Meet the 2026 WNBA Draft’s top prospects, from Azzi Fudd to Lauren Betts

Meet the 2026 WNBA Draft’s top prospects, from Azzi Fudd to Lauren Betts

In recent years, the WNBA Draft has been headlined by a clear-cut No. 1 pick. Paige Bueckers was a sensation when she arrived at the 2025 ceremony, as was Caitlin Clark in 2024. But the forthcoming rookies walk the orange carpet as a deeper, more balanced draft class.

Rather than fixating on one north star, we get to meet a vast range of intriguing hoopers and potential cornerstones. Below, we’ve packaged three interesting things to know about the 2026 ensemble, with prospects listed in alphabetical order. Let us know who you’re riding with in this year’s draft.

How to watch the 2026 WNBA Draft

Venue: The Shed at Hudson Yards — New York City

Time: 7 p.m. ET, Monday

TV: ESPN

Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)

ESPN programs are also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.

Lauren Betts

She’s an advocate for mental health. “I want to be HERE, experiencing life, in all its beauty and all its messiness, for a really, really long time. But I know now how thin that line is between having your whole future ahead of you, and not.” Betts wrote this in The Players Tribune, a meditation on her struggles with depression and her ongoing recovery.

She was on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.” Betts crossed over in the 10th season of the spinoff series. She was one of several NCAA players to sit for a glam session.

She has fully embraced this dance routine. Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker turned their choreography into a victory dance. It was a TikTok thing, but now it’s a real-life thing. Betts has gone viral for her general joyousness in the middle of the formation.

Awa Fam

She’s been a pro since 15. The Fam family moved from Senegal to Alicante, a Spanish port city. Awa was a fast riser on the court, and she debuted for Valencia Basket in December 2021 as the youngest player in club history.

Her favorite artist is Drake. Fam led with her Drake fandom when Slam Magazine asked about her pregame playlist. She also cited Rihanna, Gunna, Future and Bad Bunny.

She has signed on to play in Project B. Six of her draft peers have signed on to Unrivaled for WNBA offseason ball. But Fam is rolling with Project B, the new overseas circuit.

Azzi Fudd

She has a podcast called “Fudd Around and Find Out.” It’s where she bestowed the title of “Evil Azzi” to Gabby Williams. So far, guests have included Geno Auriemma, Sue Bird and Rhyne Howard.

Her mom was a WNBA Draft pick. Katie Smrcka-Duffy played at NC State and Georgetown from 1996 to 2001. She was selected by the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. Though she never stuck on a WNBA roster, Smrcka-Duffy (now Katie Smrcka-Duffy Fudd) instilled a love of basketball in her daughter. Azzi’s dad, Tim Fudd, earned all-CAA honors at American University during the mid-1990s.

She’s dating Paige Bueckers. We all knew this, right? They were teammates on UConn’s 2025 title team. Fudd sent fans into a frenzy when she revealed her phone case that read “paige bueckers’ girlfriend (sic),” and the two have since confirmed their relationship. Dallas has a chance to build around the couple, should the Wings go for Fudd at No. 1.

Gabriela Jaquez

Her brother is in the NBA. Like Gabriela, Jaime Jaquez Jr. played college ball at UCLA. His third season with the Miami Heat has proved to be his best yet, with him averaging more than 15 points per game as a microwave off the bench. During the March Madness finale, Jaime joined the ESPN courtside alt-cast to hype up his sister.

She also joined the softball team. Jaquez made her collegiate debut at the 2024 NCAA Super Regionals. She pinch ran and wound up scoring a run. Side mission accomplished.

She plays for Team Mexico. The rangy wing repped the Mexican national team for its 2026 World Cup pre-qualifier. Jaquez finished with 20 points in a semifinal loss to Czechia.

Flau’jae Johnson

She’s a musical artist. The Athletic’s Mirin Fader has a fantastic profile on Johnson’s dual stardom. Flau’jae the artist is signed to Roc Nation. She’s collaborated with Lil Wayne, BossMan Dlow and Public Enemy, remarkable range in the rap game.

Her father was also an artist. Jason Johnson rapped as Camoflauge, whose 2002 album “Keepin It Real” reached No. 24 on Billboard’s Top Independent Albums chart. Tragically, Johnson was murdered in 2003, six months before Flau’jae was born. She told the “Club Shay Shay” podcast that fellow rapper Lil Boosie was a paternal presence in her father’s absence.

She practices the fine art of unserious British accents. Johnson’s spontaneous poshness got Keke Palmer to lose it during an episode of Palmer’s podcast.

Raven Johnson

She was the first high school girl to play in a boys All-American game. Johnson took the floor at the 2021 Iverson Classic. She was Miss Georgia Basketball in her junior and senior seasons, then traveled to the Memphis invitational with pioneering spirit. “Girls can compete at the highest level with the boys,” she told the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “and we should get the same publicity as the boys are getting.”

She reached the Final Four in each of her college seasons. Johnson comes into the W with sizable big-game experience: two national championships (2022 and 2024), plus two runner-up campaigns and a fifth semifinal.

She is not a fan of X/Twitter. Johnson chided social media in general during South Carolina’s Final Four presser this year. She mentioned Twitter by name, calling it a “toxic app” for college athletes.

Ta’Niya Latson

Her family moved throughout her childhood. Latson’s father was in the military, so she relocated between Mississippi, Georgia, Florida and even Hawaii as a kid. In high school, she played three seasons in Atlanta before a senior stint in Miami.

She’s a selective texter. Latson and Raven Johnson have been friends since they were teammates at Atlanta’s Westlake High. The duo played a round of “Bestie Check” in February, and Latson admitted that she can let messages pile up. “I don’t text back that fast,” she said. “When it’s [Johnson], I do though.” WNBA group chats are now on notice.

She won a national scoring title before she joined South Carolina. She scored 25.2 points per game with Florida State in 2024-25, the best mark across Division I. Latson’s high that season was a brilliant 40-piece versus Virginia Tech.

Olivia Miles

She has a degree in political science from Notre Dame. The dynamic point guard got her bachelor’s degree in political science and her master’s in nonprofit administration.

She could’ve been in last year’s draft. Miles was slated among the best prospects in the 2025 class, but she ultimately chose to extend her college career and transfer to TCU. She had extra eligibility due to her medical redshirt in 2023-24. She told Slam Magazine that she planned to enter last year’s draft up until Notre Dame’s season-ending Sweet 16 loss. That bet on herself is now primed to pay off.

She’s a firm no-go on any future camping excursions. “I’m not camping ever in my life,” she said during a sponsored Instagram post with Venmo.

Kiki Rice

She’s dating Cason Wallace. Both are champions, Rice with UCLA and Wallace with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s a power couple right out of “Love & Basketball.” Last week, Wallace wore Rice’s merch for his OKC arena walk-in. The two 22-year-olds first met at the Jr. NBA World Championship in Orlando.

She and Allan Houston are cousins. The former Detroit Piston and New York Knick has visited his cousin at Pauley Pavilion. Like Houston, Rice is a three-level scorer with a silky jumper and playoff mettle. (Funnily enough, Rice University is in Houston. A mere coincidence or a basketball cipher? Probably coincidence.)

She’s Jordan Brand’s first NIL athlete. Rice signed as the sportswear brand’s first NIL athlete. The deal was inked ahead of her freshman season, a testament to her undeniable potential. She got her “Player Edition” sneaker in 2024, a cherry blossom colorway for the Air Jordan 38 Low shoes. Her next color scheme hangs in the balance of Monday’s draft results.

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