Following a historic 2024 season, WNBA front offices are now focusing on the upcoming WNBA Draft lottery.
After securing the top pick in the last two lotteries and drafting Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever made it to the playoffs and moved down the draft order. This year, the Los Angeles Sparks, Dallas Wings, and Washington Mystics are the top contenders for the first pick. (The Chicago Sky are also in the lottery, but the Wings have the option to swap picks with them.)
This year’s lottery is often referred to as the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes. The talented UConn guard is having an impressive senior season and has the potential to become a superstar player.
Here is everything you need to know about the WNBA Draft lottery, including how to watch the event.
How to watch the WNBA Draft lottery today: TV channel, live stream
TV channel: ESPNLive stream: Sling
Viewers can watch the WNBA Draft lottery on ESPN after the TCU vs. North Carolina State women’s basketball game. The event will also be available for streaming on Sling.
WNBA Draft lottery start time
Date: Sunday, Nov. 17Time: 5 p.m. ET
The results of the WNBA Draft lottery will be announced at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 17. The 2025 WNBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, April 14.
How does the WNBA Draft lottery work?
The lottery odds are based on the combined records of the four teams that missed the 2024 playoffs in the 2023 and 2024 regular seasons. The process is explained on WNBA.com:
Fourteen balls numbered 1-14 will be placed in a lottery machine and mixed. Four balls will be drawn to determine a four-digit combination. The team with that combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The process will be repeated to determine the second pick. The team with the lowest combined two-year record not selected in the first two combinations will get the third pick and the remaining team will pick fourth.
WNBA Draft lottery odds
Here are the odds for each team to land the No. 1 overall pick, according to WNBA.com.
TeamCombined 2023-24 recordOddsLos Angeles Sparks25-5544.2%Dallas Wings*31-4922.7%Chicago Sky*31-4922.7%Washington Mystics33-4710.4%
*Dallas has the right to swap picks with Chicago. The Wings acquired the swap in a 2023 trade involving Marina Mabrey going to the Sky.
