Charlie Cummings is here to provide updates on the top picks in the 2026 WNBA draft, analyze the fit, and profile the players selected. Stay tuned as the first round unfolds tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET.
For pre-draft analysis of the top three pick odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, see below:
Pick No. 1: Dallas Wings Select Azzi Fudd (UConn)
DraftKings Sportsbook No. 1 Pick Odds:
There is no need to overthink this pick, and the Dallas Wings sure didnโt. The idea of a backcourt with Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd is too good to pass up for a litany of reasons. Before the actual basketball fit, can we address how nuts it is to have back-to-back No. 1 picks who are an item? And now, playing on the same team? The writers of Heated Rivalry are jealous they didn’t think of this first.
On the floor, the fit is flawless. Bueckers is the taller creator and three-level scorer with good passing chops; Fudd is perhaps the best shooting prospect the WNBA has ever seen. Yes, that includes Caitlin Clark. Whether off the dribble, shooting off movement, handoffs or screens, there is no shot beyond the arc she cannot hit. There are concerns, sure. Self-creation inside the arc and overall playmaking could hold her back from being a true primary scorer. The fit with Arike Ogunbowale coming back to Dallas is odd. But with Bueckers by Fuddโs side, these are trivial concerns. Dallas has its dynamic duo.
Pick No. 2: Minnesota Lynx Select Olivia Miles (TCU)
DraftKings Sportsbook No. 2 Pick Odds:
Has there ever been a more typical top WNBA pick than Olivia Miles? This profile has consistently performed well in the league and will continue to do so. After a prolific five-year NCAA career that included three All-American selections, Miles is bringing her talent to Minnesota.
Plain and simple, Olivia Miles gets after it. She can score on the drive, pull up in the midrange, and knock down her threes. Miles rebounds extremely well for a guard, pulling in 6.3 boards per game across 133 NCAA games. Her passing talents are exceptional, especially out of the pick-and-roll; Miles led her conference in assists three times. The defense only increases her appeal, as she yearns to slap the floor and get busy at the point of attack.
Itโs possible that there is no defining trait or skill for Miles, but there are no weaknesses either. Sheโs a driver, shooter, passer, and defender who desperately wants to compete and win plays anywhere. The Lynx will be over the moon to have her. She’s an instant fit on a team seeking to contend, and will fit seamlessly alongside Napheesa Collier. What a coup for Minnesota getting a rookie this great on a team this talented.
Pick No. 3: Seattle Storm select Awa Fam Thiam (France)
DraftKings Sportsbook No. 3 Pick Odds:
In most drafts, Awa Fam Thiam would be a slam-dunk top pick. The 6-foot-6 19-year-old jumped to the top of draft boards due to her incredible mix of size, athleticism, and sheer talent. Fam has serious bounce that helps her strong finishing skills in the paint and while protecting it on the other side of the ball. She can also space beyond the arc in spurts, put the ball on the deck from the perimeter and high post, and make some good passing reads without coughing the ball up. Itโs a tantalizing package.
Fam is likely to have a longer developmental curve than Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles, or other top picks. But as we saw last year with Dominique Malonga, size and skill can only be held down so long. Now she joins Malonga on a Seattle Storm team firmly in rebuild mode. Their top four scorers from last season are gone, with Malonga and Ezi Magbegor as the main holdovers. Now they add a third talented big to the roster.
Seattle just rocketed to the top of the “what is going on here?” rankings. Are Fam, Malonga, and Magbegor going to play together? Will one of them head to the bench? It’s going to be a fascinating rebuild in the Emerald City.
Pick No. 4: Washington Mystics Select Lauren Betts (UCLA)
If Olivia Miles is the platonic ideal of a WNBA guard prospect, Lauren Betts is the same for centers. A true paint triple threat โ layups, boards, and blocks โ Betts culminated a prolific career with a memorable championship for UCLA, and they couldnโt have done it without her floor-raising.
Bettsโ evolution to a true team player this past season solidified her draft profile. Her playmaking continued to evolve, increasing her assist-to-turnover ratio from 0.5 to 1.5 in only two years. Betts learned to elevate her teammates on both ends of the floor, not chasing points or blocks while making an impact within the flow of the game. Itโs a remarkable ascension that will continue in the W.
The fit in Washington is fascinating. The Mystics nearly snuck into the playoffs last year in a rebuilding season off the strength of their rookie duo, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Betts theoretically fits in the frontcourt with Iriafen to form a power rebounding and rim-finishing duo, but management paid big to retain Shakira Austin, who was exceptional last year. Does Betts start out of the gate alongside Iriafen? How do Washington’s No. 9 and No. 11 picks affect the rotation? Many questions to answer, but Washington certainly got the best talent on the board.
