 p.c) and 3-pointers (40.5 p.c), and her 3.41 help/turnover ratio ranks No. 4 amongst all Division I gamers. Think about her lockdown perimeter protection and also you get a guard who will slot in properly nearly wherever—particularly Indiana, whose backcourt isn’t precisely in want of extra scoring however may use a defensive stopper.
11. Washington Mystics: Marta Suárez (TCU)
Beforehand projected: No. 13 (Atlanta)
Suárez has cooled off a bit after a sizzling begin to the season, however her skill to stretch the ground as an influence ahead and carry the offensive load when Miles is off the ground has remained a significant a part of TCU’s success. Although Suárez profiles as a stretch large, she has a bit of greater than that in her toolbox, notably as a passer; she’s been free with the basketball at instances, but when a WNBA group drafts her to play extra of a complementary position, she’ll be proper at residence as an offensive connector.
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12. Connecticut Solar: Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)
Beforehand projected: No. 12 (Connecticut)
Not a lot has modified right here. Kneepkens has been precisely as marketed in her lone season at UCLA, taking part in a vital position within the Bruins’ beginning lineup because of her elite jumpshooting and off-ball motion. There aren’t many gamers within the nation who can recurrently shoot above 40 p.c from the 3-point line on excessive quantity, however Kneepkens did it but once more in her graduate season, and that ability alone ought to get her drafted within the first spherical.
13. Atlanta Dream: Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)
Beforehand projected: No. 14 (Seattle)
A lot has been made about Ole Miss just lately transferring McMahon to level guard, and whereas it’s an extended shot that she sticks there within the WNBA, extra reps as a main ball handler can solely be good for her growth. As for the remainder of her recreation, McMahon is posting career-highs in factors (19.9) and free throw makes an attempt (6.8), and he or she stays one of the bodily, hard-working wing gamers within the nation.
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14. Seattle Storm: Iyana Martín (Spain)
Beforehand projected: N/A
At 20 years outdated, Martín already has a wealth of worldwide expertise, most just lately competing in EuroLeague Girls and EuroCup Girls for Spanish membership Perfumerias Avenida Salamanca and taking part in starters’ minutes in each leagues. She’s additionally performed a big position for the Spanish nationwide group within the 2024 U18 Girls’s EuroBasket and 2023 U19 Girls’s World Cup competitions, and he or she’ll be a fixture of their program for a few years to return We don’t but know if Martín would need to play within the WNBA instantly after being drafted, but when she doesn’t, Seattle could be joyful to take a seat on her rights till she does.
15. Connecticut Solar: Madina Okot (South Carolina)
Beforehand projected: N/A
Okot’s abilities are nonetheless growing—basketball wasn’t her first sport, and he or she’s solely been taking part in for just a few years—however as a 6-foot-6 heart with excellent mobility for her dimension, her pure athletic potential is sure to enchantment to WNBA scouts. It doesn’t harm that she’s taking part in for a program that recurrently churns out WNBA expertise, both; Daybreak Staley has mentioned that she’s making an attempt to get Okot one other 12 months of NCAA eligibility, but when that doesn’t occur, she stands as one of many highest-upside gamers on this draft class.