.jpg?w=1280 "Draft grades")
Grading Every 2026 WNBA Draft Pick, Full 3-Round Analysis
The 2026 WNBA draft was the most unpredictable in years, giving us many shocking picks and trades on Monday night.
We saw Gabriela Jaquez go off the board in the top five, Seattle trade up to select Flau'jae Johnson at No. 8 and plenty more.
Now that all 45 players are off the board, it's time to go team by team and break down what happened on draft night.
Each team is listed in alphabetical order.
Atlanta Dream
1 of 16
13. Madina Okot, South Carolina, C: B+
28. Indya Nivar, North Carolina, SG: C-
43. Kejia Ran, China, SG: B-
The Atlanta Dream did most of their offseason work in the past few weeks, which gave them the flexibility to swing on upside with South Carolina's Okot at No. 13.
The center, who didn't start playing basketball until she was 16, is still a raw prospect and likely won't contribute right away. But her rebounding, straight-line athleticism and three-point shooting flashes make her intriguing long-term in Atlanta's system.
Nivar is a defense-first guard with good athleticism, though this feels like a slight reach. She's the worst free-throw shooter in the class and struggles from three, which limits her projection as a combo guard.
Ran is a fun draft-and-stash flier. The Chinese guard has interesting two-way upside and is already one of the best rebounding guards in the world, averaging 11.3 boards per game at the U19 FIBA World Cup last summer.
Chicago Sky
2 of 16
5. Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA, SG: D
21. Latasha Lattimore, Ole Miss, PF: C+
32. Tonie Morgan, Kentucky, PG: B
The biggest surprise of the draft was Chicago taking Jaquez at No. 5. This isn't to say she isn't a good player—she's an elite cutter, a fantastic rebounder and plays harder than anyone in the class on both ends.
But it's hard to justify passing on Kiki Rice, Flau'jae Johnson and Nell Angloma for an off-ball guard with her own shooting concerns. Jaquez led the country in three-point percentage during non-conference play (54.2 percent) before that dropped to under 30 percent the remainder of the season.
Chicago isn't anywhere close to contention, but still opted for the player who best fits its current roster instead of prioritizing upside.
Lattimore brings value as a fluid mover and legitimate shot-blocker at 6'4", but after playing at four schools in five years, she's yet to show enough willingness as a shooter to project as a true stretch 4.
Getting Morgan in the third round is excellent value. She finished second in the NCAA in assists per game (7.9), while also providing downhill burst and a reliable mid-range game.
Connecticut Sun
3 of 16
12. Nell Angloma, France, SF: A
15. Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA, SG: A+
18. Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA, PG: B+
37. Taylor Bigby, TCU, SG: B-
Connecticut was one of the biggest winners of the draft, adding a strong mix of athleticism, shooting and playmaking on the perimeter. Starting with Angloma: At just 19 years old she's already one of the most productive international wing prospects we've seen, with elite downhill driving and ambidextrous finishing.
Pairing her with Leïla Lacan and Saniya Rivers gives the Sun an absurd level of athleticism and defensive upside. That trio sets the foundation to eventually add a true star creator in the 2027 draft. In the meantime, each of their developments as shooters will be key.
Next, landing Kneepkens at the end of the first round is a massive steal. She's the best shooting prospect in the class outside Fudd. While she's limited defensively and not a great athlete, the Sun don't have a player with her shooting repertoire.
Leger-Walker has outstanding feel operating out of ball screens and arguably the best deceleration in the class as a driver. At 24, she could step in right away and provide steady backup point guard minutes.
Bigby is worth a look in training camp as a three-and-D wing who shoots nearly 40 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, per Synergy.
Dallas Wings
4 of 16
1. Azzi Fudd, UConn, SG: B
31. Zee Spearman, Tennessee, PF: C-
It became clear Fudd was the pick for Dallas at No. 1 after the Wings signed Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard to multiyear deals in free agency, giving them enough roster stability to prioritize fit over best player available.
Fudd is the best off-ball shooting prospect in WNBA history, with a preternatural feel for moving without the ball. Dallas needs that badly after finishing last in the league in catch-and-shoot three-point percentage last season. Fudd is also a solid defender and a quick decision-maker who consistently knows where to be on both ends.
