WNBA Draft 2026 odds for the No. 1 pick: Azzi Fudd now a huge favorite over Awa Fam

WNBA Draft 2026 odds for the No. 1 pick: Azzi Fudd now a huge favorite over Awa Fam

The 2026 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick odds board has been unusual.

Followers of nearly any sports league are familiar with the buzz around the No. 1 draft pick — often one of the most predictable outcomes in a league’s annual cycle. Long before the draft comes around, most are familiar with the players, the teams and the way the puzzle pieces will fit, at least at the top of the board.

But this year’s WNBA No. 1 pick odds have been different. First of all, the top pick was a near-complete toss-up thanks to a lot of needs on the team that has that pick, the Dallas Wings. Second of all: Free agency. Nearly the entire league entered free agency later this year, thanks to delays around the new collective bargaining agreement. So much more remained up in the air until this weekend.

The top spot, owned by the Wings, has been a complete roller coaster over the past several weeks. Odds for Spanish pro player Awa Fam and UConn’s March Madness star Azzi Fudd have been swapping back and forth. Fudd, a former teammate and the off-court partner of Wings superstar Paige Bueckers, seemed like the obvious choice to a casual fan. But to analysts and oddsmakers who knew of the Wings’ weak spots, Fam was a better fit.

But as of Monday morning, Fudd has emerged as the strong favorite at -575 on DraftKings or an 85 percent probability, likely thanks to the Wings acquiring 6-foot-4 defensive ace Alanna Smith in free agency and other off-season moves.

Just last night, the UConn star was at around -250. But just three days ago, it was Fam at the top of the odds board at -120, and Fudd at +120.

For comparison, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the current favorite for the first overall pick in the NFL Draft at -10000 odds (a 99.01 percent likelihood).

So even at -575, there’s some question about what will happen at No. 1, and mock drafts still have a lot of variance.

Let’s take a deeper look at the favorites for the WNBA Draft’s No. 1 pick.

WNBA Draft odds for No. 1 pick

To that end, Dallas made big moves in free agency, further moving the odds market over the weekend. Dallas re-signed guard Arike Ogunbowale to a multi-year extension, signed Smith to a three-year max deal, added veteran big Jessica Shepard, and brought back forward Awak Kuier.

These moves seem to indicate the Wings’ interest in Fudd, as they filled some of the gaps that a center like Fam or UCLA star Lauren Betts could fit. But those two stars could still be appealing, and three players still seem to be in the mix.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’sSabreena Merchant has a long-shot pick for No. 1 in her mock draft.

Azzi Fudd (-575)

Speaking of complementing Bueckers, Fudd and Bueckers played alongside each other for four years and won a national championship together for UConn. Their natural chemistry and shared experience on the court could be a huge bump for the Wings.

Fudd had a difficult NCAA Tournament, but averaged 17.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists this past season. She shot 44.7 percent from 3 over the season and is perhaps the best pure shooter in the field. And the Wings need 3-point shooting.

Fudd would add to Dallas’ guard-heavy core. But do the Wings really need another talented guard? Before free agency moves, they needed a center — badly. But that’s not the case anymore.

Awa Fam (+450)

Fam is a 6-foot-4 center who plays professionally in Spain for Valencia Basket. According to The Athletic’sSabreena Merchant, “Fam may not be as good as Lauren Betts right now, but she is about three years younger and already has impressive reps against WNBA-caliber competition.”

With Fam, it’s all about how high a ceiling she might have. Fam’s box score isn’t that impressive, averaging 7 points and just under 5 rebounds this past season, but she should provide size, interior presence and a versatility that complements Bueckers. But Fam might now just be joining a core already strong at center.

Lauren Betts (+1300)

Betts won Most Outstanding Player at this year’s NCAA Tournament and fills the same sort of gaps on the Dallas roster that Fam would. She’s a 6-foot-7 center who, during the tournament, averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks while making 68.8 percent of her field goals and 80 percent of her free throws. She would bring rim protection and defensive prowess, but the Wings have that now in Smith and others.

It seems the odds may be lagging a bit post-free-agency.

Olivia Miles (+2000)

TCU point guard Olivia Miles is the wild card here and is Merchant’s pick: “The Wings could go with Azzi Fudd as a backcourt selection, a known quantity to play next to Paige Bueckers, but Miles has more upside. She is a savant as a playmaker and could blossom into one of the best passers the league has ever seen. Dallas can also tap into Miles off the ball, since there are additional creators on the roster, unlike at TCU, and use her much-improved shooting ability.”

Miles dominated in college at both Notre Dame and TCU and averaged 19 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9 assists in this year’s NCAA Tournament. She had six triple-doubles this season and reads the court incredibly well. The question is exactly what type of guard the Wings are looking for.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Dallas Wings, WNBA, Sports Betting

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