For the second consecutive year, the Dallas Wings have secured the coveted No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, winning the 2026 WNBA draft lottery on Sunday. This marks them as the fourth franchise in league history to hold the first overall pick in back-to-back seasons, following their selection of UConn's Paige Bueckers in 2025. The 2026 draft is scheduled for April 13.

The lottery odds were determined by the cumulative records of the past two WNBA regular seasons for the five teams that did not qualify for the 2025 playoffs. With a combined record of 19-65, the Dallas Wings held the best odds (42%) to land the top selection and were guaranteed at least a top-three pick. Two trades were instrumental in bringing the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm into the lottery. The lottery order saw no surprises, with the top five teams matching their odds: Dallas Wings (1), Minnesota Lynx (2), Seattle Storm (3), Washington Mystics (4), and Chicago Sky (5). This was the first WNBA draft lottery to feature five teams since 2010.

Dallas forward Maddy Siegrist, the team's lottery representative and No. 3 pick in 2023, expressed excitement, stating, "[We want] someone who wants to win. We've got an exciting young group, and we really bond together. I'm excited to bring someone else in." Similarly, Seattle Storm general manager Talisa Rhea shared her enthusiasm with ESPN, believing that a top-three pick in this draft will bring a great player who can make an immediate impact, noting the good depth and top-level talent available.

Despite drafting Bueckers, who was named WNBA Rookie of the Year and selected to the All-WNBA second team in 2025, the Wings failed to reach the postseason, finishing with the league's worst record at 10-34. Over the past five years, only the Indiana Fever have had more lottery picks than Dallas. Currently, the Wings have five players under contract for 2026, including Bueckers, Siegrist, Diamond Miller, Aziaha James, and JJ Quinerly, while Arike Ogunbowale, Li Yueru, Myisha Hines-Allen, and Tyasha Harris are free agents. The upcoming season will also see the Wings under new leadership with coach Jose Fernandez, who previously recruited extensively in Europe.

ESPN's latest mock draft, released Sunday night, projects UConn guard Azzi Fudd as the No. 1 pick, pivoting from an earlier projection of Spain's Awa Fam. Fudd's recent performances, including a combined 55 points on 58.1% shooting in recent victories, highlight her offensive prowess. Averaging 21.0 points per game on 51.1% overall shooting and 54.8% from three-point range for the season, Fudd, if healthy, is seen as an elite backcourt player who could perfectly complement Bueckers, forming a formidable duo to lead the Wings back to sustained playoff success. Fam remains a strong candidate, particularly with Fernandez's recruiting background.

The full projected first-round mock draft is as follows:

• 1. Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd (UConn) - Shooting guard, 5-foot-11, senior. Elite offensive talent, strong shooting numbers (55 points on 58.1% shooting in two games, 21.0 PPG, 51.1% FG, 54.8% 3FG for season).
• 2. Minnesota Lynx: Awa Fam (Spain) - Center, 6-foot-4. Her agent indicates WNBA is top priority for 2026. Currently plays for Valencia, turns 20 in June. High potential, may need time to develop.
• 3. Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles (TCU) - Point guard, 5-foot-10, senior. Transfer from Notre Dame, averaging 18.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 7.5 APG. Top point guard among college seniors.
• 4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (UCLA) - Center, 6-foot-7, senior. Previously No. 1 mock pick, first-team All-American. Averaging 15.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG. Talented but needs adjustment to WNBA offensive style for centers.
• 5. Chicago Sky: Flau'jae Johnson (LSU) - Shooting guard, 5-foot-10, senior. Averaging 17.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.7 APG. Proven herself in three years of SEC play.
• 6. Toronto Tempo: Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina) - Shooting guard, 5-foot-8, senior. Led Division I in scoring at 25.2 PPG last season with Florida State. Now at South Carolina, averaging 18.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.7 APG.
• 7. Portland Fire: Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss) - Small forward, 6-foot-0, senior. Averaging 17.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG with Ole Miss after three years at Ohio State. Needs defensive improvement.
• 8. Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA) - Shooting guard, 5-foot-11, senior. Known for 3-point shooting, averaging 12.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.7 APG.
• 9. Washington Mystics: Serah Williams (UConn) - Power forward, 6-foot-4, senior. Averaging 7.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG for UConn. Draft stock expected to rise in a strong program.
• 10. Indiana Fever: Madina Okot (South Carolina) - Center, 6-foot-6, senior. From Kenya, leads South Carolina in rebounding (10.8 RPG) and blocks (2.2 BPG), averaging 13.3 PPG.
• 11. Washington Mystics: Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA) - Shooting guard, 6-foot-0, senior. Averaging 14.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.8 APG, shooting 39.1% from behind the arc.
• 12. Connecticut Sun: Iyana Martin Carrion (Spain) - Point guard, 5-foot-8. Young Player of the Year in EuroLeague, turns 20 in January.
• 13. Atlanta Dream: Kiki Rice (UCLA) - Point guard, 5-foot-11, senior. Averaging 14.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.7 APG. Needs 3-point shooting improvement.
• 14. Seattle Storm: Janiah Barker (Tennessee) - Power forward, 6-foot-4, senior. Averaging 15.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG. WNBA evaluators interested in her skill set at her size, needs consistency.
• 15. Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma (France) - Small forward, 5-foot-11. Coach Rachid Meziane is familiar with her. Averaged 17.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG for France in U19 World Cup, turns 20 in June.

The 2026 season will also introduce two expansion franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, who will select sixth and seventh, though their specific order is yet to be determined via coin flip. The rules for an expansion draft must be collectively bargained, and ongoing CBA negotiations, extended to November 30, are taking place between the players' union and the league. These negotiations, along with the expansion draft and free agency, must conclude before April's WNBA draft to finalize team rosters.