DHJ Quick Take: Azzi Fudd to Dallas Wings?
- The UConn Reunion: By selecting Azzi Fudd, the Wings solve their biggest statistical void: three-point volume. Pairing Fudd’s 97th-percentile spot-up efficiency with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale creates the most gravity-heavy perimeter in the WNBA.
- Expansion Era Begins: The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire make history. Toronto landing Kiki Rice at No. 6 provides the Tempo with a high-IQ foundational guard to lead their inaugural season alongside Marina Mabrey.
- The Mystics’ Haul: If the board falls this way, the Washington Mystics walk away with the “steal of the draft” in Lauren Betts. Adding the NCAA Tournament MOP alongside Gabriela Jaquez and Ta’Niya Latson gives Washington a championship-ready young core.
- International Surge: From Awa Fam (Spain) to Nell Angloma (France), the 2026 class proves the WNBA‘s global reach is expanding. Minnesota landing Fam at No. 2 is a direct, high-upside response to losing Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard to Dallas.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The 2026 WNBA Draft takes place Monday at 6 p.m. CT from The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City, and the Dallas Wings are on the clock with one of the most consequential picks in franchise history. For the second consecutive season, Dallas holds the No. 1 overall selection with the need to improve after a 10-34 campaign with Paige Bueckers.
With two expansion teams making their draft debuts and three players capable of going anywhere in the top four, the first round has genuine chaos potential. Here is how Dallas Hoops Journal projects it playing out.
Pick 1 — Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd, G, UConn
The Dallas Wings reunite the UConn backcourt. Azzi Fudd averaged 17.3 points per game in her final season in Storrs, shooting 44.5% from three on 263 attempts — elite volume, elite efficiency. According to Synergy Sports data, her spot-up PPP ranked in the 97th percentile, and her off-screen mark landed in the 90th percentile. Dallas ranked last in the league in three-point attempts last season at 21.6 per game while shooting 30.4%. Fudd addresses that structural weakness on day one. Jose Fernandez knows her game from years of coaching against UConn in the Big East. The chemistry is proven. Dallas bets on it.
Pick 2 — Minnesota Lynx: Awa Fam, C, Valencia (Spain)
The Minnesota Lynx lost Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard to the Dallas Wings in free agency and Bridget Carleton to the Portland Fire in the expansion draft, stripping the frontcourt of three rotation-caliber players in a matter of days. Napheesa Collier is coming off ankle surgery with an uncertain return timeline. The Lynx re-signed guards Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride and added veteran forward Natasha Howard, addressing the perimeter. That makes the center spot the obvious target at No. 2. The 6-foot-4 Fam won’t turn 20 until June, but she has already been competing professionally in Spain’s Liga Femenina since age 15. At FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025, she averaged 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists against WNBA-caliber competition.
Pick 3 — Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles, G, TCU
With Fudd and Fam gone, the Seattle Storm pivot to the best playmaker remaining. Olivia Miles averaged 19.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game at TCU this season — becoming the first NCAA player ever to average at least 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Her pick-and-roll numbers were elite: 0.965 PPP at the 94th percentile, climbing to 1.090 PPP at the 97th percentile, including passes out of ball-handler actions. Seattle gets a franchise-caliber point guard who can pair with Dominique Malonga in a complementary frontcourt-backcourt combination that has real long-term potential.
Pick 4 — Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts, C, UCLA
The Washington Mystics get the steal of the draft. Lauren Betts was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game during UCLA’s championship run while shooting 68.8% from the floor. Her post-up PPP ranked in the 89th percentile, and she converted at the rim at a 69.9% clip — 98th percentile. Washington needs interior presence and defensive anchoring. Betts provides both immediately, and her self-awareness about developing her perimeter game makes her a different type of traditional big than the league has seen before.
Pick 5 — Chicago Sky: Flau’jae Johnson, G, LSU
The Chicago Sky have reshaped their roster aggressively in free agency — signing Skylar Diggins, acquiring Rickea Jackson via trade, and adding DiJonai Carrington and Azurá Stevens. With Diggins handling point guard duties, Chicago adds Flau’jae Johnson as the athletic, high-upside wing scorer the roster still needs. Johnson averaged 14.2 points per game as a senior at LSU and brings explosive scoring ability and a strong defensive motor alongside one of the most marketable profiles in the class. Diggins and Johnson as a backcourt pairing gives a rebuilt Sky team real offensive firepower.
Pick 6 — Toronto Tempo: Kiki Rice, G, UCLA
The Toronto Tempo make their franchise’s first-ever draft selection and land one of the class’s most complete guard prospects. Toronto signed Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, and Julie Allemand in free agency, building an experienced backcourt foundation. Kiki Rice adds youth, two-way upside, and championship pedigree — she was a key contributor on UCLA’s national title team. After battling injuries earlier in her Bruins career, Rice emerged this season as a reliable guard with the ability to score at three levels, run an offense, and defend. She gives the Tempo a high-IQ piece to grow alongside their veteran core.
