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Final 2026 WNBA Mock Draft Sees UConn's Azzi Fudd Climb to No. 1 Spot
The 2026 WNBA draft is finally here, and there's more uncertainty in the first round than we've seen in years.
UConn's Azzi Fudd is now the new favorite at No. 1 following Dallas' free-agency moves, and as many as three prospects are in the mix to go No. 2.
In our final mock draft, we're going through all 45 picks and taking a look at how the entire board could shake out with the expansion draft and most of free agency behind us.
1. Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd, UConn
1 of 19
Position: SG, Size: 5'11", Age: 23
Pro Comp: Two-Way Allie Quigley
Dallas' free-agency decisions all point towards Azzi Fudd being the pick at No. 1. The Wings bolstered their frontcourt by signing co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard on multi-year deals.
The NCAA tournament didn't end the way Fudd wanted, as she averaged just 10.3 points on 30.8 percent shooting from the field from the Sweet 16 on. But evaluators care more about the full body of work, and there's no question she is one of the greatest shooting prospects ever while also being a solid defender and quick decision-maker on both ends.
In 2025, Dallas finished last in the league in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage at 32.8%. Fudd would instantly help fix that, giving them elite off-ball shooting gravity alongside Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
2. Minnesota Lynx: Awa Fam, Spain
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Position: PF/C, Size: 6'4", Age: 19
Pro Comp: Nneka Ogwumike
It now looks likely that Awa Fam will still be on the board at No. 2, and her skill set makes too much sense in Minnesota's scheme.
She has the highest upside of any player in the class, thanks to her rare combination of size, skill, athleticism and processing speed at only 19 years old.
You'll hear "raw prospect" attached to Fam a lot, but that's far from reality. She's produced in big games everywhere she's played: 21 points against France at EuroBasket last summer, 17 against Fenerbahçe in October and 10 points in 19 minutes against Team USA.
Fam might not be the best player in this class right away, but she's going to be ready sooner than people expect. Put her next to Napheesa Collier, and that's the makings of a really dangerous frontcourt in Minnesota.
3. Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles, TCU
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Position: PG, Size: 5'10", Age: 23
Pro Comp: Lindsay Whalen
There are only a handful of point guards in WNBA history who can read the floor like a supercomputer and create their own shot from anywhere. That group is basically Diana Taurasi, Chelsea Gray, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and soon enough, Olivia Miles.
How do opponents even deal with a Miles and Dominique Malonga pick-and-roll duo for the next decade? That's so scary.
It's reasonable to be concerned about her defensive projection—upright stance leading to blow-bys, and some disengagement off the ball—but it's not like we haven't seen offensive superstars supersede those kinds of defensive shortcomings.
Miles is an all-time passing prospect, with real counters as a driver and pull-up scorer that keep defenders guessing at all times.
4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts, UCLA
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Position: C, Size: 6'7", Age: 22
Pro Comp: All-Defense Kamilla Cardoso
Lauren Betts, the 2026 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, had an excellent tournament, averaging 21.0 points and 9.3 rebounds on at least 60 percent shooting in every game.
If Washington doesn't match the three-year offer sheet Shakira Austin signed with Toronto, there's no chance Betts falls past the Mystics here. She 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.
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 kickout shooters.
The biggest question is how her scoring holds up against WNBA rim protection, and how teams value her overall archetype in the modern era. Betts doesn't shoot, add much in transition or as a screener, so her skill set isn't going to be for everyone.
5. Chicago Sky: Flau'jae Johnson, LSU
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Position: SG/SF, Size: 5'11", Age: 22
Pro Comp: More athletic Bridget Carleton
In our last mock draft, we had the Sky taking Kiki Rice, but after signing Skylar Diggins to a two-year deal and re-signing Courtney Vandersloot, Johnson feels like the more natural fit.
Johnson didn't show much year-to-year growth in her senior season, but her blend of athleticism, shot creation and defensive versatility still gives her intriguing long-term potential.
Pairing her with DiJonai Carrington would give Chicago a real infusion of two-way wing talent they've been missing for years.
6. Toronto Tempo: Kiki Rice, UCLA
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Position: PG, Size: 5'11", Age: 22
Pro Comp: Natasha Cloud
For Toronto, they will likely look to draft best player available and there's a clear top prospect on the board: UCLA's Kiki Rice.
Her 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. She's also a standout on-ball defender with the size, strength and coordination to defend both guard spots.
Rice's year-over-year improvements are staggering. This season, her half-court finishing jumped from 45.5% to 58.6%, pull-up mid-range from 37.9% to 43.1% and pull-up threes from 13.3% to 35.5%.
Rice's on and off ball flexibility will allow her to get on the court as a rookie. She can play with Brittney Sykes, Julie Allemand or Marina Mabrey at either guard spot.