Pick No. 5: Chicago Sky Select Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)
Jaquez is our second UCLA player off the board in the first round, and we are not done yet. What a testament to that Bruins team.
Much like her former teammate Gianna Kneepkens, who will soon be selected, Jaquez can knock them down from beyond the arc. She has continued to improve as a volume shooter, with efficiency gains and better free-throw shooting indicating strong touch development. Throughout that development, Jaquez has continued to finish well inside the arc while contributing as a rebounder and a defender.
The Sky taking Jaquez this high is a bit of a surprise, but it fits with the vision for their roster post-Angel Reese. They’re bringing in veterans to bring some competence after a disastrous 2025 season, with Skylar Diggins expected to control the offense. Jaquez gives them a stable presence on the wing in a new era of Sky basketball.
Pick No. 6: Toronto Tempo Select Kiki Rice (UCLA)
Make it three straight Bruins. Kiki Rice is generally viewed as the โdrop-offโ after the blue chip prospects, but that feels awfully dismissive of her talents.
Rice feels very similar to Sonia Citron in last yearโs draft. An accomplished scorer who made strides as a shooter and playmaker, Rice fits extremely well off the ball, but is more than capable of making something happen when called upon. Her competitiveness shows out on the glass and at the point of attack.
This is an excellent fit for a Tempo roster that wants to get after it from day one. Who better to learn from than Brittney Sykes, an accomplished defender and scorer who wants to out-compete everyone? Marina Mabrey can teach her a thing or two about scoring. They have great complementary players who want to get out and run, shoot, and defend. Rice fits that ethos to a T.
Pick No. 7: Portland Fire Select Iyana Martรญn Carriรณn (Spain)
Here’s your biggest surprise of the draft so far. Much like Awa Fam Thiam, Carriรณn produced as a 19-year-old in European play, scoring and dishing well as a true point guard for Club Baloncesto Avenido. Carriรณn could pick up steals in bunches, and defends well despite her slight 5-foot-8 frame.
The Fire roster is a strange fit as an expansion team, but it is likely that she remains overseas, following the same play the Valkyries made last year with Juste Jocyte. It’s a great developmental bet for a team making their first-ever draft pick.
Pick No. 8: Golden State Valkyries Select Flau’jae Johnson (LSU); Traded To Seattle Storm
After playing a key role for the 2023 LSU title team, many guaranteed Flauโjae Johnsonโs rise to stardom. That never truly materialized, but she assembled a prolific career that solidified her status as a high first-round pick.
Buckets, buckets, buckets; thatโs what Flauโjae brings you. She knocks down threes, draws free throws, can get to her spots in the midrange, and has a solid finishing package. The playmaking never truly developed โ the top teams could completely take away her passing talents โ but she did an excellent job at cleaning up her turnovers as a senior.
Flauโjae can be inconsistent defensively, but she produces elite steal and block numbers for a guard. At first, we thought she would be a Valkyrie, but now she’s on her way to Seattle via a trade. Flau’jae fits in well on a team loaded with defense-first bigs and will be getting some serious buckets for a rebuilding team. This is going to be a fun fit.
Pick No. 9: Washington Mystics Select Angela Dugaliฤ (UCLA)
Why not another Bruin? After taking Lauren Betts fourth overall, the Mystics are taking her frontcourt mate to add to a very talented young group.
Dugaliฤ brings tremendous size for a power forward at 6’4″. She can credibly stretch the floor, shooting with volume and respectable efficiency. Her size and length plays very well defensively, with the movement skills to handle switches and tough rotations. Dugaliฤ has shown strong passing talents as well, fitting a true all-around mold for this team.
With Kiki Iriafen, Betts, and Shakira Austin in tow, Dugaliฤ is all but guaranteed to come off the bench. But that won’t be an issue for Dugaliฤ, who willingly transitioned to a bench role at times for UCLA on the way to a title. Watch out for this Washington frontcourt next year.
Pick No. 10: Indiana Fever Select Raven Johnson (University of South Carolina)
Another Dawn Staley protege is on the way to the Fever. As if this backcourt couldn’t get more talented, Raven Johnson is heading to Indy.
A point guard with serious defensive chops, Johnson grew as a shooter throughout her South Carolina career, being truly comfortable on and off the ball. Wherever Johnson goes, winning follows, and that bodes well for the Indiana Fever. And she’s no stranger to Caitlin Clark.
