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Azzi Fudd Selected First Overall in 2026 WNBA Draft; League Completes Offseason Moves

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WNBA 2026 Offseason Recap: Draft, Trades, and Season Preview

The 2026 WNBA Draft and a subsequent flurry of free agency and trades marked the conclusion of a compressed offseason following the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement. Training camps are scheduled to open ahead of the regular season, which begins on May 8.

The 2026 WNBA Draft

The draft consisted of 45 selections across three rounds and was completed in approximately two hours on Monday, April 14, 2026.

First Round Selections
  1. Dallas Wings: Azzi Fudd (G, UConn)
  2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles (G, TCU)
  3. Seattle Storm: Awa Fam (C, Spain)
  4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (C, UCLA)
  5. Chicago Sky: Gabriela Jaquez (F, UCLA)
  6. Toronto Tempo: Kiki Rice (G, UCLA)
  7. Portland Fire: Iyana Martín Carrión (G, Spain)
  8. Golden State Valkyries: Flau’jae Johnson (G, LSU) — Draft rights traded to Seattle Storm
  9. Washington Mystics: Angela Dugalić (F, UCLA)
  10. Indiana Fever: Raven Johnson (G, South Carolina)
  11. Washington Mystics: Cotie McMahon (F, Mississippi)
  12. Connecticut Sun: Nell Angloma (G, France)
  13. Atlanta Dream: Madina Okot (F, South Carolina)
  14. Seattle Storm: Taina Mair (G, Duke)
  15. Connecticut Sun: Gianna Kneepkens (G, UCLA)
Notable Draft Facts
  • UCLA set a WNBA draft record with five players selected in the first round.
  • Azzi Fudd is the seventh player from the University of Connecticut to be selected first overall.
  • The Washington Mystics made six total selections, the most of any team.
  • A trade was executed during the draft: the Seattle Storm acquired the draft rights to the No. 8 pick, Flau’jae Johnson, from the Golden State Valkyries. In exchange, the Valkyries received the draft rights to Marta Suárez (selected 16th overall) and a 2028 second-round pick.
Financial Context

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the first overall pick will receive a base salary of $500,000. The number of roster spots leaguewide has increased to 210 for the 2026 season.

Key Offseason Transactions

Following the draft, teams finalized rosters through free agency and trades. Below is a consolidation of reported transactions for each team.

  • Atlanta Dream: Acquired forward Angel Reese via trade with the Chicago Sky in exchange for future first-round picks. Added Madina Okot (draft) and Isobel Borlase. Lost Brittney Griner, Nia Coffey, and Maya Caldwell.

  • Chicago Sky: Added Skylar Diggins, Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson, DiJonai Carrington, and Gabriela Jaquez (draft). Acquired guard Jacy Sheldon from the Washington Mystics in a trade involving a 2028 first-round pick. Lost Angel Reese (trade), Ariel Atkins, Michaela Onyenwere, and Rebecca Allen. Re-signed Courtney Vandersloot, Rachel Banham, and Elizabeth Williams.

  • Connecticut Sun: Added Brittney Griner, Kennedy Burke, Nell Angloma (draft), and Gianna Kneepkens (draft). Lost Marina Mabrey (selected by Toronto in expansion draft) and Tina Charles.

  • Dallas Wings: Selected Azzi Fudd first overall. Signed free agents Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard. Added Lindsay Allen and Awak Kuier. Lost Luisa Geiselsöder, Haley Jones, and Ty Harris. Extended the contract of Arike Ogunbowale.

  • Golden State Valkyries: Signed Gabby Williams and Kiah Stokes. Acquired Marta Suárez via trade. Lost Carla Leite (selected by Portland in expansion draft).

  • Indiana Fever: Added Raven Johnson (draft), Monique Billings, and Myisha Hines-Allen. Lost Natasha Howard and Chloe Bibby.

  • Las Vegas Aces: Re-signed Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, and Jackie Young. Added Janiah Barker (draft), Stephanie Talbot, and Brianna Turner. Lost Megan Gustafson, Kiah Stokes, and Aaliyah Nye.

  • Los Angeles Sparks: Signed Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler. Acquired Ariel Atkins via trade from the Washington Mystics. Added Ta’Niya Latson (draft). Lost Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson (traded), and Julie Allemand.

  • Minnesota Lynx: Selected Olivia Miles second overall. Signed Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey. Lost Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, Natisha Hiedeman, Bridget Carlton, DiJonai Carrington, and Maria Kliundikova.

  • New York Liberty: Added Satou Sabally, Rebecca Allen, Raquel Carrera, and Pauline Astier. Lost Kennedy Burke, Nyara Sabally (expansion draft), and Isabelle Harrison. Hired Chris DeMarco as head coach.

  • Phoenix Mercury: Added Valériane Ayayi. Lost Satou Sabally, Kitija Laksa, and Lexi Held.

  • Portland Fire (Expansion): Signed Megan Gustafson. Selected Iyana Martín Carrión in the draft.

  • Seattle Storm: Selected Awa Fam third overall and Taina Mair (draft). Acquired Flau’jae Johnson via trade. Signed Natisha Hiedeman and Stefanie Dolson. Lost Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Skylar Diggins, and Erica Wheeler. Hired Sonia Raman as head coach.

  • Toronto Tempo (Expansion): Signed Brittney Sykes and Isabelle Harrison. Selected Kiki Rice in the draft.

  • Washington Mystics: Selected Lauren Betts (4th overall), Cotie McMahon, and Angela Dugalić in the draft. Added Michaela Onyenwere. Traded Jacy Sheldon to the Chicago Sky. Lost Sug Sutton and Emily Engstler.

Remaining Free Agents

As of this reporting, several notable players were reported as not having signed with new teams, including Natasha Cloud, Tina Charles, Emma Meesseman, Tiffany Hayes, and Temi Fágbénlé.

Season Start

The 2026 WNBA regular season is scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 8. The opening night will feature a triple-header:

  • Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty
  • Toronto Tempo at Washington Mystics
  • Seattle Storm at Golden State Valkyries