WNBA draft winners and losers: Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts and one team that stole the show

WNBA draft winners and losers: Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts and one team that stole the show originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 WNBA Draft is complete, and a loaded draft board has finally taken shape as a talent-rich rookie class prepares to enter the pro ranks.

The Dallas Wings made Azzi Fudd the seventh UConn Husky to go first overall, while the Minnesota Lynx grabbed TCU's star guard Olivia Miles over Awa Fam Thiam at second overall and UCLA's championship-winning seniors made more history in New York City.

MORE: Complete results and analysis for every pick in Round 1

Here are some snap winners -- and losers -- from the 2026 draft.

WNBA Draft winners & losers 2026

Winner: Seattle Storm

The Storm took the best player on their board at third overall -- and Seattle now has the building blocks to construct the WNBA's most terrifying frontcourt.

Awa Fam Thiam joins Dominique Malonga, last year's second overall pick, in the frontcourt of the future. Fam's passing, playmaking and jump shooting made her a standout prospect throughout the draft process, while Malonga profiles already as a future Defensive Player of the Year: per 100 possessions last year, the 20-year-old averaged 16.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.

Fam joins Malonga and Ezi Magbegor in Seattle, which also swung a trade with Golden State for Flau'jae Johnson later in the night. That's a great young nucleus for Storm coach Sonia Raman to develop in her first year on the job.

Winner: Azzi Fudd

In recent days, the growing consensus was that the Wings were laying the groundwork to select Fudd with the top pick. Dallas beefed up its frontcourt in free agency, signing Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith as well as Jessica Shepard from the Lynx. Re-signing Arike Ogunbowale proved no impediment to taking Fudd, either; the 5'11'' Fudd can defend bigger guards or forwards, depending on matchups.

The fit between Fudd, Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers might not be seamless right away. But Fudd has generational shooting ability, and reuniting her with Bueckers was too tempting an opportunity for Dallas to pass up.

Loser: Washington Mystics

In isolation, drafting Lauren Betts fourth overall is the best pick that the reconfigured Mystics front office could have made.

But combined with Washington's decision to match the Toronto Tempo's offer sheet for Shakira Austin on draft day -- and the Mystics' later selection of Angela Dugalic at ninth overall -- the franchise's moves in totality don't make much sense.

Betts, the two-time Lisa Leslie Center of the Year while at UCLA, was the best rim protector on the board and will immediately produce on the defensive end -- even if her shot and screen-setting may take some time to develop. Yet the Mystics already have an All-Star big in Kiki Iriafen, whom they took fifth overall last year, and chose not to address their glaring need for backcourt depth early on.

Maybe coach/GM Sydney Johnson can make it work with a jumbo-sized frontcourt of Betts, Dugalic and Iriafen. Maybe Georgia Amoore, who missed her entire rookie season with a knee injury, hits the ground running next to Sonia Citron. Either way, Washington is operating with finer margins than needed after opting for size in Betts, Dugalic, Cotie McMahon and  Cassandre Prosper (though the tough-as-nails Rori Harmon, their pick at 34th overall, might carve out a roster spot).

Loser: Chicago Sky

The Sky reached for Gabriela Jaquez at fifth overall, a player who can do a little bit of everything but whose inconsistent jump shot prompted questions about her ceiling. Jaquez can be a culture-setter: she has a relentless motor and can guard multiple positions. And the Sky's need for a lead guard diminished after the signing of Skylar Diggins.

Jaquez promises to bring heart and hustle to a Chicago team that is retooling yet again following last week's Angel Reese. But the Sky passed on Kiki Rice and Flau'jae Johnson in another instance of what can be considered asset mismanagement from the franchise.

Winner: UCLA Bruins

Cori Close's national champions made history in the first round of the draft.

The Bruins sent five players to The W in a span of 12 picks. That's the most of any team in draft history. Charlisse Leger-Walker went off the board at 18th overall, the third pick of the second round, where she joined UCLA teammate Gianna Kneepkens with the Connecticut Sun.

UCLA went 37-1 this season and capped it by walloping South Carolina in the national title game. The Bruins' top six scorers now all play in the WNBA. Sooner or later, that team is going to be recognized as one of the greatest in NCAA history.

Loser: Golden State Valkyries

The Valkyries' choice of Flau'jae Johnson at eighth overall was an inspired one. Golden State's decision to turn around and deal Johnson to the Storm for Marta Suarez and a draft pick in 2028 might go down as the swindle of the draft.

Perhaps the Valkyries balked at handing Johnson a first-round rookie-scale deal and don't want to skip steps as they build a contender. But after handing out big contracts to guards Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams, that argument doesn't stand up to much scrutiny.

More WNBA news:

• Indiana Fever sign sister of Pacers fan favorite to free agent contract to help Caitlin Clar
• UConn's Azzi Fudd is different from almost every WNBA Draft No. 1 overall pick
• Who is Azzi Fudd's mom? Meet Katie Smrcka‑Duffy Fudd
• Who is Awa Fam? Meet Spanish basketball star, Storm selection