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The WNBA will hold its 30th annual draft on April 13, featuring top prospects like Lauren Betts and Olivia Miles. A ranking of the greatest No. 1 picks in WNBA history highlights players like Tina Thompson and recent stars from the Las Vegas Aces.
On Monday, April 13, the WNBA will hold its 30th annual draft where the biggest stars from the college ranks and overseas leagues will be selected.
Back in 1997, Tina Thompson was the first-ever WNBA Draft pick, and one that worked out quite well for the Houston Comets as she helped them win four championships. More recently, three consecutive first round picks by the Las Vegas Aces â Kelsey Plum, Aâja Wilson and Jackie Young â helped the franchise capture multiple league titles too.
In the mix to hear their name called first on Monday night is UCLA center Lauren Betts, TCU point guard Olivia Miles, UConn sharpshooter Azzi Fudd, and 19-year-old Awa Fam from Spain.
With 29 drafts in the books for the WNBA, itâs time to reflect on some league history and answer the question, who is the greatest No. 1 pick of all-time?
To answer that, we came up with a formula that put point valuations on accomplishments the player achieved with the team that drafted them. League MVP awards and championships weighed the heaviest, followed by Finals appearances and All-WNBA selections. Other awards, leading the league in a stat â like scoring or blocks â and all-star selections were also weighted.
Weâre only ranking 25 players here because itâs too early to really evaluate these four recent No. 1 picks:
All of these players have already made All-Star teams and spent time with Team USA, but itâs hard to make a judgement on their careers and properly rank them on this list with limited data points.
With that, letâs jump into the rankings.
With the Women's Final Four complete, all eyes turn towards the 2026 WNBA Draft. The WNBA draft takes place Monday, April 13, in New York, and this year's event has a different feel. Unlike the last two drafts, where Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were consensus No. 1 overall picks, this year's top spot is up for grabs. After an exciting March Madness, it's time to see who helped their stock and who fell down the draft board. Is Awa Fam still at the top? Is Azzi Fudd a top-five draft pick? Who vaulted into the first round?
Here's USA TODAY's latest 2026 WNBA mock draft: 1. Dallas Wings: Lauren Betts, C, UCLA
2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles, G, TCU
3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd, G, UConn
5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice, G, UCLA
6. Toronto Tempo: Flau'jae Johnson, G, LSU
7. Portland Fire: Ta'Niya Latson, G, South Carolina
8. Golden State Valkyries: Gabriela Jaquez, G, UCLA
9. Washington Mystics: Raven Johnson, G South Carolina
10. Indiana Fever: Gianna Kneepkens, G, UCLA
13. Atlanta Dream: Madina Okot, C, South Carolina
14. Seattle Storm: Marta Suarez, F, TCU
15. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon, F, Ole Miss
1 / 12
With the Women's Final Four complete, all eyes turn towards the 2026 WNBA Draft. The WNBA draft takes place Monday, April 13, in New York, and this year's event has a different feel. Unlike the last two drafts, where Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were consensus No. 1 overall picks, this year's top spot is up for grabs. After an exciting March Madness, it's time to see who helped their stock and who fell down the draft board. Is Awa Fam still at the top? Is Azzi Fudd a top-five draft pick? Who vaulted into the first round?
Here's USA TODAY's latest 2026 WNBA mock draft: 1. Dallas Wings: Lauren Betts, C, UCLA
1 / 12
With the Women's Final Four complete, all eyes turn towards the 2026 WNBA Draft. The WNBA draft takes place Monday, April 13, in New York, and this year's event has a different feel. Unlike the last two drafts, where Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were consensus No. 1 overall picks, this year's top spot is up for grabs. After an exciting March Madness, it's time to see who helped their stock and who fell down the draft board. Is Awa Fam still at the top? Is Azzi Fudd a top-five draft pick? Who vaulted into the first round?
Here's USA TODAY's latest 2026 WNBA mock draft: 1. Dallas Wings: Lauren Betts, C, UCLA
2 / 12
2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles, G, TCU
3 / 12
3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd, G, UConn
4 / 12
5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice, G, UCLA
5 / 12
6. Toronto Tempo: Flau'jae Johnson, G, LSU
6 / 12
7. Portland Fire: Ta'Niya Latson, G, South Carolina
7 / 12
8. Golden State Valkyries: Gabriela Jaquez, G, UCLA
8 / 12
9. Washington Mystics: Raven Johnson, G South Carolina
9 / 12
10. Indiana Fever: Gianna Kneepkens, G, UCLA
10 / 12
13. Atlanta Dream: Madina Okot, C, South Carolina
11 / 12
14. Seattle Storm: Marta Suarez, F, TCU
12 / 12
15. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon, F, Ole Miss
More: The 2026 WNBA Draft board is a puzzle â hereâs how it fits together now
Collier played just two seasons in Dallas and hasnât played a minute in the WNBA since 2022. The former Texas Longhorns star has since played in Turkey, Australia, China, Poland, Israel and Italy.
The post from Belgium played three unremarkable seasons for the Rockers. She would return to the WNBA a few times between 2004 and 2016, and was a reserve on the Sparksâ 2016 championship team.
Thomas played for five different teams in six seasons, averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
Drafted by the Mercury and immediately traded to the Lynx, Harding lasted two seasons in Minnesota. She made the All-Rookie team in 2007 and would go on to play seven more years in the WNBA after the Lynx traded her to the Mystics.
