selecting Rookie of the Year winner Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall<\/a>. Basketball gods once again granted the Wings good luck with a chance to select another franchise cornerstone: Awa Fam.<\/p>\nFam, a versatile 6-4 big, fits the mold for the changing WNBA landscape. Her positionless play makes her a scoring option around the rim, a threat in pick-and-rolls and a viable passer to set up teammates. Pairing the big with Bueckers could form a 1-2 punch for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n
2. Minnesota Lynx: Azzi Fudd \u2013 UConn\/Guard\/ 5-11<\/p>\n
Several injuries halted Azzi Fudd\u2019s career in high school and college: torn right ACL (twice), torn MCL and less serious right knee and foot injuries. But, the UConn star seemingly kicked the injury bug and looks like a top projected pick draft experts expected her to be.<\/p>\n
Fudd\u2019s elite shooting opens up the floor for any WNBA franchise \u2014 even on a championship-level roster in Minnesota where her minutes may not be maximized right away. Fudd shot 43.6% from deep during the last season\u2019s NCAA title-winning campaign and is up to 50.6% in her final season in Storrs. The elite sharpshooting is too good to pass up on.<\/p>\n
3. Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles \u2013 TCU\/Guard\/5-10<\/p>\n
TCU\u2019s Olivia Miles is on triple-double watch any time she takes the floor for the Horned Frogs. Miles picked up right where she left off from last season\u2019s AP All-American Team selection year: 18.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s the best point guard in the class. She likely would\u2019ve gone top 3 in last year\u2019s WNBA Draft had she decided to declare and not transfer out of Notre Dame. She\u2019s a good fit for new head coach Sonia Raman regardless if the franchise decides to rebuild or remain in contention.<\/p>\n
4.Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts \u2013 UCLA\/Center\/6-7<\/p>\n
Before the 2025-26 collegiate season began, draft experts heralded Betts as the presumptive No. 1 pick. But the rise of Fam and elite guards raise questions where Betts could land. The WNBA\u2019s clear transition to quicker pace, positionless basketball and spread out offenses don\u2019t work in the favor of Betts, who is a traditional center.<\/p>\n
But her talent and defensive ability is too great to pass up on. She\u2019s averaged at least two blocks per game since her sophomore season and nearly notched three per game last season (2.9) with the Bruins. Through 12 games this season, she\u2019s averaging 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.<\/p>\n
\u00a05. Chicago Sky: Flau\u2019jae Johnson \u2013 LSU\/Guard\/5-10<\/p>\n
Much has been said about LSU\u2019s weak non-conference schedule and its inability to provide a real showcase on the growth of Flau\u2019jae Johnson and the Tigers \u2014 which still proves to be true. But enough prior tape is out on Johnson to validate her as a top WNBA draft pick.<\/p>\n
Devotion to defense. Speedy transition buckets. Dribble pull-up jumpshots. That\u2019s what you\u2019re getting with Johnson. And landing her No. 5 overall will pair her with Angel Reese \u2014 the LSU duo won a national championship together back in 2023.<\/p>\n
6. Toronto Tempo: Ta\u2019Niya Latson \u2013 South Carolina\/Guard\/5-8<\/p>\n
The WNBA\u2019s newest expansion teams \u2014 Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire \u2014 will flip a coin to decide which franchise gets the sixth and seventh overall picks in this draft. Both teams, of course, have no current roster.<\/p>\n
In that case, why not go for the best player available in South Carolina\u2019s Ta\u2019Niya Latson. Her scoring ability is undeniable after averaging at least 21 points per game in her first three collegiate seasons at Florida State, including a Division I-leading 25.2 last season. Under head coach Dawn Staley, Latson is still doing damage: 16.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game through 14 games.<\/p>\n
Latson, however, suffered a lower leg injury that could impact her senior season and draft stock.<\/p>\n
7. Portland Fire: Gianna Kneepkens \u2014 UCLA\/Guard\/5-11<\/p>\n
Again, we currently don\u2019t know what the expansion team\u2019s roster will look like. But there\u2019s always a need for shooters.<\/p>\n
UCLA\u2019s Gianna Kneepkens provides that \u2014 averaging no worse than 42.3% from deep in collegiate season she\u2019s shot at least five treys per game. Through 13 games with the Bruins, Kneepkens is averaging 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists with 50.7\/44.2\/91.7 splits.<\/p>\n
8. Golden State Valkyries: Cotie McMahon \u2014 Ole Miss\/Forward\/6-0<\/p>\n
The former Buckeye\u2019s glaring need to improve her defense has been a topic discussed by draft experts. But where she lacks there is made up for on the other side of the court.<\/p>\n
