2026 WNBA Mock Draft Sees Top-5 Shakeup as March Madness Begins
The 2026 WNBA draft is officially set for April 13, now with a new collective bargaining agreement in place.
Before then, WNBA draft prospects will have one last chance to make an impression on scouts. A year ago, Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker dropped 45 against Maryland to push herself into the top-10 conversation, and Hailey Van Lith boosted her stock by leading TCU to its first Elite Eight.
Who does that in 2026?
For now, a pair of UCLA teammates helped reshape the top five—with their draft stocks rising and falling, respectively—since our last edition.
This mock factors in team fit, but we'll have a clearer sense of each team's direction once the expansion draft and free agency shake out.
1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam, Spain
1 of 15
Position: PF/C | Size: 6'4" | Age: 19
Pro Comp: Nneka Ogwumike
Last: 1
Awa Fam faced Team USA on Tuesday in what was the most important game for any prospect this season, and she did not disappoint. She looked comfortable on both ends against a team of WNBA stars, recording 10 points and five rebounds on 62.3 percent shooting in only 19 minutes.
Fam flashed her full skillset, knocking down a step-back mid-range jumper and a post fadeaway over Dearica Hamby. She was also outstanding as a roller, per usual, and defended nearly every position—including a switch onto Kahleah Copper that turned into a stop at the rim.
Across 50 minutes against Team USA and France at EuroBasket last summer, Fam didn't commit a single turnover. Her feel for the game at just 19 years old is remarkable; this isn't a raw prospect.
How do you even guard a Paige Bueckers-Fam ball screen? Blitz Bueckers, and you open the floor for Fam to leverage her finishing and passing. Play it straight up, and you're giving one of the best shot creators in the world too much space. And that doesn't even factor in Fam's improvements as a shooter. Dallas could be an offensive machine built around that duo.
2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles, TCU
2 of 15
Position: PG | Size: 5'10"| Age: 23
Pro Comp: Lindsay Whalen
Last: 2
The Minnesota Lynx are in a great position at No. 2, giving themselves a choice between Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles or Fam depending on how the board falls. If they hold at that spot, it would be the highest pick ever for a team coming off a top-two finish the previous season.
But here, Miles remains our pick. She's the best passing prospect of the last decade outside of Caitlin Clark, with the ability to create her own shot and keep defenders off balanced as a driver.
Though her shooting can run hot and cold, the improvements she's made there are undeniable. No player in the country has knocked down more pull-up threes (90) over the last two seasons than Miles—and it's not particularly close either.
The bigger questions come on the defensive end and in how she affects the game without the ball in her hands. But there's probably not a better place for her to improve on those things than under Cheryl Reeve in Minnesota.
3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd, UConn
3 of 15
Position: SG | Size: 5'11" | Age: 23
Pro Comp: Two-Way Allie Quigley
Last: 3
Azzi Fudd is the best off-ball shooting prospect in women's basketball history, and that's exactly what Seattle needs alongside 20-year-old center Dominique Malonga.
This season, Fudd has hit over 44 percent of her spot-up threes and 47 percent of her off-screen 3s, per Synergy. She's a solid passer, but her true playmaking comes from her shooting gravity. Fudd's sheer presence bends defenses and creates easy opportunities for everyone on the court, even when her shots aren't falling.
Defensively, she's as steady as they come. Fudd knows where to be at all takes, uses her core strength to bump ball-handers and rarely fouls. She's made real strides as a defender every season.
There's no doubt Fudd has the highest floor of any prospect in the draft, but there are questions about her ceiling as a shot creator. Only 9.4 percent of her three-point attempts come off the dribble, and she's just 7-of-25 on those looks this season. Fudd also doesn't get to the rim or the free-throw line often enough for us to foresee any untapped potential there.
Either way, the Storm would be lucky to add a knockdown shooter like Fudd who makes smart decisions at all times and doesn't need the ball to be effective.
.png?w=256 "Draft grades")
.jpg?w=256)
4. Washington Mystics: Kiki Rice, UCLA
4 of 15
Position: PG | Size: 5'11" | Age: 22
Pro Comp: Natasha Cloud
Last: 5
Even after selecting Georgia Amoore at No. 6 just a year ago, Washington shouldn't pass on a dynamic point guard like Rice—one who brings size, athleticism and real two-way impact.
Rice's game is built around her explosive, downhill driving style. Her low center of gravity allows her to quickly change directions and slip through tight spaces.
Rice also loves to initiate contact as a driver to draw fouls, and is the best free-throw shooter in the class at 89.1 percent. While not an elite passer, she reads the floor quickly and maximizes the advantages she creates as a driver.
Rice's year-over-year improvements are staggering. This season, her half-court finishing has jumped from 45.5 percent to 59.7 percent, pull-up mid-range from 37.9 percent to 51.2 percent and pull-up threes from 13.3 percent to 46.7 percent—albeit on lower volume.
