WNBA mock draft 2026: New No. 1 replaces UCLA's Betts at top
Four UCLA players, including Lauren Betts, are now projected first-round picks. But Spain's Awa Fam is No. 1.
www.espn.comHere’s the latest wave of WNBA draft predictions you’re looking for, based on recent coverage up through early May 2026.
Direct answer
- Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts are widely projected to be top picks in most current mock drafts for the 2026 WNBA Draft, with Fudd often penciled in at No. 1 for Dallas and Betts as a strong follow-up in Minnesota or nearby spots, depending on team needs and offseason moves.[1][3][9]
Key takeaways from recent coverage
- Mock drafts remain highly reactionary to offseason rosters and free-agent moves, so top spots can shift if teams reshuffle guards/centers or pursue specific positional fits. Expect late-April to mid-May updates as teams finalize pre-draft rosters.[10][1]
- While Azzi Fudd leads many first-round projections, other prospects like Olivia Miles, Lauren Betts, and Kiki Rice are consistently mentioned in the first round conversations, reflecting their strong collegiate performance and perceived pro potential.[3][9][1]
- Awa Fam and other international or non-U.S. college standouts have begun to surface in some early mock drafts, signaling a broader international-to-WNBA pipeline in 2026.[2]
Helpful context and examples
- If you want a concrete mock draft snapshot from a specific outlet, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated often publish updated versions close to the draft, sometimes with different top selections. For example, one final pre-draft mock widely circulated in 2025 had Paige Bueckers projected high but emphasized team fit considerations; similar logic applies to 2026 projections as teams address guard play and frontcourt depth.[9][2]
- ESPN’s coverage has historically tracked the lottery and coaching changes as factors that influence where players land, and their 2025–2026 previews emphasize the evolving rosters ahead of the draft.[3]
Would you like me to pull the most recent top-10 mock draft from a specific outlet (e.g., ESPN, SI, Bleacher Report) and summarize the exact picks? I can also track changes in top prospects if you’re planning around the draft date. Please tell me which outlet you prefer, and I’ll assemble a concise pick-by-pick summary with dates.[2][9][3]