What keeps this from grading higher than a B is her limited upside as a self-creator. Her 8.2 percent free-throw rate is the third-lowest ever for a drafted player, and only one All-Star—Betty Lennox in 2000—posted a free-throw rate below 15 percent in their senior season. She also doesn't offer much as a pull-up three-point creator.
Fudd clearly makes Dallas better in the short term, but if Awa Fam reaches her ceiling? History tells us you need a superstar guard and big to win a championship.
As for Spearman, she's a 6'4" forward who shot 38.4 percent from the field. While she's athletic, she's likely a long shot to make the final roster.
Golden State Valkyries
5 of 16
16. Marta Suárez, TCU, SF: D
23. Ashlon Jackson, Duke, SG: C
38. Kokoro Tanaka, Japan, SG: C+
Golden State looked like it had the steal of the draft when Flau'jae Johnson was still on the board at No. 8, only to make a puzzling move by trading her to Seattle for Suarez and a 2028 second-round pick.
It's hard to make sense of the decision. Did Golden State already have a deal in place with Seattle and stuck to it even after Johnson unexpectedly fell? Or did it really view Suarez and a future second as fair value for a player with All-Star upside?
Suarez was productive at TCU, but there's a real chance she just doesn't translate to the WNBA. Her appeal is as a 6'3" stretch big who can handle, but she's long been an inconsistent shooter, turnover-prone and a below-average athlete.
Jackson was a solid college shooting guard, but 34.3 percent from the field is historically low, and players with that kind of efficiency rarely stick in the WNBA.
Tanaka, a 5'8" guard from Japan, showed some flashes last month by scoring 31 points in games against Australia and Canada.
Indiana Fever
6 of 16
10. Raven Johnson, South Carolina, PG: B
25. Justine Pissott, Vanderbilt, SG: B-
40. Jessica Timmons, Alabama, SG: C+
Indiana added something it didn't already have: elite point-of-attack defense. Johnson is one of the best defensive guard prospects ever at 5'9", with an otherworldly 6'2" wingspan, along with elite hand-eye coordination, lateral quickness and motor.
She does come with shooting questions, and it's fair to be skeptical that her 2025-26 shooting leap is fully real. Still, the way she processes the game, defends and rebounds fits perfectly within Indiana's system.
She can slot into backup units next to Ty Harris or play alongside Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell to maximize what they do so well as off-ball shooters and cutters.
Indiana also addressed frontcourt depth with Pissott, a 6'4" stretch 4 who shoots over 40 percent from three. Timmons is a small, score-first guard who also converted on 39.4 percent of her threes.
Las Vegas Aces
7 of 16
29. Janiah Barker, Tennessee, PF: A
44. Jordan Obi, Kentucky, SF: C
For the first time in years, Las Vegas took a swing on a high-upside prospect in the draft.
At 6'4" with serious athletic juice, ball skills and shot creation, Barker was once viewed as a potential lottery pick but slid all the way to No. 29 after minimal development in college. There are real concerns about her feel for the game and body language.
Barker may never put it together, but if she's going to unlock that potential, there's not a better situation than under Becky Hammon and alongside A'ja Wilson in Las Vegas. She also has a realistic pathway to making the Aces' final roster.
With Obi, she brings energy and rebounding, but at 6'1" without a jumper, she's likely too limited to make the roster.
Los Angeles Sparks
8 of 16
20. Ta'Niya Latson, South Carolina, SG: A+
24. Chance Gray, Ohio State, SG: C+
35. Amelia Hassett, Kentucky, PF: C+
After leading the country in scoring as a junior at Florida State, Latson slid all the way to Los Angeles at No. 20, and the Sparks simply couldn't pass on that level of talent.
At 5'8", Latson drops because she's a small scoring guard who often turns down threes and relies heavily on getting to the rim. She doesn't have an efficient mid-range game or floater, either. That's a reasonable case for her falling out of the top 10, but all the way to No. 20 feels steep. Latson's ability to draw fouls, push in transition and her defensive improvements make her a home run for Los Angeles in the second round.
Gray is another scoring guard who climbs after finishing her senior season strong. Hassett is a 6'4" forward who shot 36.1 percent from three on more than seven attempts per game. Both are at least worth a look in training camp as shooters.
