With the 2026 WNBA season about to kick off in less than a month, the focus is on the upcoming WNBA Draft. The Dallas Wings, having secured the top pick in last season’s draft by selecting Paige Bueckers, are poised to draft first again tonight after winning the draft lottery.
This draft will be notable as it’s the WNBA’s first 45-pick event, coinciding with the league’s expansion to 15 teams.
Both the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will be making their inaugural WNBA Draft selections tonight, having previously completed the Expansion Draft on April 3rd. Each of these teams has built their rosters by selecting 11 players from existing WNBA teams.
Fifteen prospects, including the highly anticipated Azi Fad, have been invited to the draft taking place in New York City.
When is the 2026 WNBA Draft?
The draft is set for tonight, April 13th, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
How to watch the 2026 WNBA Draft for free
If you don’t have cable, there are options to stream the draft without cost. DIRECTV provides a five-day free trial that includes ESPN, which might be the easiest way to catch it live. Once the trial ends, you can access over 90 channels for around $49.99 monthly.
If you’re not looking to commit long-term, the Sling Orange Day Pass gives 24-hour access for $4.99, including ESPN, and there are also weekend and week-long passes available.
Top prospects for WNBA Draft 2026
The roster of 15 invited prospects includes college standouts like Aji Fudd, Lauren Betts from UCLA, and TCU’s Olivia Miles. The full list of participants is as follows:
- Nell Anguloma (France)
- Lauren Betts (UCLA)
- Angela Dugaric (UCLA)
- Our Fam Thiam (Spain)
- Azi Fad (Connecticut)
- Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)
- Fraujei Johnson (LSU)
- Raven Johnson (South Carolina)
- Gianna Neepkens (UCLA)
- Tanya Latson (South Carolina)
- Coty McMahon (Ole Miss)
- Olivia Miles (TCU)
- Madina Okot (South Carolina/Kenya)
- Kiki Rice (UCLA)
- Marta Suarez (Spain)
2026 WNBA Draft Order
The draft will unfold over three rounds, culminating in a total of 45 picks.
First round:
- Dallas Wings
- Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago Sky)
- Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles Sparks)
- Washington Mystics
- Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun)
- Toronto Tempo
- Portland Fire
- Golden State Valkyries
- Washington Mystics (from Seattle Storm)
- Indiana Fever
- Washington Mystics (via New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun)
- Connecticut Sun (Phoenix Mercury via Chicago Sky)
- Atlanta Dream
- Seattle Storm (from Las Vegas Aces)
- Connecticut Sun (Minnesota Lynx via Washington Mystics)
Round 2:
- Seattle Storm
- Portland Fire (from Chicago Sky)
- San, Connecticut
- Washington Mystics
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Chicago Sky (from Portland Fire)
- Toronto Tempo
- Golden State Valkyries
- Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle Storm)
- Indiana Fever
- Toronto Tempo (New York Liberty via Chicago Sky)
- Phoenix Mercury
- Atlanta Dream
- Las Vegas Aces
- Washington Mystics (from Minnesota Lynx)
Round 3:
- Dallas Wings
- Chicago Sky
- San, Connecticut
- Washington Mystics
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Toronto Tempo
- Portland Fire
- Golden State Valkyries
- Seattle Storm
- Indiana Fever
- New York Liberty
- Phoenix Mercury
- Atlanta Dream
- Las Vegas Aces
- Minnesota Lynx
