How UCLA can make WNBA history for most picks by one college in a single draft

How UCLA can make WNBA history for most picks by one college in a single draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

UCLA won the women's college basketball national championship on April 5. Now, eight days later, its entire starting five is expected to be drafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Lauren Betts is the pick of this group who is likely to go the highest. Kiki Rice is likely to be the second Bruin announced on draft night. Gianna Kneepkens and Gabriela Jaquez are expected to be drafted in the middle to late first round, with Charlisse Leger-Walker projected in the late first or early second round.

Many teams have had three players drafted in the first round. Others have had four players go in the WNBA draft overall. But just how historic is this group of Bruins among WNBA draft history?

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Most picks in single WNBA draft by one college

Four teams have had five players selected in a single WNBA draft. The most recent was South Carolina in 2023, after making the final four. Its five draftees included Aliyah Boston (No. 1), Laeticia Amihere (No. 8), Zia Cooke (No. 10), Brea Beal (No. 24) and Victaria Saxton (No. 25).

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The other teams to accomplish this feat were Notre Dame in 2019 and Tennessee in both 2008 and 1999. Notre Dame held the record for the highest picks of these four occasions, with each of their five players taken in the first 20 picks.

The record for most first-round picks from one school is UConn, who had four players drafted in the first round back in 2005. These include Sue Bird (No. 1), Swin Cash (No. 2), Asjha Jones (No. 4) and Tamika Williams (No. 6).

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