WNBA mock draft 2026: Azzi Fudd returns to projected No. 1

WNBA draft day is right here, and the league’s latest beginners are about to determine the place they’re decided on. Earlier than the draft starts Monday evening (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in New York, ESPN takes one closing take a look at how the 45 selections would possibly shake out.

Our ultimate projection comes with any other trade on the most sensible: UConn capturing guard Azzi Fudd returns because the projected No. 1 pick out for the Dallas Wings, who’ve been busy all over loose company this previous week. The Wings are bringing again veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale, the No. 5 pick out in 2019 who has spent her profession with Dallas. In addition they have 2025 Rookie of the 12 months Paige Bueckers returning at guard. They added veteran loose brokers Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, who had been each with the Minnesota Lynx closing yr.

With Fudd being an elite 3-point shooter, plus her enlargement as a defender, she will have to have compatibility smartly with the Wings. The opposite most sensible guard within the draft, TCU‘s Olivia Miles, used to be the No. 1 pick out in closing week’s mock, however she is projected to be decided on very early.

Historical past may be made Monday: Nationwide champion UCLA may just turn out to be the primary staff to have a document six gamers drafted, as projected.

UConn | capturing guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Fudd used to be the Maximum Remarkable Participant on the 2025 Ultimate 4, however she did not have as sturdy an NCAA match this season. After a career-high 34 issues, together with 8 3-pointers, in the second one around, Fudd totaled simply 31 issues on 12-of-39 capturing (30.8%) in her closing 3 video games. She used to be 3-of-15 for 8 issues within the Huskies’ nationwide semifinal loss to South Carolina. Nonetheless, she shot 42.2% from 3-point differ in her faculty profession. Together with her fast free up and footwork, her capturing will have to proceed to be necessary on the subsequent stage.

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TCU | level guard | 5-foot-10 | senior

Miles averaged a career-best 19.6 issues this season because the Horned Frogs went 32-6 and received the Large 12 regular-season identify. She had six triple-doubles this season, together with one within the first around of the NCAA match. Her court docket imaginative and prescient is superb. She made 73 3-pointers this season at TCU and likewise closing season at Notre Dame. The Lynx have misplaced some key gamers in loose company and may just have the benefit of a tender level guard who can develop in Minnesota. Miles must support her protection, however she’s already offensively dynamic.

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Spain | middle | 6-foot-4

Fam, who’s averaging 9.2 issues and 5.0 rebounds for Valencia in Spain, is solely 19 and has a ton of possible. The Typhoon, who misplaced veteran ahead Nneka Ogwumike to Los Angeles in loose company, most definitely may just have the benefit of selecting up any other younger submit participant. Taking into account how smartly UCLA’s Lauren Betts performed her senior season, she may well be regarded as for this spot, too.

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UCLA | middle | 6-foot-7 | senior

Betts helped her draft inventory all over the NCAA match, a pleasing aspect get advantages to profitable the nationwide championship. She shot no less than 60% from the sector in all six NCAA match video games, completing with a 68.8 box objective share. She averaged 21 issues, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a pair of.8 blocks and used to be named the match’s Maximum Remarkable Participant. Betts most likely preferrred suits the Mystics’ wishes.

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France | small ahead | 5-foot-11

Angloma is averaging 15.5 issues and 5.6 rebounds for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA) in France’s premiere league, BWL. She does not flip 20 till June and most likely can play small ahead or capturing guard within the WNBA. This previous week, the Sky parted with ahead Angel Reese and taken in ahead Rickea Jackson in separate trades.

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LSU | capturing guard | 5-foot-10 | senior

Johnson had ups and downs this season, however she has numerous talent and would possibly want to play in opposition to execs to start out her subsequent level of construction. She averaged 19.0 issues and shot 52.4% within the Tigers’ 3 NCAA match video games. This season, she shot a career-best 39.3% from in the back of the arc (48 of 122) and tied a profession excessive with 89 assists. Her power and protection are two different sturdy issues for the growth franchise.

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South Carolina | level guard | 5-foot-9 | senior

It sounds as if Johnson helped her draft inventory masses as a senior after appearing management, adulthood and resilience. She displayed the ones qualities all through her profession at South Carolina, however they had been key in serving to the Gamecocks succeed in the nationwide championship sport once more and finish UConn’s unbeaten season. Johnson used to be the SEC Defensive Participant of the 12 months. She may be very sturdy and will successfully guard several types of gamers.

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Spain | level guard | 5-foot-8

Martin, who became 20 in January, used to be a part of the Spanish staff that complex to the EuroBasket championship sport closing summer season. In spite of her adolescence, she has numerous revel in taking part in on the skilled stage. She is averaging 14.8 issues and four.2 assists for Perfumerias Avenida in Spain’s LF Endesa. In 2023, she used to be the MVP of the FIBA U19 International Cup. The Valkyries would possibly see her as a cast addition at level guard.

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9. Washington Mystics: Kiki Rice

UCLA | level guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Very similar to her fellow UCLA seniors, Rice stored her preferrred for closing. She averaged 14.9 issues, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals and shot 49% from the sector, 38.5% from past the arc and 90.2% on the foul line this season. All the ones numbers had been profession highs. She additionally averaged 4.6 assists and confirmed such a lot poise in grasp scenarios, together with her 4 loose throws within the ultimate 13 seconds that clinched UCLA’s nationwide semifinal win over Texas. She is from Bethesda, Maryland, and may well be reunited with UCLA teammate Betts within the WNBA.

