WNBA mock draft 2026: Azzi Fudd returns to projected No. 1

WNBA Draft day is here, and the league’s newest rookies are about to find out where they’re selected. Before the draft begins Monday night (7 ET, ESPN) in New York, ESPN takes one last look at how the 45 selections might stack up.

Our final launch comes with another change at the top: Yukon shooting guard azy fad Returns as the projected No. 1 pick for dallas wingsWho have been busy this past week during free agency. Wings are bringing back experienced guard Arike OgunbowaleThe No. 5 pick in 2019 who has spent his career with Dallas. He also has the 2025 Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers Returning to the guard. They added experienced free agents alana smith And jessica shepardboth of whom were together minnesota lynx Last year.

With Fudd being an elite 3-point shooter, along with his development as a defender, he should fit in well with the Wings. Other top defenders in the draft, TCU‘S olivia milesWas the No. 1 pick in last week’s mock, but is projected to be picked much earlier.

History can be made on Monday also: National Champion UCLA Can become the first team to do so Record six players draftedAs predicted.

Yukon | Shooting Guard 5-foot-11 senior

Fudd was the standout player in the 2025 Final Four, but she didn’t have as strong of an NCAA Tournament run this season. After a career-high 34 points, including eight 3-pointers, in the second round, Fudd scored a total of 31 points on 12 of 39 shooting (30.8%) in his last three games. She was 3 of 15 for eight points during the Huskies’ national semifinal loss to South Carolina. Nevertheless, he shot 42.2% from 3-point range in his college career. With his quick release and footwork, his shooting should continue to be valuable at the next level.

TCU | Point Guard 5-foot-10 senior

Miles averaged a career-best 19.6 points this season, as the Horned Frogs went 32–6 and won the Big 12 regular season title. He had six triple-doubles this season, including one in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. His courtly attitude is excellent. He made 73 3-pointers this season at TCU and also last season at Notre Dame. The Lynx lost some key players in free agency and could benefit from a young point guard who can develop in Minnesota. Miles needs to improve his defense, but he is already dynamic offensively.

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Olivia Miles closes in on a triple-double as TCU advances to the Elite Eight

Olivia Miles had 28 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as TCU defeated Virginia 79–69.

Spain center | 6 foot 4

Pham, who is averaging 9.2 points and 5.0 rebounds for Valencia in Spain, is just 19 years old and has a lot of potential. The Hurricanes lost an experienced forward. Nneka Ogwumike For Los Angeles in free agency, it could potentially make sense to select another young post player. Given how well UCLA’s Lauren Bates played her senior season, she may also be considered for this spot.

UCLA | center | 6-foot-7 | senior

Bates helped his draft stock during the NCAA Tournament, which was a nice added benefit of winning the national championship. He shot at least 60% from the field in all six NCAA Tournament games, finishing with a 68.8 field goal percentage. He averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.8 blocks and was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Bates is probably best suited to the mystics’ needs.

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UCLA beats South Carolina for first NCAA title

UCLA captured the national title after a dominant win over South Carolina.

France small forward 5-foot-11

Angloma averages 15.5 points and 5.6 rebounds for Basket Latte Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA) in France’s premier league, the BWL. She won’t turn 20 until June and could potentially play small forward or shooting guard in the WNBA. Last week, the sky broke apart from ahead angel reese and brought forward rickia jackson In different trades.

LSU | Shooting Guard 5-foot-10 senior

Johnson has had his ups and downs this season, but he has a lot of potential and may need to play against the pros to begin the next phase of development. He averaged 19.0 points and shot 52.4% in the Tigers’ three NCAA Tournament games. This season, she shot a career-best 39.3% from behind the arc (48 of 122) and tied a career high with 89 assists. His energy and defensive expansion are two other strong points for the franchise.

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Emotional Flauza Johnson reflects on final game in PMAC as a Tiger

Following LSU’s Sweet 16-clinching victory, Johnson offered a heartfelt reflection on his time in Baton Rouge, and expressed gratitude towards those who shaped his journey.

South Carolina | Point Guard 5-foot-9 senior

It appears that Johnson helped his draft stock significantly after showing leadership, maturity and resiliency as a senior. He displayed those qualities throughout his career at South Carolina, but he was key in helping the Gamecocks reach the national championship game again and ending UConn’s undefeated season. Johnson was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. She is very strong and can guard a variety of players effectively.

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Raven Johnson scores his 1,000th career point

Raven Johnson freed the ball and scored his 1,000th career point for South Carolina.

Spain Point Guard 5-foot-8

Martin, who turned 20 in January, was part of the Spanish team that advanced to the EuroBasket championship game last summer. Despite his youth, he has considerable experience playing at the professional level. He averages 14.8 points and 4.2 assists for Perfumerias Avenida in Spain’s LF Endesa. In 2023, she was the MVP of the FIBA ​​Under-19 World Cup. The Valkyries could see him as a solid addition at point guard.