The Minnesota Gophersâ product didnât get the chance to make an impact with the Sting as the franchise folded after her second season, but she was named the WNBAâs Most Improved Player with the Liberty in 2007 and was a starter on the Lynxâs 2013 championship team.
The 2014 Rookie of the Year, Ogwumike missed two of her five seasons in Connecticut with injuries to her knee and achilles. She made two All-Star teams and averaged 14.1 points per game for the Sun before being traded to the Sparks.
The 7-foot-2 center from Poland played for the franchises in Utah and then San Antonio for seven seasons, leading the WNBA in blocks six times and making an All-Star team. Sheâs still the WNBAâs all-time leader in blocks, 18 ahead of Brittney Griner.
Charlesâ first stint with the Sun lasted four years, but she was a four-time All-WNBA selection, a four-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year in 2010 and league MVP in 2012.
Plum played one season with the Stars before the franchise was moved to Las Vegas. She then helped the Aces win two championships, was the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year in 2021 and finished third in MVP voting in 2022. She made three All-Star teams with the Aces and earned one All-WNBA nod before joining the Sparks last season.
The Oregon product is likely going to quickly move up this list as the years go on, but sheâs earned four All-WNBA selections, four All-Star nods and helped the Liberty win the championship in 2024.
The 1999 Rookie of the Year, Holdsclaw made five All-Star teams with the Mystics and was an All-WNBA selection three times before she was traded to the Sparks in 2005. The Tennessee product and two-time Olympic gold medalist also won the scoring title in 2002 and twice led the WNBA in rebounding while in Washington.
A four-time All-Star, a two-time All-WNBA selection and 2019 Rookie of the Year, Young has helped the Aces win three championships in her career.
The 2015 Rookie of the Year and 2023 scoring champ, Loyd helped Seattle win two championships before joining the Las Vegas Aces last season. She was also a six-time All-Star and three-time All-WNBA selection while with the Storm.
In 2016, Ogwumike was MVP, an All-Star, first-team All-WNBA, first-team All-Defense and helped the Sparks win the championship. She helped Los Angeles make nine trips to the playoffs in 12 seasons.
The Louisville productâs career in Atlanta feels underrated. She guided the Dream to three appearances in the WNBA Finals, twice led the league in scoring and steals and was an eight-time All-Defense selection. McCoughtry also made five All-Star teams and six All-WNBA teams.
Before joining the New York Liberty, Stewart helped Seattle win two championships and was MVP of the Finals in 2018 and 2020. She won her first league MVP award in 2018 and was an All-WNBA selection five times.
Griner twice led the WNBA in scoring while with the Mercury and topped the leagueâs blocks leaderboard eight times. A 10-time All-Star and seven-time All-Defense selection, she helped Phoenix win a championship in 2014.
The No. 1 overall pick of the first WNBA draft, Thompson was a key part of the Comets as they won four consecutive championships. She was an eight-time All-WNBA selection in Houston.
Mooreâs career was brief, but she helped the Lynx win four championships in eight seasons. She was the league MVP in 2014 and made the All-WNBA team in all but one of her seasons. Moore was the Finals MVP in 2013 and was named MVP of the All-Star game three times.
The 6-foot-6 Australian center won three MVPs and led the Storm to a pair of championships in eight seasons. Her 2007 performance is one of the best seasons by a player in WNBA history, as she was Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in scoring and rebounding.
The former LSU star won four WNBA championships with the Lynx and helped them appear in the Finals six times. She was an eight-time All-Star, MVP of the 2011 Finals and ranks 10th all-time in field goals made.
Before winning titles in the latter stages of her career with the Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces, Parker was a star with the Sparks, piling up nine All-WNBA selections and 12 playoff appearances. She powered LA to the 2016 title and was Finals MVP. Parker also twice won the league MVP award with Sparks, including her rookie season in 2008.
Bird has her own statue in Seattle. She spent her entire career there, bringing the Storm four championships and helping them make the playoffs 18 times. The UConn product is the WNBAâs all-time leader in assists, games played and minutes played. She was a 13-time All-Star and an eight-time All-WNBA selection.
The WNBAâs all-time scoring leader spent her entire career with the Mercury and won three championships. One of the best womenâs basketball players ever, Taurasi was an All-WNBA selection 14 times and led the league in scoring five times. Sheâs also the WNBAâs all-time leader in 3-pointers and free throws made and probably the leagueâs greatest trash talker.
Still under the age of 30, Wilson has already won the league MVP award four times â more than anyone else in the history of the WNBA. The former South Carolina Gamecock has powered the Las Vegas Aces to three championships, is a seven-time all-star, six-time All-WNBA selection and three-time Defensive Player of the Year. If she doesnât already, sheâll have a real case for the greatest player in the history of the WNBA by the time she retires.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A'ja Wilson or Diana Taurasi? Ranking every No. 1 WNBA Draft pick
Tina Thompson was the first-ever No. 1 pick in WNBA history, selected by the Houston Comets in 1997.
The ranking was based on a formula that assigned point valuations to accomplishments such as MVP awards, championships, Finals appearances, and All-WNBA selections.
Top prospects for the upcoming WNBA draft include UCLA center Lauren Betts, TCU point guard Olivia Miles, UConn sharpshooter Azzi Fudd, and 19-year-old Awa Fam from Spain.
Tina Thompson won four championships with the Houston Comets during her career.

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