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South Carolina | middle | 6-foot-6 | senior

Okot averaged 12.8 issues, 10.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks for the nationwide runner-up Gamecocks. South Carolina was hoping she would get another yr of faculty eligibility, however the NCAA denied the request. She performed simply two years within the U.S. faculty device — at Mississippi State in 2024-25 and South Carolina this season — after competing two years in faculty in her local Kenya. She is going to want to be informed extra at the fly within the WNBA however might be any other giant goal for level guard Caitlin Clark.

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Ole Omit | small ahead | 6-foot | senior

McMahon must transition to the fringe within the WNBA and support her 3-point capturing. She has labored on that all over the previous two seasons. This season, after shifting to Ole Omit after 3 years at Ohio State, McMahon averaged a career-high 19.5 issues and had a career-best 36 3-pointers. However she shot 28.6% from in the back of the arc. McMahon’s bodily genre will have to translate smartly within the WNBA.

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UCLA | capturing guard | 6-foot | senior

If somebody noticed handiest Jaquez’s nationwide championship sport efficiency — 21 issues, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and sufficient power to remove darkness from the sector — that might be explanation why to draft her. However she has for the reason that roughly effort for 4 seasons at UCLA. She averaged a career-high 13.5 issues and shot 53.9% from the sector, 39% on 3-pointers and 86% on loose throws — all profession bests. It is going to be an emotional season for the Solar and their lovers, understanding the franchise is transferring to Houston in 2027. However a participant corresponding to Jaquez may just nonetheless turn out to be a fan favourite.

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South Carolina | capturing guard | 5-foot-8 | senior

Latson shifting from Florida State to South Carolina for her senior season labored out smartly. She helped lead the Gamecocks to the nationwide championship sport because of an enormous efficiency — 16 issues and 11 rebounds — in opposition to UConn within the semifinals. She averaged 14.1 issues and three.6 assists this season and confirmed she may just play South Carolina-style protection. The Dream have stated they are going to be drafting much less on “want” and extra on preferrred to be had participant, and Latson suits that definition if she’s nonetheless at the board.

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TCU | small ahead | 6-foot-3 | senior

A local of Oviedo, Spain, Suarez performed two seasons at Tennessee and two at Cal ahead of going to TCU. However what she confirmed in her lone season in Citadel Value, Texas, may well be sufficient to make her a first-round pick out. Suarez averaged 17.1 issues and seven.4 rebounds whilst hitting a team-best 84 3-pointers. Her 33-point, 10-rebound efficiency in TCU’s Candy 16 victory over Virginia used to be her maximum spectacular NCAA match sport. If the Typhoon additionally draft Fam, it may well be excellent for her to have a fellow Spaniard at the staff.

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UCLA | capturing guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Kneepkens’ maximum well known ability is long-range capturing. She spent 4 years (with one harm redshirt season) at Utah ahead of shifting to UCLA as a senior, a call that labored out nice for her and the nationwide champion Bruins. Her scoring moderate dipped, as anticipated, with extra ability round her. However Kneepkens nonetheless shot 42.9% from in the back of the arc (87 of 203). She completed her faculty profession at 43.1% from 3-point differ (335 of 777).

2nd around

16. Seattle Typhoon: Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA, PG

17. Portland Hearth: Angela Dugalic, UCLA, PF

18. Connecticut Solar: Janiah Barker, Tennessee, PF

19. Washington Mystics: Ashlon Jackson, Duke, SG

20. Los Angeles Sparks: Raegan Beers, Oklahoma, C

21. Chicago Sky: Tonie Morgan, Kentucky, PG

22. Toronto Pace: Frieda Bühner, Germany, PF

23. Golden State Valkyries: Yarden Garzon, Maryland, SG

24. Los Angeles Sparks: Justine Pissott, Vanderbilt, SG

25. Indiana Fever: Taina Mair, Duke, PG

26. Toronto Pace: Rori Harmon, Texas, PG

27. Phoenix Mercury: Laila Phelia, Syracuse, SG

28. Atlanta Dream: Maggie Doogan, Richmond, PF

29. Las Vegas Aces: Kierra Wheeler, West Virginia, PF

30. Washington Mystics: Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State, PF

3rd around

31. Dallas Wings: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor, PF

32. Chicago Sky: Cassandre Prosper, Notre Dame, SG

33. Connecticut Solar: Latasha Lattimore, Ole Omit, PF

34. Washington Mystics: Probability Grey, Ohio State, SG

35. Los Angeles Sparks: Kara Dunn, USC, SG

36. Toronto Pace: Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt, PF

37. Portland Hearth: Christeen Iwuala, Ole Omit, PF

38. Golden State Valkyries: Hannah Stuelke, Iowa, PF

39. Seattle Typhoon: Jessica Timmons, Alabama, SG

40. Indiana Fever: Shay Ciezki, Indiana, SG

41. New York Liberty: Mya Perry, Cincinnati, SG

42. Phoenix Mercury: Teonni Key, Kentucky, PF

43. Atlanta Dream: Lani White, Utah, SG

44. Las Vegas Aces: Micah Grey, Oklahoma State, SG

45. Minnesota Lynx: Serah Williams, UConn, C