9. Washington Mystic: kiki rice

UCLA | Point Guard 5-foot-11 senior

Like his fellow UCLA seniors, Rice saved his best for last. He averaged 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals this season and shot 49% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 90.2% at the foul line. All of those numbers were career highs. She averaged 4.6 assists and showed great composure in clutch situations, including her four free throws in the final 13 seconds that capped UCLA’s national semifinal victory over Texas. She is from Bethesda, Maryland, and may reunite with UCLA teammate Bates in the WNBA.

South Carolina | center | 6-foot-6 senior

Okot averaged 12.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks for the national runner-up Gamecocks. South Carolina hoped to get another year of college eligibility, but the NCAA denied the request. After competing two years in college in her native Kenya, she played only two years in the American college system – at Mississippi State in 2024-25 and at South Carolina this season. She will need to learn more immediately in the WNBA but could be another big target for point guard Kaitlyn Clark.

ole miss | small forward 6 feet senior

McMahon needs to make changes on the perimeter in the WNBA and improve her 3-point shooting. He has worked on it during the last two seasons. This season, after transferring to Ole Miss after three years at Ohio State, McMahon averaged a career-high 19.5 points and a career-best 36 3-pointers. But he shot 28.6% from behind the arc. McMahon’s physical style should translate well to the WNBA.

UCLA | Shooting Guard 6 feet senior

If one only looked at Jacquez’s national championship game performance – 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and enough energy to light up the floor – that would be reason to draft him. But he has made that kind of effort for four seasons at UCLA. He scored a career-high 13.5 points and shot 53.9% from the field, 39% on 3-pointers and 86% on free throws – all career bests. This will be an emotional season for the Suns and their fans, knowing that the franchise is moving to Houston in 2027. But a player like Jacquez can still become a fan favorite.

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Emotional Gabriela Jacquez reacts to UCLA’s national title win

UCLA’s Gabriela Jacquez discusses her emotions after the Bruins won their first NCAA women’s basketball national championship.

South Carolina Shooting Guard 5-foot-8 | senior

Latson’s transfer from Florida State to South Carolina for his senior season went well. He helped lead the Gamecocks to the national championship game thanks to his huge performance – 16 points and 11 rebounds – against UConn in the semifinals. She averaged 14.1 points and 3.6 assists this season and showed she can play a South Carolina-style defense. The Dream have said they will draft less on “need” and more on the best available player, and Latson fits that definition if he is still on the board.

TCU | small forward 6-foot-3 senior

A native of Oviedo, Spain, Suarez played two seasons at Tennessee and two seasons at Cal before attending TCU. But what he showed in his lone season in Fort Worth, Texas, might be enough to make him a first-round pick. Suárez averaged 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds while hitting a team-best 84 3-pointers. His 33-point, 10-rebound performance in TCU’s Sweet 16 victory over Virginia was his most impressive NCAA Tournament game. If the Storm also draft Pham, it could be good for him to have a fellow Spaniard on the team.

UCLA | Shooting Guard 5-foot-11 senior

Neepkens’ most famous skill is long-range shooting. He spent four years at Utah (with one injury-plagued redshirt season) before transferring to UCLA as a senior, a decision that worked out very well for him and the national champion Bruins. As expected, having more talent around him lowered his scoring average. But Neepkens still shot 42.9% (87 of 203) from behind the arc. He finished his college career at 43.1% from 3-point range (335 of 777).

second round

16. seattle storm: : Charlie’s Leger-WalkerUCLA, PG

17. portland fire: : Angela DugalicUCLA, PF

18. connecticut sun: : Jania BarkerTennessee, PF

19. washington mystic: : ashlon jacksonDuke, SG

20. los angeles sparks: : regan beeroklahoma, c

21. chicago sky: : tony morganKentucky, PG

22. toronto tempo: : Frieda Bühner, Germany, PF

23. Golden State Valkyries: : Yarden GarzonMaryland, SG

24. Los Angeles Sparks: Justin PisotVanderbilt, SG

25. indiana fever: : tana mierDuke, PG

26. Toronto Tempo: Rory HarmonTexas, PG

27. phoenix mercury: : layla feliaSyracuse, SG

28. atlanta dream: : maggie duganRichmond, PF

29. Las Vegas Aces: : kiera wheelerWest Virginia, PF

30. Washington Mystic: grace vanslootenMichigan State, PF

third round

31. dallas wings: : Dariana Littlepage-Bugsboiler, pf

32. chicago sky: : Cassandre ProsperNotre Dame, SG

33. connecticut sun: : Latasha LatimoreOle Miss, PF

34. washington mystic: : Chance GrayOhio State, SG

35. los angeles sparks: : cara dunnUSC, SG

36. toronto tempo: : Sacha WashingtonVanderbilt, PF

37. portland fire: : christine evulaOle Miss, PF

38. Golden State Valkyries: : Hannah Stuelkeiowa, pf

39. seattle storm: : jessica timmonsAlabama, SG

40. indiana fever: : Shay CzykIndiana, SG

41. new york liberty: : Maya Perrycincinnati, pf

42. phoenix mercury: : Teoni KeyKentucky, PF

43. atlanta dream: : lani whiteUtah, SG

44. Las Vegas Aces: : micah grayoklahoma state,sg

45. minnesota lynx: : sera williamsYukon, C