Footwork and strength is pacing McMahon to a career-best 18.6 points per game through 15 appearances. Golden State got a head start in their first-ever WNBA season \u2014 clinching a playoff berth after going 23-21 in the regular season. Adding McMahon will add to the team\u2019s promising progress.<\/p>\n
9. Washington Mystics: Yarden Garzon \u2014 Maryland\/Guard\/6-3<\/p>\n
The Washington Mystics shot the fourth-worst three-point percentage (32.9%) on the fewest attempts (17.1) in 2025. So why not try fixing that with a sharpshooter like Yarden Garzon?<\/p>\n
Before transferring to Maryland, Garzon departed Indiana as the program\u2019s best women\u2019s shooter after logging 45.8%, 42.2% and 40.7% from her freshman to junior seasons, respectively. Her senior season at Maryland has seen her percentage drop under 40% \u2014 39.0% through 14 games \u2014 but her track record shows picking her is worth a shot.<\/p>\n
10. Indiana Fever: Madina Okot \u2014 South Carolina\/Center\/6-6<\/p>\n
Medina Okot \u2014 like Betts \u2014 is another traditional center with enough talent to land in a league shifting away from its previous playstyle.<\/p>\n
And the Indiana Fever could benefit from defensive players to complement its rapid offense. Okot helps provide that defense with her lane-clogging length. She\u2019s 11.2 rebounds per game through 13 appearances. Her 1.5 blocks per games leads the team and ranks among the best in the conference.<\/p>\n
11.Washington Mystics: Gabriela Jaquez \u2014 UCLA\/Guard\/6-0<\/p>\n
The Mystics already have four guards under contract through the 2027 season \u2014 one through 2028 \u2014 and are projected to select Yarden Garzon in this mock draft. But after shooting so poorly last season and with the emphasis of floor spacing becoming more prevalent, UCLA\u2019s Gabriela Jaquez could be a fit.<\/p>\n
Her 6-0 frame allows her to stay on the floor while sharing playing time with ball-dominant guards. And her career-best 52.8% shooting from deep could help improve Washington\u2019s shooting woes.<\/p>\n
12. Connecticut Sun: Iyana Mart\u00edn Carri\u00f3n \u2014 Spain\/Guard\/5-9<\/p>\n
Iyana Mart\u00edn Carri\u00f3n, the 2024-25 Euroleague Young Player of the Year, is a standout in overseas play. The potential of striking gold on an international prospect for the Connecticut Sun would be a major stepping stone for the rebuilding franchise.<\/p>\n
Front offices years ago should\u2019ve taken notice of the Spanish guard, who averaged 16.1 points and 3.3 assists at the U-19 World Cup playing against some of America\u2019s brightest prospects.<\/p>\n
13. Atlanta Dream: Raven Johnson \u2014 South Carolina\/Guard\/5-8<\/p>\n
Most prospects picked at this spot \u2014 by a playoff team like the Dream \u2014 may not see much playing time, assuming most of Atlanta\u2019s roster returns in free agency. But why not take a two-way, Dawn-Staley product?<\/p>\n
Raven Johnson, a two-time NCAA champion and fifth-year season, is a seasoned prospect. The Dream notched a franchise-best regular season record (30-14) after much improvement to the team\u2019s overall defense under first-year head coach Karl Smesko. Johnson\u2019s willingness on defense could find her some minutes in Smesko\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n
14. Seattle Storm: Serah Williams \u2014 UConn\/Forward\/6-4<\/p>\n
Williams put up big numbers in her junior season at Wisconsin (19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game) before transferring to Fudd\u2019s UConn team. Her senior season numbers dropped playing alongside more talented teammates: 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.<\/p>\n
Still, Williams\u2019 footwork and length can\u2019t be ignored. Seattle\u2019s future looks bright with the emergence of French phenom Dominique Malonga, but adding Williams is a plus for the Storm\u2019s frontcourt depth.<\/p>\n
15. Connecticut Sun: Janiah Barker \u2014 Tennessee\/Forward\/6-4<\/p>\n
The talent is there.<\/p>\n
Whether Janiah Baker could remain consistent or not was the question as she entered her final collegiate season with the Lady Vols.<\/p>\n
Through 11 games, she averaging 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals. She may be worth a try as the Sun close out the first round.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New Year is upon us and that means we\u2019re inching closer to the WNBA Draft. In 2026,…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":482233,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[190457,68016,23245,2777,62,67,132,68,232],"class_list":{"0":"post-482232","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-awa-fam","9":"tag-azzi-fudd","10":"tag-lauren-betts","11":"tag-mock-draft","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us","16":"tag-wnba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115813865416669022","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/482233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}