Whereas the WNBA’s labor negotiations grind on, among the league’s enterprise continues. The 2026 draft lottery will probably be held Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
4 of the league’s 5 head teaching vacancies have been stuffed apart from one: the New York Liberty. The Dallas Wings, who’ve the best odds (44%) of getting the No. 1 decide, employed longtime South Florida coach Jose Fernandez in late October.
His USF program had in depth recruiting contacts in Europe — 12 of the 14 gamers on the Bulls roster for 2024-25 hailed from exterior of the US — and we have tilted our projected high decide in ESPN’s newest WNBA mock draft in that path, too. Middle Awa Fam of Spain strikes as much as No. 1 on this version. After the lottery establishes the top-five order, we’ll replace the mock draft once more Sunday night time.
One of many different most notable adjustments: 4 gamers from No. 3 UCLA are actually projected first-round picks.
Spain | heart | 6-foot-4
Fam’s agent informed ESPN that competing within the WNBA is her “high precedence” for 2026. She at the moment performs for Valencia in Spain and can flip 20 in June. Her potential appears very excessive, and she or he might be one other key constructing block for the Wings so as to add after 2025 No. 1 decide Paige Bueckers was WNBA Rookie of the Yr final season.
UCLA | heart | 6-foot-7 | senior
Betts continues to be within the combine because the No. 1 decide, which is the place we had her in our first 2026 mock draft final month. A primary-team All-American final season, she at the moment is averaging 15.2 factors, 7.8 rebounds and a couple of.2 blocks whereas taking pictures 59.6% from the sphere for the No. 3 Bruins.
TCU | level guard | 5-foot-10 | senior
Miles, a switch from Notre Dame taking part in her remaining school season at TCU, has been simply what the No. 10 Horned Frogs wanted. She is averaging 17.6 factors, 6.4 rebounds and seven.6 assists and seems to be the highest level guard decide amongst school seniors.
UConn | taking pictures guard | 5-foot-11 | senior
Final season, Fudd averaged 13.6 factors and shot 43.6% from past the arc for the nationwide champions. This season for the No. 1 Huskies, she is averaging 17.8 factors and 4.5 assists whereas taking pictures 45.2% from 3-point vary. Along with her elite taking pictures, Fudd might go larger.
LSU | taking pictures guard | 5-foot-10 | senior
The guard-heavy Tigers will showcase Johnson’s skill to run the courtroom this season. She is averaging 17.3 factors, 4.0 rebounds and three.7 assists for No. 5 LSU. The Tigers’ comfortable nonconference schedule hasn’t challenged them, however Johnson already has proved herself in three years of SEC play.
South Carolina | taking pictures guard | 5-foot-8 | senior
The WNBA hasn’t stated in what order the 2 growth groups will decide; for now we now have the Tempo right here and the Portland Hearth at No. 7. Latson led Division I in scoring at 25.2 PPG final season with Florida State. Now in a extra balanced offense with No. 2 South Carolina, she is averaging 17.0 factors, 4.4 rebounds and three.4 assists. Her 44.4% taking pictures from 3-point vary is from too small a pattern measurement (4-of-9) to evaluate it but, however that will be a giant step if she maintains it.
Ole Miss | small ahead | 6-foot | senior
After three years at Ohio State, the place her 16.5 PPG was a profession excessive final season, she is now with the No. 13 Rebels and averaging 17.5 factors and 6.5 rebounds. McMahon may help herself by displaying defensive enchancment, and Ole Miss is an effective place to do this.
UCLA | taking pictures guard | 5-foot-11 | senior
Kneepkens’ best ability is stretching defenses along with her 3-point taking pictures. She is at the moment at a career-low 34.5% from past the arc, however her historical past (taking part in beforehand at Utah) suggests that can go up. She is averaging 14.0 factors, 4.0 rebounds and three.4 assists.
UConn | energy ahead | 6-foot-4 | senior
Williams went from being the star on a 13-17 staff (19.2 PPG and 9.8 RPG for Wisconsin final season) to ending her profession with the talent-rich No. 1 Huskies. Her stats will drop, however her draft inventory will rise with a program that commonly places gamers into the WNBA. She is averaging 8.8 factors and 4.0 rebounds for UConn.
South Carolina | heart | 6-foot-6 | senior
Okot, who’s from Kenya, transferred to spend her remaining season with the Gamecocks, and has slot in nicely. She leads South Carolina in rebounding (10.6) and blocks (2.0) whereas averaging 13.2 factors. She is a extra of a standard heart, however there’s nonetheless a spot for these gamers within the WNBA, particularly in the event that they defend nicely.
UCLA | taking pictures guard | 6-foot | senior
Jaquez is off to a powerful begin for the Bruins, averaging a team-high 15.6 factors plus 7.8 rebounds (tied with Betts for the staff lead) and a couple of.4 assists whereas taking pictures 47.4% from past the arc. Jaquez turned a full-time starter for UCLA final season and will assist her draft place if she continues her 3-point taking pictures enchancment.
Spain | level guard | 5-foot-8
In April, she was named Younger Participant of the Yr for her EuroLeague debut season with Perfumerias Avenida. Fam’s teammate on the Spanish nationwide staff, Martin Carrion additionally helped that squad advance to the EuroBasket championship recreation this summer season. She turns 20 in January.
Tennessee | energy ahead | 6-foot-4 | senior
Barker beforehand performed for Texas A&M and UCLA, and can end her school profession at No. 15 Tennessee. Her ability set at her measurement has lengthy WNBA evaluators, however she must present consistency by this season. She is averaging 14.4 factors and 6.2 rebounds for the Woman Vols.
14. Seattle Storm: Kiki Rice
UCLA | level guard | 5-foot-11 | senior
Pretty much as good because the Bruins had been final season in reaching the Last 4, they might be higher this season. Rice is averaging 13.4 factors, 7.0 rebounds and three.4 assists. Some enchancment in 3-point taking pictures — she’s at the moment at 30.8% — will assist. Final season, she shot a career-best 36.5% from past the arc.
15. Connecticut Solar: Nell Angloma
France | small ahead | 5-foot-11
Solar coach Rachid Meziane of France is, after all, acquainted with Angloma, who performs for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA). Angloma averaged 17.0 factors and 5.5 rebounds for France within the U19 Ladies’s World Cup this summer season. She turns 20 in June.
