WNBA Draft Opens With Unclear No. 1 As Wings Hold Top Pick
Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles, Awa Fam and Lauren Betts vie for the top spot as the 2026 WNBA Draft begins April 13 at The Shed, with rookie pay boosted under the new collective bargaining agreement.
USA TODAYAzzi Fudd projected to Dallas Wings in final WNBA mock draft at No. 1
NBC NewsWNBA Draft: Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles, Awa Fam in contention for No. 1 pick
Chicago Sun-TimesWNBA draft preview: Whom will the Sky pick at No. 5?
Associated PressA $500,000 payday awaits the No. 1 WNBA pick as the Dallas Wings go on the clock again
Overview
The 2026 WNBA Draft began on Monday, April 13 at The Shed in New York with the Dallas Wings on the clock holding the No. 1 overall pick, reporting said.
The No. 1 choice is unsettled among Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles, Awa Fam and Lauren Betts after a season without a clear generational headliner, analysts and mock drafts said.
The new collective bargaining agreement boosts rookie pay, with the No. 1 pick earning $500,000 and No. 2 and No. 3 earning $466,913 and $436,016 respectively, reports said.
Minnesota holds the No. 2 pick while Seattle, Washington and Chicago round out the top five, with expansion teams Toronto and Portland selecting next, reporting detailed.
Teams and general managers could trade picks before and during the draft, and the 2026 regular season is set to begin on May 8, reporting said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the coverage neutrally: they stick to concrete facts (specific salaries, draft order, player backgrounds) and avoid loaded judgments. Occasional evaluative phrasing (e.g., 'huge salary bump') is immediately supported by numbers, indicating factual reporting rather than editorial framing.