Dallas Scores No. 1 Pick Again as Wide-Open 2026 WNBA Draft Takes Shape

The Dallas Wings just snagged the No. 1 pick for the second straight year, setting the stage for a 2026 WNBA Draft with no true standout favorite at the top. Unlike recent years with obvious choices like Caitlin Clark or Paige Bueckers, this class is wide open — which makes things a lot more interesting.

The lottery pool included Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington and Connecticut, though several teams were picking with selections acquired through trades. Minnesota, for example, landed Chicago’s pick and ended up with the second overall selection, giving a powerhouse squad a premium spot in the draft.

A few top names generating buzz:

• Lauren Betts (UCLA) – A 6'7” interior force with polished footwork and great passing instincts.

• Azzi Fudd (UConn) – One of college basketball’s purest shooters, finally healthy and showing it.

• Olivia Miles (TCU) – Elite vision, improved shooting, and thriving in a pro-style pick-and-roll system.

• Awa Fam (Spain) – A 19-year-old international standout already playing pro ball since age 15.

While the order is set — Dallas, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, Chicago — expansion teams Portland and Toronto are still awaiting placement, depending on the league's ongoing CBA negotiations with the WNBPA.

What makes this year especially fun is how team needs and free-agency shakeups will decide the true No. 1. Betts’ size is rare in the league, Fudd brings elite shooting, and Fam offers long-term upside — so it's wide open heading into April 13 in New York.

Why Minnesota Has a Lottery Pick

The Lynx, despite being one of the league’s top contenders, lucked into a prime draft slot after a series of trades with Chicago. Those deals involved pick swaps, Sika Koné, Anastasiia Kosu, and a flurry of movement leading up to the 2024 and 2025 drafts. Chicago’s turbulent season — and tension with Angel Reese — only made that pick more valuable for Minnesota.

Quick look at how the lottery worked

• Five-team lottery for the first time since 2010

• Dallas had the best odds (42 out of 1,000)

• Minnesota had 261 chances, thanks to Chicago’s pick

• Seattle followed with 167, then Washington with 97, and Chicago with 55

• Four-ball draw creates a combination that determines each pick

Projected 2026 WNBA Draft Order

1. Dallas

2. Minnesota

3. Seattle

4. Washington

5. Chicago
   6–7. Portland / Toronto

6. Golden State

7. Washington (via Seattle)

8. Indiana

9. Washington (via New York)

10. Connecticut (via Phoenix)

11. Atlanta

12. Seattle (via Las Vegas)

13. Connecticut (via Minnesota)