With the CBA now finalized, the expansion draft complete, free agency underway, and schedules officially set, the WNBA is coming into focus ahead of its 30th season. After months of uncertainty, teams are beginning to take shape, though plenty remains unsettled. With so much happening in a condensed window following the CBA delay, all eyes now turn to this Monday’s draft — a pivotal moment that could further define the direction of the league.
1. Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd
UConn | Shooting Guard | 5-foot-11 | Redshirt Senior
At this point, Azzi Fudd going No. 1 feels close to a formality. Dallas has been aggressive in free agency, re-signing key pieces like Arike Ogunbowale, Awak Kuier, and Li Yueru, while adding frontcourt reinforcements in Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard. With the interior now addressed, the focus clearly shifts to perimeter firepower.
Fudd fits that direction seamlessly. She averaged 17.3 points and continues to separate herself as one of the most efficient and dangerous shooters in the class. Her ability to stretch defenses, operate without the ball, and capitalize in quick windows gives Dallas something it can’t easily replicate elsewhere.
There’s also the familiarity factor. Fudd and Paige Bueckers already have a natural feel playing alongside each other from their time at UConn, and that continuity matters. For a team looking to establish a clear offensive identity, pairing an elite shot creator with a shooter of Fudd’s caliber gives Dallas a backcourt foundation that’s both dynamic and sustainable.
2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles
TCU | Point Guard | 5-foot-10 | Redshirt Senior
Holding the No. 2 pick, Minnesota is in a strong position to address its need at point guard, and Olivia Miles fits that role. Free agency has been quiet for the Lynx, and the lack of a true floor general still stands out.
Miles produced 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, impacting every area offensively. Her vision is elite, consistently creating advantages with her reads.
Turnovers (3.7 per game) remain something to monitor, often tied to her creativity. Still, for a Lynx team seeking structure, Miles brings pace, playmaking, and a clear offensive direction alongside Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams.
3. Seattle Storm: Awa Fam
Spain | Center | 6-foot-4
Awa Fam remains one of the most intriguing prospects near the top of this class. At 19, and developing with Valencia in Spain, she flashes versatility, defensive range, and a feel for the game that points to significant upside.
For Seattle, pairing her with Dominique Malonga could form a dynamic frontcourt for the future, especially with reported uncertainty surrounding Ezi Magbegor’s return. It’s a long-term play, but one that gives head coach Sonia Raman a chance to shape a new identity built on size, mobility, and versatility.
4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts
UCLA | Center | 6-foot-7 | Senior
True centers with Lauren Betts’ combination of size and skill were hard to find. She averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 58.2% from the field, consistently impacting both ends of the floor. There was still room for growth as a playmaker, but the foundation was already firmly in place.
Washington’s frontcourt picture shifted. With Stefanie Dolson and Emily Engstler now elsewhere and Shakira Austin having signed with Toronto pending a potential match, the need for a long-term interior presence became clear. Betts fit that direction seamlessly.
For a Mystics team continuing to build its core, adding a player with Betts’ size, efficiency, and two-way impact would provide stability in the paint and give the franchise a true anchor moving forward.
5. Chicago Sky: Raven Johnson
South Carolina | Point Guard | 5-foot-9 | Redshirt Senior
With Chicago fully reshaping its roster, this pick is about fit and direction. The Sky have been one of the most active teams in the league, trading Angel Reese to Atlanta, moving Ariel Atkins for Rickea Jackson, and adding Skylar Diggins, Azurá Stevens, and Jacy Sheldon. Even with Courtney Vandersloot re-signing, the long-term need at point guard remains.
Raven Johnson fits that need.
She averaged 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 48.6% from the field and 39.8% from three. Her value is rooted in control—she sets the tone defensively, manages pace, and consistently makes winning reads as a lead guard. A proven winner and elite perimeter defender, she brings structure on both ends.
With Kamilla Cardoso and Rickea Jackson now forming key pieces of the frontcourt, Johnson gives Chicago a steady floor general to organize the offense and grow into a long-term backcourt leader. She also already has established chemistry with Cardoso from their time together in AAU and college, adding an extra layer of familiarity to the fit.
