2026 WNBA Draft Lottery Results
The WNBA Draft lottery took place recently, determining the order for the first five selections in the 2026 draft. For a second consecutive year, the Dallas Wings will have the top pick, opening up an exciting range of talent. Following them are the Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, and Chicago teams.
Interestingly, Washington has secured the No. 4 pick for the second straight year. In addition to that, they’ve also obtained the ninth and eleventh picks overall.
During the 2025 draft, the Mystics made some noteworthy selections, picking Sonia Citron third, Kiki Iliafen fourth, and Georgia Amur sixth. They also added Lucy Olsen with the 11th pick in the second round, and despite some roster congestion—especially with Amour sidelined due to a torn ACL—they still have three first-round picks. To address their crowded lineup, the Mystics have opted to trade Aaliyah Edwards, who was a 2024 first-round pick at No. 6, to the Connecticut Sun.
The young trio of Citron, Iliafen, and Amour shows significant promise as a foundational core. It’s rather fortunate for the Mystics, considering they’re the only players secured on the roster through 2026. With around 80% of the league entering free agency this offseason, and an expansion draft on the horizon that includes Toronto and Portland, many teams seem unprepared for the upcoming season.
As for how many players can be protected during the expansion draft, the details remain unclear. However, it’s likely that the trio of Citron, Iliafen, and Amour will be safe. Last year, teams were allowed to protect six players from the previous expansion draft, and even if that number is reduced to three, those three are strong candidates for protection.
Despite having these promising players returning, alongside new acquisitions from free agency, the Mystics might face challenges with roster management. Currently, each team is limited to 12 players. If you account for Citron, Iliafen, Amour, and Olsen, who is still a rookie-scale player, plus the three first-round picks, they’re already at seven players. Moreover, Washington holds additional picks at 19th, 30th, and 34th in the later draft rounds. As of now, training camp has ten players, even before free agency gets underway.
The arrival of two expansion teams this season adds another layer of significance to the draft. First-round picks will be particularly sought after as rosters are set to expand, while fresh talent will emerge from college this spring.
The Mystics are positioned well to leverage the No. 9 and No. 11 picks to obtain experienced players from the trade market. Pairing a veteran with their promising young talent could greatly enhance the team’s growth.
Maintaining all six draft picks in 2026 could make training camp quite competitive. However, roster space is tight, and many drafted players may ultimately end up on waivers. It would be advantageous for Washington to capitalize on the value of their picks before teams in need of younger players claim them.
Yet, two important factors need addressing first. The WNBA must finalize a new collective bargaining agreement, which will clarify new draft and free-agent regulations. Following that, teams should wait for free agency to settle before making any significant decisions regarding draft picks. Sometimes, it’s best to assess your situation and the available players before rushing into trades.
Overall, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that the Mystics will head into the 2026 draft with all six picks, so their activities this offseason warrant close attention.
