Azzi Fudd was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the 2026 WNBA Draft. UCLA made history by having six players drafted, while Ta'Niya Latson experienced a notable drop in her selection.
NEW YORK — The 2026 WNBA Draft looked like it would have some surprises.
But as it turned out, Azzi Fudd, who was predicted to be the top pick going into the college season, was indeed, selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings. She will be reunited with UConn teammate Paige Bueckers.
UCLA had a record six players from their national title team drafted including Angela Dugalic, Gabriela Jaquez, Gianna Kneepkens, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kiki Rice. Notre Dame had five players drafted in the top 20 in 2019. The 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks and 2008 Tennessee Volunteers also had five players drafted in a single year, but not in the first round.In all 45 players had their names called. Here are the winners and losers of the WNBA draft:
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Azzi Fudd (R) of UConn hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
Azzi Fudd of UConn celebrates after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Olivia Miles who was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Olivia Miles of TCU celebrates after being selected with the 2nd pick in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Awa Fam Thiam who was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky.
(L-R) Azzi Fudd of UConn and Cotie McMahon of Ole Miss pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
(L-R) Angela Dugalic of UCLA, Kiki Rice of UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA, Lauren Betts of UCLA and Gabriela Jaquez of UCLA during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
(L-R) Awa Fam Thiam of Spain and Nell Angloma of France pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Raven Johnson of South Carolina, left, Madina Okot of Kenya, center, and TaÕNiya Latson of South Carolina pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
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Azzi Fudd (R) of UConn hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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Azzi Fudd of UConn celebrates after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Olivia Miles who was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
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Olivia Miles of TCU celebrates after being selected with the 2nd pick in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Awa Fam Thiam who was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky.
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(L-R) Azzi Fudd of UConn and Cotie McMahon of Ole Miss pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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(L-R) Angela Dugalic of UCLA, Kiki Rice of UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA, Lauren Betts of UCLA and Gabriela Jaquez of UCLA during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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(L-R) Awa Fam Thiam of Spain and Nell Angloma of France pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft.
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Raven Johnson of South Carolina, left, Madina Okot of Kenya, center, and TaÕNiya Latson of South Carolina pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
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2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
No one is probably more relieved that the WNBA draft is over than the Wings. Picking Fudd at No. 1 overall has to feel like a sigh of relief and happiness all at the same time. Fudd is a dynamic talent whom Dallas can pair with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to form a three-guard attack that should be hard to defend. The UConn product brings her stellar shooting and off-ball movement to a franchise that has sorely missed that in recent seasons.
The Bruins set a WNBA draft record by having five players selected in the first round, led by Lauren Betts going fourth overall to the Washington Mystics. Beginning with Betts, UCLA had players taken back-to-back-back, with Gabriela Jaquez going fifth to the Chicago Sky and Kiki Rice going sixth to the Toronto Tempo. Angela Dugalić will join Betts in Washington as she was drafted ninth overall, while Gianna Kneepkens was taken 15th overall by the Connecticut Sun. A sixth UCLA player, Charlisse Leger-Walker, was taken in the second round by the Sun. With the transfer portal still open and her top six scorers to replace, UCLA head coach Cori Close can sell to recruits the fact that she can develop WNBA prospects.
UCLA's Angela Dugalic, Kiki Rice, Gianna Kneepkens, Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez pose during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
Taina Mair wasn't projected to go in the first-round on many draft boards, but the Duke guard played her way into the first round by way of a sensational performance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Mair scored 43 total points across Duke's Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games against LSU and UCLA, respectively. Mair is the first Blue Devil selected in the first round since 2018, when Lexie Brown was taken ninth overall by the Connecticut Sun.
South Carolina ended its season with an ugly loss to UCLA in the national championship game, but Dawn Staley's program officially turned the page with a great showing at the 2026 WNBA Draft. Staley had three players selected in the draft, led by Raven Johnson going to the Indiana Fever with the No. 10 overall pick.
The Las Vegas Aces always manage to pull off a head-turning move without many draft picks. They did it again this year by drafting Janiah Barker late in the second round, a really good value at No. 29. The new Aces rookie gets the chance to learn from a gaggle of veterans who have won at the highest level in nearly every possible way, something many in their first year don't get the chance to experience. Also, the Tennessee forward is already a solid blend of size and skill that makes her hard to defend when she's in rhythm, and now she'll have a chance to be coached by Becky Hammon, which can only help refine her skills. Not to be dramatic, but pencil Barker in on the way-too-early All-WNBA rookie team.
Latson transferred to South Carolina from Florida State to boost her WNBA draft stock and be part of something bigger. It seemed like she would accomplish both of those goals as the Gamecocks reached the national title game and Latson was widely projected to be a first-round pick. But of the 15 prospects invited to attend the WNBA draft, Latson had to wait the longest. She was finally taken off the board by the Los Angeles Sparks, who grabbed her in the second round with the 20th overall pick. Latson will get the chance to make an impact in LA as she joins a Sparks team equipped with Kelsey Plum, but otherwise needs backcourt depth.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 WNBA Draft winners and losers: UCLA makes history
Azzi Fudd was selected as the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings.
UCLA had a record six players drafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
UCLA made history by having six players from their national title team drafted, the most from a single college in a single draft.
Ta'Niya Latson experienced a significant drop in her selection during the 2026 WNBA Draft.
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