7. Portland Fire: Nell Angloma, France
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Position: SF, Size: 6'0", Age: 19
Pro Comp: Kayla Thornton
Nell Angloma is having one of the most productive seasons by an international prospect ever, leading Lattes Montpellier to a No. 5 seed in the French league as a teenager.
Angloma's game is built around what she can do as a driver. She gets to the rim whenever she wants with strength development and ambidextrous finishing almost unheard of at her age.
Angel Reese was one of the few prospects this decade who drew fouls at a higher rate than Angloma.
Meanwhile, she is doing this without anyone respecting her jumper. If that comes along, we might look back and wonder why Angloma fell out of the lottery.
8. Golden State Valkyries: Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA
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Position: SG/SF, Size: 6'0", Age: 22
Pro Comp: Maya Caldwell
Gabriela Jaquez is just solid at a lot of things and perfectly fits Golden State's identity. She's a good shooter, instinctive cutter and a smart defender who plays with a relentless motor.
Jaquez's WNBA transition comes down to whether she can hit catch-and-shoot threes consistently. She led the country in 3-point percentage through non-conference play (54.2 percent) before that dropped to under 30 percent for the remainder of the season.
After signing Gabby Williams in free agency, the Valkyries might look to stack up on wings who make an impactful on the margins to surround Veronica Burton and 2025 first-round pick Justė Jocytė in the backcourt.
9. Washington Mystics: Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
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Position: SG/SF, Size: 6'0", Age: 22
Pro Comp: Karlie Samuelson
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, Lauren Betts and now Kneepkens. That's a fun mix of athleticism and defense to build with.
10. Indiana Fever: Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
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Position: SF/PF, Size: 6'0", Age: 22
Pro Comp: Michaela Onyenwere
Indiana likes to push the pace, and that's what Cotie McMahon does best. The Fever re-signed Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham, but neither are anywhere near the caliber athlete McMahon is.
What stands out immediately 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 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.
Head coach Stephanie White could experiment with McMahon at the four, giving them the flexibility to go small without sacrificing physicality.
11. Washington Mystics: Ta'Niya Latson, South Carolina
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Position: CG, Size: 5'8", Age: 22
Pro Comp: Carla Leite
Washington could use an infusion of guard talent after losing Sug Sutton to Portland in the expansion draft and Jade Melbourne walking in free agency. Here, Ta'Niya Latson is the best option on the board with upside as an on-ball creator.
She was the best transition scorer in the country this season and also showed serious improvement on the defensive end.
While Latson's shooting remains a question mark, the Mystics could benefit from her athleticism and her ability to consistently pressure the rim and draw fouls at a high rate.
12. Connecticut Sun: Frieda Bühner, Germany
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Position: PF, Size: 6'1", Age: 21
Pro Comp: Vanessa Nygaard
Frieda Bühner played in four games for Florida in 2022 before returning home, making her older than your typical international prospect at 21.
She is a strong play finisher, off-ball mover and a smart defender who's already producing at the professional level, averaging 16.8 points in Spain.
Her swing skill is whether she can become a consistent shooter. She shot 24.4 percent from three in Spanish league play on 4.4 attempts per game.
For a roster already as young as Connecticut, Bühner is a draft-and-stash option before bringing her over in 2027.
13. Atlanta Dream: Raven Johnson, South Carolina
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Position: PG, Size: 5'9", Age: 23
Pro Comp: Tanisha Wright
No prospect helped themselves more this season than Raven Johnson. She's an improved shooter, a more confident driver and continues to play otherworldly defense.
It's fair to be wary of a fifth-year senior breakout like this, but with a player this smart, athletic and advanced defensively, it's hard to imagine she won't be a rotation-caliber point guard.
South Carolina's 2024 championship backcourt of Johnson and Te-Hina Paopao could reunite in Atlanta and run the Dream's second unit.
14. Seattle Storm: Iyana Martín, Spain
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Position: PG, Size: 5'8", Age: 20
Pro Comp: Julie Allemand
The way Iyana Martín 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 last 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.
For Seattle, Martín likely profiles as a draft-and-stash, but there's no rush in their developmental process as the Storm enter a rebuild.
15. Connecticut Sun: Madina Okot, South Carolina
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Position: C, Size: 6'6", Age: 21
Pro Comp: Krystal Thomas
WNBA teams are always going to take a chance on a player as tall and disruptive on the boards as Madina Okot. She also started hitting threes the last couple months, which is interesting.
Okot's struggles reading the floor, finishing around the rim and defending in space will be her biggest hurdles at the next level. But she's also the youngest college prospect in the draft and didn't start playing basketball until she was 16.
If the skill development and processing catch up, there's a lot of upside to work with.
