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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 14: (R-L) Paige Bueckers poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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The Dallas Wings will have the opportunity to select the top women’s basketball talent available in the WNBA Draft for the second consecutive year after winning the No. 1 pick in Sunday’s draft lottery. The franchise drafted guard Paige Bueckers at No. 1 in 2025.
Minnesota, which had the second-most chances with 261, received the No. 2 pick. Seattle will select third, followed by Washington at No. 4 and Chicago at No. 5. This year marked the fifth time in lottery history that results matched the exact order of teams’ odds, with prior instances in 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
Lottery odds were based on combined records from the 2024 and 2025 seasons among non-playoff teams. Dallas, which finished those two seasons with a league-worst 19-65 record, was guaranteed a top-three pick.
The 2026 WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 13 if a CBA is signed on time.
Where Each Lottery Team Is At Ahead of the WNBA Draft
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 14: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky celebrates scoring with teammate Kamilla Cardoso #10 during the first quarter at Wintrust Arena on July 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
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Dallas Wings
With back-to-back No. 1 picks, Dallas has the opportunity to build a team around a generational talent in Bueckers as it looks to bounce back from two consecutive seasons below .300.
“This is an exciting time. I know that fans were disappointed last year with the win-loss record, but a lot of good things happened with our young core. Unfortunately, injuries decimated our team, but it gave even more rookies and young players an opportunity to really learn, baptism by fire,” general manager Curt Miller said. “So I think that’s really going to catapult us into this year now, before we even have free agency, knowing that we have the No. 1 pick.”
With Arike Ogunbowale and Myisha Hines-Allen as free agents and mostly rookies guaranteed on the roster, the franchise may enter full rebuild mode. This time with a little more structure if Miller is able to bring in reliable veterans in free agency.
Minnesota Lynx
Despite strong records in the past two seasons, including finishing first in the regular-season standings in 2025 and making the Finals in 2024, Minnesota earned a lottery pick via trade with the Chicago Sky.
Most of its key pieces, including Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, are unrestricted free agents in 2026, meaning the draft will offer Cheryl Reeve a chance to add a player who can be developed for the future and extend the team’s contender window.
Seattle Storm
This is the second consecutive year Seattle will have a top-three pick after selecting 19-year-old French forward Dominique Malonga in 2025. The franchise has a blank slate ahead, including a new head coach in Sonia Raman, and only one player from its last championship team, Ezi Magbegor, still on the roster.
“We have the opportunity to really add an important part depending on how Sonia pulls her strategy together. It looks like we’ll have a variety of options to pick from. So it’s wonderful being in the lottery just for that reason, and it’ll be fun to work with a new coach to determine what the right combinations of people are,” Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel told Forbes.
It is unclear if the team will pursue a rebuild, which could be an option since three of the only four players under contract have two or fewer years of experience. All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins and Gabby Williams are free agents and not guaranteed to return in 2026.
“I wouldn’t characterize it one way or the other, because, again, we haven’t spent time with Sonia to really understand her vision. I think we have some great parts to build from. I would say we’re going to put a winning team on the court. We have a tradition of that and we love to do that. So I always go there first, we’ll see what happens,” Brummel said.
Washington Mystics
Washington continues a streak of securing multiple draft picks and will add to a solid core of young players: Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin. With Jacy Sheldon, Jade Melbourne and untested Georgia Amoore also on the roster, the opportunities for for a bright future are limitless.
Chicago Sky
There has been no shortage of woes on and off the court for the Chicago Sky, despite recently adding college standouts Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith through the draft. Courtney Vandersloot, the main veteran on the team, suffered a season-ending injury in 2025 and is a free agent, as are Elizabeth Williams, Ariel Atkins and Kia Nurse.
A rocky coach change also affected the team’s credibility, and public statements by Reese granted her a suspension.
Having traded the rights to the second overall pick in 2026, general manager Jeff Pagliocca is now under scrutiny as he tries to build a team capable of returning to the playoffs.
2026 WNBA Draft Order
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 10: Head coach Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx speaks with Courtney Williams #10 during the first half against the New York Liberty during Game One of the WNBA Finals at the Barclays Center on October 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Dallas WingsMinnesota Lynx (via Chicago)Seattle Storm (via Los Angeles)Washington MysticsChicago Sky (via Connecticut)Toronto Tempo/Portland FireToronto Tempo/Portland FireGolden State ValkyriesWashington Mystics (via Seattle)Indiana FeverWashington Mystics (via New York)Connecticut Sun (via Phoenix)Atlanta DreamSeattle Storm (via Las Vegas)Connecticut Sun (via Minnesota
More information on the WNBA draft will be available once a new bargaining agreement is reached between league and players.