In theory, Johnson fits very well alongside both Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. She can be an off-ball spacer next to Clark, and more of a passer to set up Mitchell. The dog mentality defensively plays with any lineup. Being reunited with Gamecocks teammate Aliyah Boston is extremely fun to boot. Johnson may prove to be a crucial piece for a Fever team that can compete for a championship this season.
Pick No. 11: Washington Mystics Select Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)
A true scoring wing, McMahon has the sort of skills that plays in a physical league. The Ole Miss product scored 19.5 points per game during her final season in Oxford, and should take on a leading scoring role with the Mystics as their third pick in this first round.
There are stark limitations here. The three-point shot has yet to translate, her playmaking has been iffy, and she brings inconsistent effort on the defensive end of the floor. But as we reach the end of the first round, all you’re going to find is flawed players. And the Mystics are confident they can paper over these flaws.
Sonia Citron will provide the shooting. They have tons of defense in the frontcourt. If McMahon can bring the buckets, this team will welcome it.
Pick No. 12: Connecticut Sun Select Nell Angloma (France)
How about three international picks in the top 12? Says a lot about how much this game has changed.
As a bit of an undersized forward, Angloma is a highly skilled athlete. She’s a willing shooter who loves to put the ball on the deck and do a bit of self-creation. Angloma put up an impressive .512 free-throw rate in European play, a Jimmy Butler-esque number. She is a bit of a developmental project, but that’s not a problem for this Connecticut Sun team.
Angloma should have a clear path to playing time on a team with no interest in winning next year. Expect her to get all the touches she can handle, and they’ll have no issue letting her take her lumps.
Pick No. 13: Atlanta Dream Select Madina Okot (University of South Carolina)
Okot has one of the most fascinating draft profiles in recent memory. She played a significant role for Dawn Staleyโs South Carolina team and was a double-double monster in the paint. She also brings an intriguing amount of shooting touch, surprisingly knocking down 13 of 29 threes after not attempting a three at Mississippi State. At 6-foot-6, the idea of a player who can score in the paint, knock down open threes, and lead your team in rebounds is tantalizing.
Yet, the concerns are evident. Mobility was an issue at times, and defensive coverage versatility could be a serious problem. She has one of the lowest assist/usage and assist/turnover ratios in this draft class. The size, finishing talent and rebounding arenโt going anywhere, but this could be a developmental project. The Dream already have Angel Reese to take up huge frontcourt minutes, and with their impetus to win now, it’s possible the minutes aren’t there out of the gate.
It’s important to remember that Okot is a late bloomer in basketball. Perhaps the developmental trajectory is steeper than we thought and she hits the ground running. But if she doesn’t, the Dream are comfortable waiting.
Pick No. 14: Seattle Storm Select Taina Mair (Duke)
With so much backcourt talent heading out the door in Seattle, they were in desperate need of a point guard. Taina Mair may be a bit of a reach, but she certainly brings a stability at point guard they desperately need.
Mair’s scoring was not exactly efficient in college, but she competed hard as a defender and brought strong playmaking to the table. The passing off the drive is excellent, and should act as a floor-raiser for a team full of bigs that need passing help. It may not be the highest-upside choice, but I love the idea of pairing this kind of guard with a defense-first roster full of bigs. Flau’jae Johnson takes a lot of scoring pressure off Mair as well. Someone with certified dog status is always welcome in a rebuild.
Pick No. 15: Connecticut Sun Select Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)
Oh, look, itโs another Sonia Citron variant (complimentary) and yet another Bruin. In fact, that is a record FIVE Bruins taken in the first round. After four years at Utah, Kneepkens transferred to UCLA and was a key part of the title-winning team. More of a traditional gunner, Kneepkens is the best shooter in the class not named Azzi Fudd, but the gap isnโt as large as most would think.
Kneepkens nearly pulled off a 50/40/90 season with UCLA, missing the overall FG% mark by 0.7%. She hit 42.9% of her threes (somehow a decline from her final Utah season) while knocking down a silly 93.3% of her free throws. The volume inside the arc and at the line wasnโt prolific, but sheโs a career 57% shooter inside the arc who can find angles for finishes and knock down middies when the defense allows.
Of all the prospects taken so far, Kneepkens is the closest to a true specialist, but damn if she isnโt one of the best at her craft. Sheโs not going to cough up the ball, wonโt break down your defense with poor effort or communication, and knows how to contribute on the glass and as a connective passer. A firmly rebuilding Connecticut team will appreciate the stability she brings, raising the floor of all lineups.