Minnesota Lynx
9 of 16
2. Olivia Miles, TCU, PG: A
45. Lani White, Utah, SG: B
The last time Minnesota's offense was orchestrated by a passer like Olivia Miles, it won four championships over an eight-year span. She'll now have the chance to develop under head coach Cheryl Reeve and assistant Lindsay Whalen, and there's no better staff to get her to buy-in on defense.
A lineup featuring Miles, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier (whenever she returns from injury) is as dynamic as it gets. Miles makes everyone around her better, and within this system her ceiling is as high as anyone's in the sport.
This year's Ms. Irrelevant, White, was a player we ranked significantly higher than No. 45. She's a premier movement shooter with a lightning-quick release and solid athleticism, but the big question remains whether she can hold up on defense.
New York Liberty
10 of 16
41. Manuela Puoch, Australia, PF: D
Puoch was a draft-and-stash pick for New York at the end of the third round. The Australian forward is physical with a strong feel for the game, but she's undersized and well below WNBA standards athletically.
Phoenix Mercury
11 of 16
27. Ines Pitarch-Granel, France, SG: B-
42. Eszter Ratkai, Hungary, G: C
The Phoenix Mercury continue to lean heavily into international scouting, selecting France's Pitarch-Granel and Hungary's Ratkai.
Pitarch-Granel is the stronger prospect of the two as a 6'0" athletic, defense-first wing who played meaningful EuroLeague minutes for Bourges as a teenager this season. If she develops as a shooter and finisher, there's a chance she could come over at some point.
Portland Fire
12 of 16
7. Iyana Martín Carrión, Spain, PG: C-
17. Frieda Bühner, Germany, PF: B+
33. Serah Williams, UConn, C: B-
Portland also went international with its first two picks, selecting Spain's Martín and Germany's Bühner.
Martín at No. 7 feels a bit high with Flau'jae Johnson and Angloma still on the board. She's an impressive pick-and-roll playmaker, but her lack of size, struggles using her right hand and defensive limitations give her a lower floor and ceiling compared to other players available.
Bühner is strong value in the second round. She's an excellent finisher, off-ball mover and a smart defender already producing at the professional level in Spain, where she's averaging 16.8 points. The swing skill will be her ability to consistently hit threes.
Williams' senior season at UConn didn't go as planned. Still, it's important not to overlook her overall three-year production at Wisconsin and her defensive tools.
Seattle Storm
13 of 16
3. Awa Fam Thiam, Spain, C: A+
8. Flau'jae Johnson, LSU, SG: A+
14. Taina Mair, Duke, PG: C-
39. Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State, PF: B-
There's no question about it: Seattle was the biggest winner of the draft, landing Fam at No. 3 and acquiring Johnson in a trade for low cost.
Fam brings the highest upside in the class, with a rare blend of size, skill, athleticism and processing speed at just 19 years old. Seattle can now build its new future around the youngest frontcourt in WNBA history, and that's terrifying for the rest of the league.
The trade for Johnson is a clear win. Even without major senior-year development, her defensive impact, shooting and transition ability make her worth betting on.
Taking Mair at No. 14 was one of the biggest surprises of the night. It feels like it's overindexing on her ACC tournament and March Madness performance rather than the full body of work. Players like Kneepkens or Latson would have made more sense in this spot.
VanSlooten is another talented forward who hasn't fully put it together yet. She's a fluid 6'3" athlete with some passing ability, but the production hasn't consistently matched the tools.
Toronto Tempo
14 of 16
6. Kiki Rice, UCLA, PG: A+
22. Teonni Key, Kentucky, PF: B
26. Saffron Shiels, Australia, SF: B-
36. Charlise Dunn, Davidson, SF: C-
Toronto couldn't have done much better than selecting Rice at No. 6. She's strong, athletic, intelligent, defends and continues to improve across every area of her game.
That game is built around an explosive downhill attacking style, and her low center of gravity allows her to change directions quickly and navigate tight spaces. She's also a standout on-ball defender with the size, strength and coordination to guard both backcourt positions.
Her versatility on both ends should allow Rice to earn immediate minutes as a rookie. She can slot in alongside Brittney Sykes, Julie Allemand or Marina Mabrey at either guard spot.
Key in the mid-second round is tremendous value, too. At 6'5", she's 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.
