WNBA draft preview: The case for every potential No. 1 pick

The WNBA Draft is almost here. But due to the league’s agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement late in the offseason, Monday’s annual draft (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) will be held during the compressed WNBA free agency. If the direction of various franchises seems more uncertain than usual, there’s good reason for that. Team building, including the April 3 expansion draft, has never been like this, and everyone is figuring it out as they go along.

The draft is always an exciting night for the players selected. Then comes the reality of trying to make a WNBA roster. With the two additional franchises and new CBA stipulations that teams must have 12 players and are allowed two developmental spots, there are more jobs and pathways into the league. But competition will still be tough.

Here are some of the biggest questions heading into Monday’s draft.

Who has the best case as the No. 1 pick?

In ESPN’s mock drafts this offseason, four players have been ranked top: UCLA Center Lauren BatesAwa Fam, center of Spain Yukon guard azy fad And, recently, TCU guard olivia miles.

dallas wings is the top pick, as they did last year when they selected the UConn guard Paige BueckersWho won WNBA Rookie of the Year. Despite their individual success, the Wings finished last chicago sky At 10-34.

Wings general manager Curt Miller replaces longtime coach Chris Kochlens after last season south florida Coach Jose Fernandez. Which direction will the Wings go with number 1? Here’s a case for each of the projected top four.

Miles, PG, 5-foot-10, senior: She dominates the ball but can work well with Bueckers, who can also make effective movements without the ball. Both are elite offensive stars, and the right system can maximize both. If experienced guard Arike Ogunbowale Lives in Dallas, maybe Wings could copy what guards are used in Las Vegas chelsea gray, kelsey plum And jackie young From 2021 to 2024, when they won consecutive WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023.

Fad, SG, 5-11, Senior: She won a national championship with Bueckers at UConn in 2025 and is considered one of the best pure shooters in women’s hoops. Fudd shot 44.7% from behind the arc this season and 42.2% for his college career.

Family, C, 6-4: She won’t turn 20 until June, and her talent makes her an intriguing prospect. Recruiting overseas was a major thing for Fernandez at USF, so working with Pham will be very familiar to him.

Bates: C, 6-7, Sr. There is always talk of “pure” centers lacking versatility, but Bates has a diverse skill set. She was the most outstanding player for national champion UCLA in the Final Four during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Bates – like Pham – could be a young focal point for the Wings.

Is transferring for the draft a trend?

Of the 15 players projected as first-round selections in ESPN’s most recent mock draft, six only played for their current schools during their senior seasons: Guards Tania Latson and center Madina Okot Of South Carolinamiles and further marta suarez TCU, UCLA guard Gianna Knipkens And ole miss Ahead coty mcmahon.

Each player had different circumstances leading to the decision to transfer, but all went to programs they felt would further develop their game to the next level. In the current transfer-heavy college landscape, this trend is likely to continue.

Latson played three seasons Florida State Before transferring. Okot played two years collegiately in his native Kenya, then spent one season mississippi state Before going to South Carolina. The Gamecocks tried to get Okot another season of eligibility because he had only spent two years in the American college system, but the NCAA denied the request.

Latson and Okot helped lead the Gamecocks to the SEC regular-season championship and the NCAA finals, where they lost to the Neepkens and the Bruins. Latson, who led Division I in scoring during his junior season, said he knew his scoring average would drop at South Carolina. But he thought his overall skill level would improve, which would benefit him in the long run.

“There were some things I was missing, like defensive presence,” Latson told ESPN. “I knew coming to South Carolina, I had to get better on defense. And also find my niche offensively while playing with other great players. It hasn’t always been easy, but I think getting to the next level will pay off and make things easier in training camp.”

Will teams make more picks in the second and third rounds?

Under the previous CBA, teams could have 12-player rosters, but some kept 11 if the front office felt it better suited the team’s salary cap needs. Now, 12 is compulsory. The rule change and the opportunity to have a maximum of two developmental players could allow more young players to gain a foothold in the league. The lack of WNBA spots for a growing number of talented players has been a long-standing concern.

Last year, 15 of the 26 players selected in the second and third rounds played during the WNBA season, but only five of them competed in at least 30 games.

Three first-round picks did not play in the 2025 WNBA season. choose number 6 georgia amur Suffered a knee injury in April 2025 and missed the season. No. 5 Juste Zosite (Lithuania) and No. 10 Ajsa Sivka (Slovenia) skipped the WNBA season to focus on playing for their national teams in the EuroBasket competition.

We’ll see how this all plays out in a draft that’s moved up 45 picks.