Pick 7 — Portland Fire: Nell Angloma, F, France
The Portland Fire open their franchise draft history by going international. The Fire signed Bridget Carleton and Megan Gustafson in free agency, establishing a frontcourt foundation. Nell Angloma, who plays for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration in France’s top league, won’t turn 20 until June. She averaged 16.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists this season, and her combination of strength, length, and athleticism makes her a high-upside wing bet for an expansion team that can afford to develop talent over time.
Pick 8 — Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens, G, UCLA
The Golden State Valkyries add the best pure shooter remaining on the board. Gianna Kneepkens shot 42.9% from three this season and finished her college career at 43.1% from deep on 777 attempts. Golden State landed Gabby Williams in free agency — one of the best two-way wings in the league — and re-signed Veronica Burton. Kneepkens slots in as the floor spacer that Williams’ driving and cutting game will consistently unlock. The pairing of Williams’ creation and Kneepkens’ shooting gives Golden State a versatile wing duo that can operate in multiple systems.
Pick 9 — Washington Mystics: Gabriela Jaquez, G/F, UCLA
The Washington Mystics add their second first-round pick of the night and get one of the most versatile wings in the class. Gabriela Jaquez averaged 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists for national champion UCLA and was a key contributor in the title run, including 21 points in the championship game. Her elite shooting splits — 62.2% on 2-pointers, 39% from three, 86% at the free-throw line — and defensive motor make her a reliable two-way contributor at the next level.
Pick 10 — Indiana Fever: Raven Johnson, G, South Carolina
By selecting Raven Johnson, the Indiana Fever add one of the best on-ball defenders in the class alongside Caitlin Clark. Indiana re-signed Kelsey Mitchell on a supermax deal, brought back Sophie Cunningham, and added veteran guard Tyasha Harris. Johnson complements that group as a physical, disruptive defender who has developed steadily under coach Dawn Staley at South Carolina. Her improving playmaking and tenacity on the perimeter give Indiana genuine two-way backcourt depth behind the league’s most dynamic offensive player.
Pick 11 — Washington Mystics: Ta’Niya Latson, G, South Carolina
The Washington Mystics close out a remarkable first-round haul with their third selection. Ta’Niya Latson transferred from Florida State to South Carolina specifically to develop the off-ball and defensive dimensions of her game, and her ability to get into the paint and draw fouls at will gives Washington a legitimate scoring punch. Pairing Latson with the selections of Betts and Jaquez gives the Mystics three first-round picks with different and complementary skill sets as their young core continues to grow.
Pick 12 — Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon, F, Ole Miss
The Connecticut Sun are playing their final season in Connecticut before relocating to Houston, and they add a versatile forward who averaged career-highs of 19.5 points and 3.0 assists per game at Ole Miss after transferring from Ohio State. Connecticut signed two-time scoring champion Brittney Griner to anchor the frontcourt this season. Cotie McMahon, at 6-foot-4, gives the Sun a skilled, athletic forward who can operate alongside Griner and complement the team’s young perimeter core as the franchise transitions markets.
Pick 13 — Atlanta Dream: Angela Dugalić, F, UCLA
The Atlanta Dream enter Monday night’s draft having already reshaped their roster significantly, acquiring Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky and re-signing Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada. With frontcourt and backcourt needs addressed, Atlanta uses this pick on versatility. Angela Dugalić, a 6-foot-4 forward who averaged 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists as UCLA’s sixth player this season, brings international experience as a member of the Serbian national team and the ability to play alongside Reese in a flexible frontcourt. Her motor and willingness to do the difficult work on both ends fits a Dream team with championship aspirations.
Pick 14 — Seattle Storm: Janiah Barker, F, Tennessee
The Seattle Storm use their second first-round pick to address the void left by Gabby Williams‘ departure to Golden State. With Dominique Malonga and Ezi Magbegor already entrenched as the frontcourt core, they need a wing who can defend and create. Barker, a 6-foot-2 forward out of Tennessee, has the length, athleticism, and two-way instincts to fill that role. Questions about her final college season contributed to a sliding stock, but Seattle is in a position to absorb that risk with a proven frontcourt behind her. The upside at this range of the draft is worth the bet.
Pick 15 — Connecticut Sun: Charlisse Leger-Walker, G, UCLA
The Connecticut Sun close the first round by adding one of the most experienced guards in the class. Charlisse Leger-Walker brings defensive versatility, efficient scoring, and the ability to run an offense — qualities that complement Connecticut’s young core as the franchise heads toward its move to Houston. Her time at UCLA alongside multiple future WNBA players demonstrated she can thrive in a complementary role, and her steady two-way presence gives the Sun another reliable building block heading into a new chapter.
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