The next class of WNBA stars have arrived.
The 2026 WNBA Draft was Monday, and it featured a little bit of everything. From an historic showing by the reigning NCAA champion UCLA Bruins to a stunning trade, here are our winners and losers.
Winner: Azzi Fudd
Fudd became the first player to reap the rewards of the WNBA’s transformative collective bargaining agreement after being selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings. Per Spotrac, the 2025-26 Associated Press first-team All-American is set to earn $500,000 in the first year of her deal. Last year’s No. 1 pick, teammate Paige Bueckers, made $78,831 on the first year of her contract, which runs through 2028 and is worth $348,198 in total.
Loser: Going against the Washington Mystics in the front court
The Mystics have overwhelming size in the front court after nabbing center Lauren Betts (6-foot-7) at No. 4 overall and her Bruins teammate Angela Dugalic (6-foot-4) five picks later at No. 9. In 2025-26, Betts averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, was selected an AP first-team All-American for the second consecutive season and led the Bruins to their first women’s basketball national championship. Largely coming off the bench, Dugalic averaged nine points and 5.6 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game.
The duo join a front court that already has impressive size even after losing 12-year veteran center Stefanie Dolson to the Seattle Storm in free agency. Washington recently matched 6-foot-5 forward Shakira Austin’s offer sheet with the Toronto Tempo, keeping her in the nation’s capital. The Mystics also have second-year forward Kiki Iriafen (6-foot-3).
According to Her Hoop Stats data, opponents shot a league-high 67.3 percent from the restricted area against Washington last season. By emphasizing adding size and depth to the interior, the Mystics could be more difficult to attack in the middle in 2026.
For a brief moment in time, the Valkyries were one of the night’s biggest winners after selecting former LSU Tigers star guard Flau’jae Johnson at No. 8 overall. As ESPN WNBA reporter Alexa Philippou noted online, she gave the 2025 expansion club “its franchise face” as one of 2026’s more recognizable incoming rookies.