Shiels hasn't played in nearly a year after ankle surgery last May. The last time she was on the floor, she showed flashes as an intriguing big, playmaking wing. As a second-round flier, it makes sense for Toronto.
Dunn, who played at Davidson, is also a draft-and-stash prospect. The Australian guard is a high-volume three-point shooter with some size, but it was still a bit surprising to see her get drafted.
Washington Mystics
15 of 16
4. Lauren Betts, UCLA, C: A-
9. Angela Dugalić, UCLA, PF: D
11. Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss, SF: C
19. Cassandre Prosper, Notre Dame, SG: B+
30. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor, PF: C-
34. Rori Harmon, Texas, PG: C
The Washington Mystics made more picks than any other team, and their overall approach was, frankly, a bit confusing.
Starting with Betts, this is an excellent selection. Even after signing Shakira Austin to a three-year deal, Washington isn't in a position to prioritize fit over talent, and Betts brings enough defensive upside that the Mystics simply couldn't pass on.
From there, though, you would've expected a team that ranked last in three-point attempt rate in 2025 to prioritize shooting around Betts and its young core. Instead, the Mystics went in the opposite direction. The best shooter they added was Dugalic, who hit just 32.6 percent from three and even selecting her felt rich at her draft slot.
At 6'4", she's a solid athlete who rebounds and defends, but it's hard to buy into that archetype without a reliable jumper, and she's already 24 years old.
With McMahon, her strength and athleticism is outstanding, but Washington's lack of spacing makes it difficult to see how that works.
The best value pick was Cassandre Prosper, the youngest college prospect in WNBA history at 20 years 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.
Littlepage-Buggs is an excellent rebounder and versatile defender, and Harmon brings strong point-of-attack defense as well. But the question remains: why not take any players who can shoot?
Full Order
16 of 16
1. Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings: B
2. Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx: A
3. Awa Fam Thiam, Seattle Storm: A+
4. Lauren Betts, Washington Mystics: A-
5. Gabriela Jaquez, Chicago Sky: D
6. Kiki Rice, Toronto Tempo: A+
7. Iyana Martín Carrión, Portland Fire: C-
8. Flau'jae Johnson, Seattle Storm: A+
9. Angela Dugalić, Washington Mystics: D
10. Raven Johnson, Indiana Fever: B
11. Cotie McMahon, Washington Mystics: C
12. Nell Angloma, Connecticut Sun: A
13. Madina Okot, Atlanta Dream: B+
14. Taina Mair, Seattle Storm: C-
15. Gianna Kneepkens, Connecticut Sun: A+
16. Marta Suárez, Golden State Valkyries: D
17. Frieda Bühner, Portland Fire: B+
18. Charlisse Leger-Walker, Connecticut Sun: B+
19. Cassandre Prosper, Washington Mystics: B+
20. Ta'Niya Latson, Los Angeles Sparks: A+
21. Latasha Lattimore, Chicago Sky: C+
22. Teonni Key, Toronto Tempo: B
23. Ashlon Jackson, Golden State Valkyries: C
24. Chance Gray, Los Angeles Sparks: C+
25. Justine Pissott, Indiana Fever: B-
26. Saffron Shiels, Toronto Tempo: B-
27. Ines Pitarch-Granel, Phoenix Mercury: B-
28. Indya Nivar, Atlanta Dream: C-
29. Janiah Barker, Las Vegas Aces: A
30. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Washington Mystics: C-
31. Zee Spearman, Dallas Wings: D
32. Tonie Morgan, Chicago Sky: B
33. Serah Williams, Connecticut Sun: B-
34. Rori Harmon, Washington Mystics: C
35. Amelia Hassett, Los Angeles Sparks: C+
36. Charlise Dunn, Toronto Tempo: C-
37. Taylor Bigby, Portland Fire: B-
38. Kokoro Tanaka, Golden State Valkyries: C+
39. Grace VanSlooten, Seattle Storm: B-
40. Jessica Timmons, Indiana Fever: C+
41. Manuela Puoch, New York Liberty: C-
42. Eszter Ratkai, Phoenix Mercury: C
43. Kejia Ran, Atlanta Dream: B-
44. Jordan Obi, Las Vegas Aces: C
45. Lani White, Minnesota Lynx: B
.jpg?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "NFL Strength of Schedules 👀")