6. Toronto Tempo: Cotie McMahon
Ole Miss | Forward | 6-foot-0 | Senior
The Toronto Tempo have been one of the more active teams this offseason, adding Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, Julie Allemand, Nyara Sabally, Isabelle Harrison, and more. The roster is already established in the backcourt and frontcourt, but they still lack a true developmental wing behind Sykes in Sandy Brondello’s system.
Cotie McMahon fits that mold. She’s averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 45.1% from the field, continuing her strong two-way season at Ole Miss after transferring from Ohio State. Her ability to score at all three levels and create her own shot stands out.
McMahon plays with a pro-ready frame and confidence in tough shot-making. While her defensive consistency is still a work in progress, her offensive versatility and experience give her clear long-term upside as a wing in Toronto’s rotation.
7. Portland Fire: Ta’Niya Latson
South Carolina | Guard | 5-foot-8 | Senior
The Portland Fire are still building out their roster, but a clear need exists for a guard who can create offense in multiple ways, and Ta’Niya Latson fits that profile. She showed the ability to impact the game in different roles at South Carolina, even in a lower-usage scoring environment surrounded by talent, with clear growth across her overall game.
Latson finished the season averaging 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting efficiently, with noticeable improvement on the defensive end as well. Last season at FSU, she carried a major offensive load, averaging 25.2 points per game and proving she could function as a primary option when needed.
Portland’s coaching direction under Alex Sarama emphasizes decision-making in live, unpredictable situations, where players are pushed to read and react rather than operate on set patterns. Latson’s ability to generate offense off instinct, adjust in real time, and stay effective under pressure makes her a natural match for that style, and a strong candidate to help define what the Fire want to become moving forward.
8. Golden State Valkyries: Kiki Rice
UCLA | Guard | 5-foot-11 | Senior
Golden State lost Carla Leite in the expansion draft but are not slowing down. They just signed Gabby Williams, whose versatility allows her to defend and operate across multiple positions on the floor.
Kiki Rice operated with poise and purpose at the point guard position this season. She averaged 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting a career-best 49% from the field and 38.5% from three. Her efficiency and control stood out consistently.
She played through contact, processed the floor quickly, and managed tempo with maturity beyond her years. That steadiness showed up late in games, where her decision-making kept offenses organized. For Golden State, Rice checks every box. Her presence would give them a lead guard to develop behind Veronica Burton while matching the identity and versatility already taking shape in Golden State.
9. Washington Mystics: Flau’jae Johnson
LSU | Guard | 5-foot-10 | Senior
Flau’jae Johnson’s impact stretches well beyond scoring. She finished the season averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 46.5% from the field and 39.3% from three, continuing to show growth as both a creator and connective piece offensively. Her ability to read pressure and make plays for others has become just as important as her scoring.
Defensively, she consistently embraced physical assignments and competed across multiple matchups, giving her value on both ends even when her shot wasn’t the focal point. The one area that still needs refinement is the free-throw line, where she shot 69.3%.
For the Washington Mystics, she brings a competitive edge and positional versatility to a backcourt still being shaped, offering a player who can help set a tone early while fitting into a developing core.
10. Indiana Fever: Gabriela Jaquez
UCLA | Guard | 6-foot-0 | Senior
Looking at the Indiana Fever roster, there’s still space for a plug-and-play wing who can impact winning beyond the box score. The core remains intact, with additions like Tyasha Harris for backcourt depth and Monique Billings in the frontcourt, but there’s still a need for a versatile connector on the perimeter.
Gabriela Jaquez fits that mold. She finished the season at UCLA averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 53.9% from the field and 39% from three. Her value comes from how she ties possessions together rather than dominating them.
She plays with physicality, competes on the glass, and consistently takes on difficult defensive assignments. Whether it’s rotating early, finishing possessions, or making the extra play, she brings reliability on both ends. Jaquez may not always show up loudly on a stat sheet, but her impact is felt in winning actions.
11. Washington Mystics: Angela Dugalić
UCLA | Forward | 6-foot-4 | Senior
Angela Dugalić drew increased attention this season, particularly with her performance in the national title game. She averaged 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, providing steady production in a frontcourt role.
