NEW YORK — The 2026 WNBA Draft looked like it would have some surprises.
But as it turned out, Azzi Fudd, who was predicted to be the top pick going into the college season, was indeed, selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings. She will be reunited with UConn teammate Paige Bueckers.
UCLA had a record six players from their national title team drafted including Angela Dugalic, Gabriela Jaquez, Gianna Kneepkens, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kiki Rice. Notre Dame had five players drafted in the top 20 in 2019. The 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks and 2008 Tennessee Volunteers also had five players drafted in a single year, but not in the first round.In all 45 players had their names called. Here are the winners and losers of the WNBA draft:
No one is probably more relieved that the WNBA draft is over than the Wings. Picking Fudd at No. 1 overall has to feel like a sigh of relief and happiness all at the same time. Fudd is a dynamic talent whom Dallas can pair with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to form a three-guard attack that should be hard to defend. The UConn product brings her stellar shooting and off-ball movement to a franchise that has sorely missed that in recent seasons.
The Bruins set a WNBA draft record by having five players selected in the first round, led by Lauren Betts going fourth overall to the Washington Mystics. Beginning with Betts, UCLA had players taken back-to-back-back, with Gabriela Jaquez going fifth to the Chicago Sky and Kiki Rice going sixth to the Toronto Tempo. Angela Dugalić will join Betts in Washington as she was drafted ninth overall, while Gianna Kneepkens was taken 15th overall by the Connecticut Sun. A sixth UCLA player, Charlisse Leger-Walker, was taken in the second round by the Sun. With the transfer portal still open and her top six scorers to replace, UCLA head coach Cori Close can sell to recruits the fact that she can develop WNBA prospects.
