The WNBA Draft is equal parts certainty and suspense. Front offices have spent months scouting, debating and recalibrating. But when the commissioner steps to the podium, one question still looms: who will hear their name called first?
University of Connecticut guard and Arlington, Virginia native Azzi Fudd led the draft No. 1 overall and was picked by the Dallas Wings in the first round.
Fudd was named the Most Outstanding Player at last year’s 2025 Final Four, where UConn defeated South Carolina, as the Huskies won their 12th national title. She rejoins former Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers — picked No. 1 overall in 2025 — in Texas.
Fudd walks away with a $500,000 paycheck, thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement that will run through 2032.
As teams look to reshape their futures, draft night offers the league’s clearest glimpse at which players are poised to make the leap from college to pro — and which franchises believe they’ve found their next cornerstone.
The Washington Mystics have three picks in the first round, two in the second round, and one in the third round.
Fourth overall pick by the Mystics was center Lauren Betts from University of California, Los Angeles. The senior from Aurora, Colorado, is a solid outside shooter, hitting over 60% from the field during last year’s NCAA tournament. Betts, likely one of the youngest to enter the league, will reunite will her college coach, Michaela Onyenwere, who signed a multiyear deal with the Mystics over the weekend.
Montgomery County, Maryland-native Kiki Rice leaves UCLA and the West Coast to head to the Toronto Tempo as the No. 6 pick. The 5-foot 11-inch point guard is a national champion and an elite defender with quick hands.
Washington continued to pad its younger roster with No. 9 pick Angela Dugalić. The Serbian-American forward was the fourth Bruin taken from UCLA coach Cori Close on Monday night.
Dugalić reunites with Betts in D.C., adding some solid defense and height to the team at 6-foot 4-inches tall.
The Indiana Fever take USC Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson as the No. 10 pick.
The Mystics used their third and final pick in the first round on Ole Miss forward Cotie McMahon as the No. 11 pick. The Ohio native achieved some career highs in points and assists last year and was named the SEC Newcomer of the Year.
As No. 12, the Connecticut Sun took 19-year-old French forward Nell Angloma. The Atlanta Dream picked South Carolina’s Madina Okot as No. 13. The Seattle Storm selected Taina Mair from Duke as No. 14.
To close out the first round, the Connecticut Sun picked Gianna Kneepkens, a 23-year-old guard out of UCLA. That makes her the fifth player drafted from the California university.
In the second round, the Mystics tapped Notre Dame’s Cassandre Prosper for the No. 2 pick. The 20-year-old Montreal native was named the ACC’s most improved player last year and represented Team Canada in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
To close out the second round, Washington picked Darianna Littlepage-Buggs out of Baylor. The 6-foot 1-inch guard/forward averaged a 10.6 points and 10.1 rebounds while starting all 34 games with the Bears.
With the No. 34 pick, the Mystics tapped University of Texas’ Rori Harmon. The 23-year-old guard is only 5-foot 6-inches tall, but ended her college career as one of the most decorated players in the NCAA.
WTOP’s Steve Dresner and Ciara Wells contributed to this report.
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