Her experience with the Serbian national team has helped accelerate her adjustment to higher-level competition, and it shows in her poise and decision-making. She makes quick reads in the paint, uses polished post moves effectively, and adds enough shooting range to stretch defenses at 32.4% from three.
For Washington, pairing her with Lauren Betts would deepen the frontcourt rotation and give the Mystics two players who already share on-court familiarity from their time together in college.
12. Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma
France | Forward | 6-foot-1
Nell Angloma emerged as one of the more intriguing French prospects in international play. She put up 14.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in the 2026 EuroCup Women, showing real comfort scoring in different ways while staying active defensively throughout games.
She plays with a clear burst off the dribble and has the frame to absorb contact when attacking the rim, giving her a physical edge as a scorer at multiple levels.
For the Connecticut Sun, she adds a mix of athleticism and two-way energy that could translate into early rotational minutes while giving the roster another versatile piece to develop on both ends.
13. Atlanta Dream: Marta Suarez
TCU | Forward | 6-foot-3 | Senior
Atlanta has positioned itself as a contender again through key moves in free agency and the trade market. With a deeper, more versatile roster taking shape, Marta Suarez fits as a strong frontcourt addition behind Angel Reese, Bri Jones, and Naz Hillmon.
Suarez finished the season at TCU averaging 17.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 45.3% from the field, 37% from three, and 89.2% from the free-throw line. At 6-foot-3, she offers real positional flexibility, scoring inside, spacing the floor, and handling secondary playmaking duties when needed.
Her experience with the Spanish National Team added polish and adaptability, making her a plug-in option who strengthens Atlanta’s depth without altering its core identity.
14. Seattle Storm: Gianna Kneepkens
UCLA | Guard | 6-foot-0 | Redshirt Senior
Gianna Kneepkens finished the season averaging 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while narrowly missing a 50-40-90 benchmark. She shot 49.3% from the field, 42.9% from three, and 93.3% from the free-throw line, reinforcing just how efficient and steady her game was throughout the year.
Her value remains rooted in elite shooting gravity. She consistently stretches defenses the moment she steps into range and can shift momentum quickly when her shot is falling. She also continued to grow as a secondary creator, making smarter reads off closeouts and keeping possessions flowing.
For the Seattle Storm, her spacing and decision-making would complement their existing perimeter talent, adding another layer of offensive balance. Defensive consistency remains the swing factor, but her shooting profile and adaptability make her a strong fit in this range.
15. Connecticut Sun: Madina Okot
South Carolina | Center | 6-foot-6 | Senior
Madina Okot was one of the most productive interior players in the country, finishing the season with 22 double-doubles. She averaged 12.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 57.5% from the field and an eye-opening 44.8% from three. For a player who only began playing basketball a few years ago, her rise has been defined by rapid development, strong rebounding instincts, and improving interior scoring touch.
Her eligibility situation was resolved when the NCAA denied any additional year, making her officially part of this draft class.
The Connecticut Sun presents an ideal landing spot, where she could develop behind a veteran interior presence like Brittney Griner while adjusting to the physicality and pace of the professional level. Her size, motor, and defensive presence give her real long-term value as a frontcourt piece.
Also Considered: From Alabama – Jessica Timmons; from Baylor – Darianna Littlepage-Buggs; from Duke – Ashlon Jackson, and Taina Mair; from Indiana – Shay Ciezki; from Iowa – Hannah Stuelke; from Kentucky – Teonni Key, and Tonie Morgan; from Maryland – Saylor Poffenbarger, and Yarden Garzon; from Miami – Ra Shaya Kyle; from Michigan State – Jalyn Brown, and Grace VanSlooten; from Notre Dame – Cassandre Prosper; from Ohio State – Chance Gray; from Oklahoma – Payton Verhulst and Raegan Beers; from Ole Miss – Christeen Iwuala, and Latasha Lattimore; from Richmond – Maggie Doogan; from South Carolina – Maryam Dauda; from Syracuse – Laila Phelia; from Tennessee – Janiah Barker, Zee Spearman, and Jersey Wolfenbarger; from Texas – Kyla Oldacre, and Rori Harmon; from UCLA – Angela Dugalić, and Charlisse Leger-Walker; from UConn – Serah Williams; from USC – Kara Dunn; from Vanderbilt – Justine Pissot, and more.