Picks 16-20
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16. Seattle: Janiah Barker, F, Tennessee
Barker is one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in WNBA draft history. She's a supremely talented scorer with athleticism you can't teach, but her processing speed, shot selection and body language all leave a lot to be desired. Though, at the very least, Barker is worth a flyer in this range.
17. Portland: Angela Dugalić, F, UCLA
Dugalić has good size, moves pretty well and knows how to fit in next to other talent, whether that's at UCLA or with the Serbia national team. She's long been an inconsistent game-to-game, but during UCLA's title run she did a bit of everything on both ends.
18. Connecticut: Lani White, G, Utah
White is a premier movement shooter with a lightning-quick release and solid athleticism. She shot an obscene 64.0 percent on off-screen threes (16-25) and 42 percent on spot-ups—including transition—this season.
19. Washington: Cassandre Prosper, F, Notre Dame
Prosper is the youngest college prospect in WNBA history at 20 years old and 8 months. She's a project offensively, but her ability to defend the point-of-attack and chase shooters at 6'2" is rare.
20. Los Angeles: Charlisse Leger-Walker, G, UCLA
With Julie Allemand being drafted by Toronto in the expansion draft, the Sparks could look at a playmaker like Leger-Walker. She's a basketball savant and an extension of the coach on the court.
Picks 21-25
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21. Chicago: Kara Dunn, F, USC
Dunn is slightly undersized for a combo forward, but she's physical, a great cutter and developed into a good shooter over her last two seasons.
22. Toronto: Marta Suárez, F, TCU
Suárez's highs as a 6'3" shot-maker and bully-ball scorer are fun. She's just far too streaky for a sixth-year senior, averaging a career 1.7 assists to 3.1 turnovers per game.
23. Golden State: Teonni Key, F, Kentucky
Key is a mobile, high-energy big who can run the floor and defend both frontcourt spots. She's still a long way from being a WNBA rotation player, but the tools are there if she can develop a respectable 15-foot jumper and cut down on fouls.
24. Los Angeles: Maggie Doogan, F, Richmond
Doogan was the best mid-major player in the country and a statistical model's draft darling. She put up 21.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 64.1% true shooting. But the bigger questions are whether Doogan can defend anyone at the next level and if she does enough offensively without the ball in her hands.
25. Indiana: Taina Mair, G, Duke
Mair was outstanding down the stretch, winning ACC tournament MVP, and averaging 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists over her last six games of the season. She defends, is a solid shooter and ran Duke's offense efficiently.
Picks 26-30
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26. Toronto: Justine Pissott, F, Vanderbilt
Pissott is 6'4" and shoots over 40 percent from three with deep range. She may not be able to do anything else at WNBA level, but the shooting makes her a second-round prospect.
27. Phoenix: Shay Ciezki, G, Indiana
If Ciezki, listed at 5'7", was even a few inches taller, we're looking at a Top 10 pick, and maybe even higher. This season, she shot 51.2 percent on pull-up 2s, 42.6 percent on pull-up 3s and 45.3 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s. Ciezki's just small and not a point guard, either, but the shot-making is undeniable.
28. Atlanta: Laila Phelia, G, Syracuse
Phelia was once viewed as a potential first-round pick, and though that's no longer the case, she's a solid 3-and-D player. She shot 38 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s this season while defending both guards and wings.
29. Las Vegas: Tonie Morgan, G, Kentucky
Morgan went cold in SEC play, which led to this slide on our board into the late-second round. Even so, her athleticism, comfort in ball screens and mid-range scoring are interesting enough here.
30. Washington: Ines Pitarch-Granel, G, France
The Mystics have already made four picks, so if they keep No. 30 and/or No. 34, a draft-and-stash option makes sense. Pitarch-Granel is the best one available here as an athletic, defense-first wing who averaged 5.6 points in the EuroLeague this season.
3rd Round
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31. Dallas: Ashlon Jackson, G, Duke
32. Chicago: Mya Perry, G, Cincinnati
33. Connecticut: Jalyn Brown, G, Michigan State
34. Washington: Yarden Garzon, F, Maryland
35. Los Angeles: Jessica Timmons, G, Alabama
36. Toronto: Rori Harmon, G, Texas
37. Portland: Serah Williams, C, UConn
38. Golden State: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, F, Baylor
39. Seattle: Taylor Bigby, G, TCU
40. Indiana: Hannah Stuelke, F, Iowa
41. New York: Jordan Harrison, G, West Virginia
42. Phoenix: Grace VanSlooten, F, Michigan State
43. Atlanta: Amelia Hassett, F, Kentucky
44. Las Vegas: Latasha Lattimore, F, Ole Miss
45. Minnesota: Kyla Oldacre, C, Texas
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