In just under a month, a fresh, electric WNBA season tips off, this time with two expansion teams joining the mix: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. Both franchises stocked up on current players during the Expansion Draft on Friday, April 3, and now the focus shifts to the next wave of young stars set to enter the league in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Fresh off an impressive NCAA Tournament run, players like UConn’s Azzi Fudd, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, and TCU’s Olivia Miles won’t have much time to catch their breath before landing in the W. Let’s break down everything you need to know, including key draft details, top prospects, and who’s favored to go No. 1 overall on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Who did the Tempo draft? Who did the Fire draft? See below for a full breakdown of the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft:
When is the 2026 WNBA Draft?
The 2026 WNBA Draft takes place on Monday, April 13 at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City, and will air exclusively on ESPN from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET. Coverage begins earlier in the evening, starting with the WNBA Orange Carpet special on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the WNBA Countdown Presented by Google at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The draft will feature three rounds with 15 picks each, and both the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will have selections in Rounds 1 through 3 as they continue building out their inaugural rosters.
Who has the No. 1 Pick in the WNBA Draft?
For the second year in a row, the Dallas Wings won the draft lottery and secured the No. 1 pick. In 2025, there was no mystery about who would go first, with Paige Bueckers fresh off a national championship run and her odds on DraftKings Sportsbook ballooning to -20000 to be selected No. 1. After finishing 10-34 last season, the Wings are looking to add another young star alongside Bueckers, who averaged an impressive 19.2 PPG and 5.4 APG. The good news is there’s no shortage of high-end talent at the top of this year’s draft.
Who are the biggest names in the WNBA Draft?
While Azzi Fudd was widely viewed as the projected No. 1 overall pick, her subpar performance in the national championship shifted the conversation. The UConn senior shot just 3-for-15 from the field for eight points, and her stock has taken a hit as a result, along with her odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Meanwhile, TCU’s Olivia Miles continues to climb.
Miles is a versatile, competitive guard who averaged 19.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 6.6 APG in her final season at TCU, and she backed it up with a strong NCAA Tournament run. The 5-foot-10 senior put up 19 PPG during March Madness while leading her team to the Elite Eight, showing a level of poise and playmaking that translates well to the next level.
Then there’s Spain’s Awa Fam, who didn’t come through the NCAA but has still made serious noise on the international stage. At just 19 years old, Fam has been vocal about her goal of playing in the WNBA, and she brings a unique mix of size, fluidity, and skill. Standing 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, she’s listed as a center but moves like a guard, with the ability to attack the rim, create for teammates, and use smooth, almost dance-like footwork. Her 21-point, nine-rebound, two-block performance to lead Spain past France in the 2025 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket semifinal put her firmly on the radar.
Another big ready to make an immediate impact is UCLA’s Lauren Betts, the 6-foot-7 center who is just days removed from a national championship run. Betts dominated all season, averaging 17.1 PPG and 8.8 RPG in the regular season, then elevating her game in the tournament with 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game on her way to Most Outstanding Player honors. Her size, efficiency, and ability to handle double teams make her a problem from day one and an instant boost for any frontcourt.
What is the order of the WNBA Draft?
First Round
- 1. Dallas Wings
- 2. Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago)
- 3. Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles)
- 4. Washington Mystics
- 5. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut)
- TBD. Portland Fire
- TBD. Toronto Tempo
- 8. Golden State Valkyries
- 9. Washington Mystics (from Seattle)
- 10. Indiana Fever
- 11. Washington Mystics (from New York via Minnesota & Connecticut)
- 12. Connecticut Sun (from Phoenix via Chicago)
- 13. Atlanta Dream
- 14. Seattle Storm (from Las Vegas)
- 15. Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota via Washington)
Second Round
- 16. Seattle Storm (from Dallas)
- 17. Chicago Sky
- 18. Connecticut Sun
- 19. Washington Mystics
- 20. Los Angeles Sparks
- TBD. Toronto Tempo
- TBD. Portland Fire
- 23. Golden State Valkyries
- 24. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)
- 25. Indiana Fever
- 26. Chicago Sky (from New York)
- 27. Phoenix Mercury
- 28. Atlanta Dream
- 29. Las Vegas Aces
- 30. Washington Mystics (from Minnesota)
Third Round
- 31. Dallas Wings
- 32. Chicago Sky
- 33. Connecticut Sun
- 34. Washington Mystics
- 35. Los Angeles Sparks
- TBD. Toronto Tempo
- TBD. Portland Fire
- 38. Golden State Valkyries
- 39. Seattle Storm
- 40. Indiana Fever
- 41. New York Liberty
- 42. Phoenix Mercury
- 43. Atlanta Dream
- 44. Las Vegas Aces
- 45. Minnesota Lynx
No. 1 Overall Pick Odds
Drumroll please…. the current favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 WNBA draft is…
Spain’s Awa Fam (-115). As mentioned above, the 19-year-old is a versatile talent who could make an immediate impact on the Dallas Wings roster. Right behind her is UConn’s Azzi Fudd (+115), who brings elite shot-making along with a strong defensive presence that helped anchor one of the top defenses in the NCAA.
You can bet on the 2026 WNBA Draft by opening the DraftKings Sportsbook app on mobile or heading to DraftKings Sportsbook on desktop, then navigating to the WNBA section to find odds for the No. 1 overall pick.
Stay tuned at DraftKings Network for in-depth coverage of the W all season long, from game picks and predictions, to best pets, player props, injury analysis, and more!