Rice continues to answer every question scouts have, and that makes you wonder what her upside looks like if she continues on this developmental arc. She's smart, athletic, defends and scores from everywhere. The next step is for Rice to take more threes and prove the finishing improvements are real against WNBA defenses.
5. Chicago Sky: Flau'jae Johnson, LSU
5 of 15
Position: SG | Size: 5'11" | Age: 22
Pro Comp: Explosive Bridget Carleton
Last: 6
Flau'jae Johnson's senior season hasn't gone as everyone expected, but wings with her athleticism, shot creation and defense don't grow on trees.
Last season, Chicago was last in defensive rating, No. 12 in transition points and No. 9 in three-point percentage—these are all things Johnson can help with. She's a dynamic playmaker in the open court and an advanced pull-up scorer who made real strides creating her own shot from three.
Johnson still struggles when her shot isn't falling, often taking herself out of games. Her tendency to settle for tough jumpers and inability to finish with her left hand are also major issues. A lot of these inconsistencies come down to poor processing, so how improvable is that exactly?
The way a player performs in one NCAA tournament run doesn't mean everything, but WNBA front offices will definitely be looking to see if Johnson rises to the moment after a few rough months.
6. Portland Fire: Lauren Betts, UCLA
6 of 15
Position: C | Size: 6'7" | Age: 22
Pro Comp: All-Defense Kamilla Cardoso
Last: 4
Lauren Betts slipping to No. 6 is less about her talent and more about multiple lottery teams not being in the market for a center currently, and Rice's recent play. There's always the possibility a team trades up, but that's too hard for us to predict before free agency.
Regardless, Betts is an exceptional defensive prospect, and it's not just because she's tall. She has great footwork, short-area quickness, timing and verticality to defend without fouling. Betts has never fouled out in her college career across 127 career games.
On the other end, she commands a ton of attention from defenses, drawing double teams and using her size to see over defenders to find kick-out shooters.
The biggest question is how she scores efficiency against size and athleticism at the next level. Betts has shot just 53.2 percent on post-ups and under 30 percent on two-point jumpers against tournament teams this season. She also doesn't make much of an impact in transition or as a screener.
7. Toronto Tempo: Raven Johnson, South Carolina
7 of 15
Position: PG | Size: 5'9" | Age: 23
Pro Comp: Tanisha Wright
Last: 11
Last year, Raven Johnson averaged just four points on 32.6 percent shooting over the last two months of the season. Now, she's taking over games offensively for South Carolina, and continues to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the country.
There's been a clear adjustment to how opponents are defending Johnson as a shooter. At the start of the season, only 29 percent of her three-point attempts were guarded, and now that's up to 59 percent over the last 14 games.
Toronto could swing for the fences, but if they just want a reliable player, Johnson should be in play here. 5'9" with a 6'2" wingspan, elite processing speed and motor—you can't teach that.
Johnson's floor game would be perfect in Sandy Brondello's offense, both in the half-court and transition. The Liberty led the WNBA in assist percentage and were 4th in pace last season.
8. Golden State Valkyries: Nell Angloma, France
8 of 15
Position: SF | Size: 5'10" | Age: 19
Pro Comp: Dallas Kayla Thornton
Last: 8
Nell Angloma is having one of the most productive seasons by an international prospect ever, averaging 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds on 53.5 percent from two in the French league.
It's no secret Golden State has leaned heavily into international scouting, and if they go in that direction again, it'd make sense to bet on a young, athletic wing with Angloma's two-way potential.
It just all comes down to her shooting development. Her three-point mechanics are unorthodox, and she doesn't have a mid-range game either. Angloma is only 19 years old, so if the Valkyries trust their player development system to fix the shot, there's some serious upside.
9. Washington Mystics: Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
9 of 15
Position: G | Size: 6'0" | Age: 22
Pro Comp: Karlie Samuelson
Last: 9
Gianna Kneepkens is an obvious fit for the Mystics, who ranked last in three-point attempts per game (17.1) last season.
Kneepkens is a career 43.4 percent three-point shooter on 5.5 attempts per game. She is excellent off the catch, with consistent, repeatable mechanics and a great feel for perimeter movement.
Kneepkens is likely a negative on defense and doesn't have a lot of self-creation upside, but the way she shoots and cuts should translate immediately.
A young core with Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Rice and now Kneepkens. That's a fun mix of athleticism and shooting to building with.
10. Indiana Fever: Ta'Niya Latson, South Carolina
10 of 15
Position: SG | Size: 5'8" | Age: 22
Pro Comp: Carla Leite
Last: 7
Ta'Niya Latson has been very inconsistent this season against top opponents, but she's just too talented of a player for Indiana to pass up at No. 10.
