These are the top prospects to know for the 2026 WNBA Draft

With the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Dallas Wings select..

It actually might not be so straightforward.

With the draft set for Monday evening, the Wings will be picking first overall for the second straight year. Last season, UConn star Paige Bueckers lessened the stress.

But this time, there’s not necessarily a clear-cut consensus on who should go first, with a handful of players — all varying in profiles — having a solid chance.

Let’s dive into some of the top prospects to know, in no particular order, in what should be an entertaining class:

Azzi Fudd, G, UConn

Like Bueckers last year, fellow Huskies guard Azzi Fudd is in the No. 1 conversation a season later. But whereas Bueckers’ talent was undeniable, Fudd still has more question marks to work on. On one hand, the 5-foot-11 guard is an extremely efficient shooter. She posted a college-best 17.3 points and 3.1 assists on a 48/45/96 shooting split rounded up. Her shooting is her key selling point.

But on the other hand, she’s still a limited playmaker at the moment and isn’t as efficient in creating her own shot, which led to the Huskies’ Final Four loss in the recent NCAA Tournament. Her profile could be balanced with a guard like Bueckers (as we’ve seen before), but would the Wings be better off pairing their franchise cornerstone with an up-and-coming center? Fudd should be a top-five pick, but her No. 1 status has been a central debate.

Lauren Betts, C, UCLA

As far as the “it factor” is concerned, Lauren Betts just has it. The 6-foot-7 center is a significant reason to UCLA’s rise in women’s basketball, ending in their first ever national championship triumph earlier this month.

Betts has been extremely durable throughout her four years (three as a Bruin), where she most recently recorded 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.0 steals on 58% field-goal shooting and 68.6% from the foul line. Some of her numbers decreased from a stellar junior campaign, but as far as traditional center profiles go, there hasn’t been one in a while that can produce the numbers Betts has. That might take time to translate to the majors, but with patience there’s a lot to like.

Awa Fam, C, Spain

In terms of pure potential, the most popular name did not compete in March Madness. Awa Fam is a 6-foot-6 Spanish center who currently plays for Valencia Basket in Europe. Whereas most of the college basketball products are rising from their early 20s, Fam will turn 20 in June.

Her numbers across league play and international competitions are more scattered, but she could also fit the bill as a traditional center who is looking to add a sustainable 3-point shot to her arsenal, too. How long it takes for her to translate is unclear, but a team that can afford some years of development may land a gem.

Olivia Miles, G, TCU

A year after being a high-end pick, guard Olivia Miles made a stunning decision to return to college and swap Notre Dame for TCU. It’s a gamble that has worked out statistically, though how she lands is up in the air.

The 5-foot-10 guard averaged a personal college-best 19.6 points to go with 7.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals on a 48/35/84 shooting split rounded up. There’s not much she can’t do, especially on the offensive end, and she can be a team’s primary ball-handlers from day one. Her game should translate quicker than others, but that’ll also depend on her environment.

Flau’jae Johnson, G/F, LSU

The ‘W is filled with charismatic personalities that add flavor to the on-court product. So it’s about time that Flau’jae Johnson joins in on the action. The 5-foot-10 LSU Tiger can play multiple positions despite maybe being a tad undersized.

This past season, she averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks on a 47/39/69 shooting split rounded up. Her free-throw mark was 81% as a junior on more volume, but her college rate of 74.8% across four seasons may be more accurate. She should thrive as a sixth woman at first before aiming to take the next step.

Gabriela Jaquez, G/F, UCLA

Speaking of wing hybrids who may start off as a spark plug off the bench before taking a leap, Gabriela Jaquez enters the frame. The Bruins rightfully have several top prospects in this draft, with the 6-foot Jaquez coming in next after Betts.

She’s coming off a personal best 13.5 points per game to go with 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals on a 54/39/86 shooting split. She’s most known for her hot streak in the championship game against South Carolina, which helped create a bigger gap in the blowout. She’s an intelligent team player, an efficient scorer and can plug in multiple gaps, with potential to add more on the ball.

Kiki Rice, G, UCLA

Following Betts and Jaquez is Kiki Rice, a 5-foot-11 guard who spent all four years as a Bruin. The 2025-26 season saw Betts post a personal best 14.9 points to go with 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals on a healthy 49/39/90 shooting split, very close to the coveted 50/40/90 mark.

Rice could push to be a top-five pick depending on how guards are selected, especially as she can push Fudd for being the second-best guard in the class after Miles, at least in terms of running the point. Her shooting numbers have generally increased each passing season, along with other numbers, that provide more optimism on her ceiling.

Honorable mentions

Gianna Kneepkens, G/F, UCLA — Spent four years at Utah before joining UCLA, where she was an efficient 2/3 plug-and-play player with extremely efficient shooting numbers.

Ta’Niya Latson, G, South Carolina: Averaged 21-plus points in each of her first three seasons before it dropped to just 14.1 as a senior. Not as efficient from deep as some others, but still worth a shot later in the first round.

Madina Okot, C, South Carolina: Averaged a double-double as a 6-foot-6 center and can fill in as traditional center depth, also looking to add a 3-point game.

Cotie McMahon, F, Ole Miss: Spent three years at Ohio State before joining Ole Miss. Capable all-around forward who can pass and move at 6-feet, though needs to improve her 28.6% 3-point clip (3.5 attempts).

UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez, fresh off helping the Bruins win the Big Ten tournament title, is embracing her final March Madness run with a tight-knit team and family inspiration from her brother Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.