2026 WNBA Draft order of team picks: Everything you need to know about the number of rounds, trades, expansion teams...

The 2026 WNBA Draft takes place tonight (Monday, April 13) at the Shed in Manhattan, New York! With two new teams added to the league for the upcoming season (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo), this year’s draft will feature 15 teams looking to bolster their rosters.

Ahead of tonight’s draft, here is everything you need to know.

2026 WNBA Draft: How it works and draft order

Draft format

The WNBA Draft will have three rounds. All three will take place on the same day.

The first five picks of the first round are determined by the Draft Lottery. The two new expansion teams, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, will receive the sixth and seventh picks in each round.

The order of the rest of the draft is the inverse order of the standings from last regular season (with Toronto and Portland continuing to have the sixth and seventh pick in each round.

The order has already changed significantly from that, however, as several teams have traded (which is allowed up until the night before the draft). Selected players can then be traded during or after the draft.

2026 WNBA Draft order:

First Round:

1) Dallas Wings

2) Minnesota Lynx from Chicago Sky

3) Seattle Storm from Los Angeles Sparks

4) Washington Mystics

5) Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun

6) Toronto Tempo

7) Portland Fire

8) Golden State Valkyries

9) Washington Mystics from Seattle Storm

10) Indiana Fever

11) Washington Mystics from New York Liberty

12) Connecticut Sun from Phoenix Mercury

13) Atlanta Dream

14) Seattle Storm from Las Vegas Aces

15) Connecticut Sun from Minnesota Lynx

Second Round

1) Seattle Storm from Dallas Wings

2) Chicago Sky

3) Connecticut Sun

4) Washington Mystics

5) Los Angeles Sparks

6) Portland Fire

7) Toronto Tempo

8) Golden State Valkyries

9) Los Angeles Sparks from Seattle Storm

10) Indiana Fever

11) Chicago Sky from New York Liberty

12) Phoenix Mercury

13) Atlanta Dream

14) Las Vegas Aces

15) Washington Mystics from Minnesota Lynx

Third Round:

1) Dallas Wings

2) Chicago Sky

3) Connecticut Sun

4) Washington Mystics

5) Los Angeles Sparks

6) Toronto Tempo

7) Portland Fire

8) Golden State Valkyries

9) Seattle Storm

10) Indiana Fever

11) New York Liberty

12) Phoenix Mercury

13) Atlanta Dream

14) Las Vegas Aces

15) Minnesota Lynx

Expansion teams: What to expect from Toronto and Portland

Ahead of the 2026 WNBA Draft, the league’s two newest teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, completed their expansion draft on April 3, 2026, selecting players from unprotected rosters across the league to begin building their inaugural squads.

Both franchises are now in the early stages of roster building, which makes this draft especially important. With the sixth and seventh picks in every round, they are guaranteed multiple opportunities to add young talent.

Both franchises took slightly different approaches:

• Portland Fire focused heavily on size, versatility, and defensive depth, adding players such as Bridget Carleton, Emily Engstler, and Haley Jones to form a flexible core.
• Toronto Tempo leaned more toward backcourt creation and experience, selecting players like Marina Mabrey, Julie Allemand, and Nyara Sabally to stabilize their rotation early.

Don’t be surprised if both teams draft for upside rather than immediate impact, focusing on players they can develop into long-term cornerstones.

How to watch the 2026 WNBA Draft

Fans can follow all the action live as the next generation of stars enters the league.

• Date: Monday, April 13, 2026
• Time: 7 p.m. ET (coverage starting at 5:30/6:30 p.m. ET)
• Location: The Shed, Manhattan, New York
• Coverage: Live on ESPN or stream on ESPN App, Fubo, or Sling TV.

Top prospects in the 2026 WNBA Draft

As teams finalize their boards ahead of draft night, ESPN’s latest projection highlights a deep and international-heavy class led by elite college stars and rising overseas talent. With 45 total picks expected, the 2026 class features a mix of scoring guards, versatile wings, and high-upside frontcourt players.

Here are some of the top projected selections:

• Azzi Fudd (UConn, SG, 5-11) - Projected No. 1 overall pick to the Dallas Wings, Fudd is an elite perimeter shooter with a quick release and proven scoring ability. A Final Four Most Outstanding Player, she brings immediate offensive impact, particularly from beyond the arc.
• Olivia Miles (TCU, PG, 5-10) - A dynamic playmaker projected to go No. 2 to Minnesota, Miles is coming off a breakout season featuring elite passing, multiple triple-doubles, and high-volume scoring. Her court vision makes her one of the most complete guards in the class.
• Awa Fam (Spain, C, 6-4) - A young international center with significant upside, Fam has already gained professional experience in Spain’s top league. Her development trajectory makes her a strong top-five candidate.
• Lauren Betts (UCLA, C, 6-7) - A dominant interior force and NCAA champion, Betts significantly boosted her stock during the tournament, earning Most Outstanding Player honors with efficient scoring, rebounding, and rim protection.

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