She's the best transition scorer in the country, with tremendous all-around athleticism on both ends. Latson is extremely disruptive at the point-of-attack, using her quick hands to get steals and deflections.
The issue is when her game is predicated on breaking defender's down with the ball in her hands, there needs to be counters to keep defenders guessing. Unfortunately, there's been no development in this department.
Latson has been an inefficient mid-range scorer each of the last two seasons, and shot just 18.5 percent from three in SEC play.
If Indiana doesn't add a backup scoring guard in free agency, Latson's upside might be enough for the Fever to take a swing here. She led the country in scoring as a junior at Florida State with 25.2 points per game.
11. Washington Mystics: Madina Okot, South Carolina
11 of 15
Position: C | Size: 6'6" | Age: 21
Pro Comp: Krystal Thomas
Last: 15
In November, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said she plans to fight for an extra year of NCAA eligibility for Madina Okot. Whether that waiver is granted remains unclear, but if she's in this draft, a rebuilding team like Washington could take a flyer.
Okot is the youngest prospect in the draft, with a great motor and impressive straight-line athleticism for her size. She also made some mid-season development as a shooter, knocking down 8-of-13 from three in SEC play.
What keeps Okot from rising is her struggles reading the floor on both ends and finishing around the rim. She only shot 36 percent from two in the SEC tournament against Texas, Kentucky and LSU.
12. Connecticut Sun: Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA
12 of 15
Position: SG/SF | Size: 6'0" | Age: 22
Pro Comp: Maya Caldwell
Last: 10
The Connecticut Sun need wing depth, and could use a player like Gabriela Jaquez who can fill any role asked of her. She's a good shooter, instinctive cutter and a smart defender with solid athleticism.
Jaquez could hear her name called earlier, but much of that will hinge on how she shoots in the tournament. She knocked down 54 percent of her threes during UCLA's nonconference schedule, but that number dipped to under 30 percent in the Big Ten—closer to her career averages.
If Jaquez proves to be a real shooter, she could be an impactful rotation wing for many years in the league. She could play alongside Leïla Lacan and Saniya Rivers, or without them in backup units.
13. Atlanta Dream: Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
13 of 15
Position: F | Size: 6'0" | Age: 21
Pro Comp: Michaela Onyenwere
Last: Not ranked
The Atlanta Dream don't have any glaring roster holes, which gives them the flexibility to take a real swing here. A month ago, we had them selecting Janiah Barker, but Cotie McMahon's 39-point performance in Ole Miss' recent matchup with Tennessee changes the pick.
What stands out immediately with McMahon is her blend of strength and explosiveness. She converts speed to power like an elite NFL edge-rusher, and once she gets downhill, there's often little a defense can do to keep her out of the paint.
McMahon has stepped into a new role as the primary initiator at Ole Miss and held her own, but that's unlikely to be what's asked of her in the WNBA. Whether she can improve at the connective skills—spot-up shooting, quick decision-making and consistent off-ball defense—will determine how her game translates.
14. Seattle Storm: Iyana Martín, Spain
14 of 15
Position: PG | Size: 5'8" | Age: 20
Pro Comp: Julie Allemand
Last: Not ranked
Iyana Martín made an impressive pass after another out of the pick-and-roll against Team USA. The way she reads the court, plays at her own pace and produces at her age is rare.
In 2023, she earned MVP honors at the U19 World Cup. Last year, she was named the EuroLeague's Young Player of the Year as a teenager. And at this month's FIBA World Cup qualifiers, she averaged 10.0 points, 4.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 51.4 percent from the field.
The main questions with Martín are tied to her physical profile. At 5'8" with a slight frame, how does she consistently score without a reliable right hand, and is her jumper quick enough? She tries on defense, but how does she hold up against WNBA athletes?
For Seattle, Martín likely profiles as a draft-and-stash. As she adds strength, the Storm's existing defensive infrastructure would help cover for her early, and her playmaking would fit smoothly alongside Fudd and Malonga.
15. Connecticut Sun: Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA
15 of 15
Position: G | Size: 5'10" | Age: 24
Pro Comp: Late-Career Kara Lawson
Last: Not ranked
Charlisse Leger-Walker may be the oldest prospect in the class and a subpar athlete, but she's a basketball savant who is an extension of the coach on the floor.
Her box score numbers don't immediately stand out, but on a roster loaded with four first-round-caliber players, she's consistently elevated her play in big moments. Against tournament teams, she's shooting over 65 percent at the rim, 46 percent on pull-up jumpers, and 35 percent on catch-and-shoot threes.
Leger-Walker likely is what she is at this point, and there's limited projection left, but for a rebuilding team like Connecticut, there's real value in a steady point guard who can organize your offense and make smart decisions.
.png?w=480 "Draft grades")
.jpg?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Rams Reveal New Unis, Logo 👀")
