Who will be selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft?

Now that the confetti has settled on March Madness and UCLA was crowned the national champion in Phoenix, the NCAA women’s basketball season is officially over.

And it’s time for the WNBA to take center stage.

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With over 100 free agents in the WNBA, rosters will look different for each team. However, there’s a lot of young talent coming in that teams could benefit from.

The Final Four included several of the league’s best prospects from UCLA, UConn, South Carolina and Texas, in what was the final showing to WNBA front offices before the 2026 WNBA draft on April 13.

Going into the Final Four, UConn guard Azzi Fudd was projected to go to the Dallas Wings with the No. 1 pick. But her poor performance in her team’s stunning exit in the semifinals has bumped her down in several mock drafts.

Fudd was emotional after the end of her five-year collegiate career, which included a national championship in 2025. She didn’t say much about her future WNBA career after her team’s exit on April 3.

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“(I) haven’t really been thinking about what’s next,” she said.

One player who shone throughout the NCAA Tournament and in the Final Four was UCLA center Lauren Betts, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Women’s NCAA Tournament after the win.

In the two games of the Final Four, Betts averaged 15 points on a combined 13-of-20 shooting to go along with 22 rebounds, five blocks and five assists.

UCLA’s senior class will be represented well in the first round of the draft, with five projected to go. Gabriela Jaquez has been reliable for UCLA throughout the season, but she was the catalyst in the national championship, scoring a team-leading 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

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The Bruins had a lot of scoring options, especially on the wing. Gianna Kneepkens shot 41.7% (5-of-12) from the 3 in the Final Four. Kiki Rice played a big role on defense, while being more active on the boards than most guards.

“I’ve been doing this for 33 years. This is the most intentionally hardworking group of people in terms of being prepared for the pro level,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “I really am not worried at all. I don’t give it a second thought because they are going to enter into their pro situations and people are going to be like ‘they know how to work; they know what it takes to be a pro.’ That’s like the easiest question ever because I’m like, they’re ready.”

While Texas point guard Rori Harmon isn’t projected in the first round in several mock drafts, her coach, Vic Schaefer, believes teams will make a big mistake to pass on her.

“If I had a job in the WNBA, it’d be the first one I’d go get, “Schafer said. “She can run your team. She has no ego. She’s going to continue to guard and defend and create problems defensively because that’s who she is.”

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Here’s who is projected to be taken in the first round, which now includes 15 picks following the addition of the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.

CBS Sports: Eight players from UCLA, South Carolina to go in the first round

1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam (Spain)

2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles (TCU)

3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd (UConn)

4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (UCLA)

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice (UCLA)

6. Toronto Tempo: Raven Johnson (South Carolina)

7. Portland Fire: Nell Angloma (France)

8. Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)

9. Washington Mystics: Flau’jae Johnson (LSU)

10. Indiana Fever: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)

11. Washington Mystics: Iyana Martín (Spain)

12. Connecticut Sun: Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)

13. Atlanta Dream: Madina Okot (South Carolina)

14. Seattle Storm: Charlisse Leger-Walker (UCLA)

15. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)

Bleacher Report: UCLA could have a record six players taken in draft

1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam (Spain)

2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles (TCU)

3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd (UConn)

4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (UCLA)

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice (UCLA)

6. Toronto Tempo: Flau’jae Johnson (LSU)

7. Portland Fire: Nell Angloma (France)

8. Golden State Valkyries: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)

9. Washington Mystics: Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)

10. Indiana Fever: Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)

11. Washington Mystics: Raven Johnson (South Carolina)

12. Connecticut Sun: Madina Okot (South Carolina)

13. Atlanta Dream: Angela Dugalić (UCLA)

14. Seattle Storm: Iyana Martín (Spain)

15. Connecticut Sun: Lani White (Utah)

Sporting News: Awa Fam to the Dallas Wings

1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam (Spain)

2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles (TCU)

3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd (UConn)

4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (UCLA)

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice (UCLA)

6. Toronto Tempo: Flau’jae Johnson (LSU)

7. Portland Fire: Raven Johnson (South Carolina)

8. Golden State Valkyries: Nell Angloma (France)

9. Washington Mystics: Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)

10. Indiana Fever: Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)

11. Washington Mystics: Madina Okot (South Carolina)

12. Connecticut Sun: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)

13. Atlanta Dream: Iyana Martin (Spain)

14. Seattle Storm: Ashton Jackson (Duke)

15. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)

Tankathon: Awa Fam will be No. 1 overall

1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam (Spain)

2. Minnesota Lynx: Azzi Fudd (UConn)

3. Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles (TCU)

4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts (UCLA)

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice (UCLA)

6. Toronto Tempo: Flau’jae Johnson (LSU)

7. Portland Fire: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)

8. Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)

9. Washington Mystics: Nell Angloma (France)

10. Indiana Fever: Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)

11. Washington Mystics: Raven Johnson (South Carolina)

12. Connecticut Sun: Iyana Martin (Spain)

13. Atlanta Dream: Madina Okot (South Carolina)

14. Seattle Storm: Yarden Garzon (Maryland)

15. Connecticut Sun: Serah Williams (UConn)

Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X. 

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who will be selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft?