WNBA Draft grades 2026: Complete results and analysis for every pick in Round 1

by April 13, 2026

written by April 13, 2026

WNBA Draft grades 2026: Complete results and analysis for every pick in Round 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The orange carpet is laid out, the light fixtures are gleaming and the outfits are growing increasingly more ornate. After months of waiting and weeks of deliberation, the 2026 WNBA Draft is here. And it looks to be awash with starlight.

Fifteen players will hear their names called in the first round. Those fabulous 15 will take their place among the league’s grandest talents, looking to establish themselves as fixtures in the WNBA’s constantly-shifting ecosystem.

Some names shine brighter than others. Azzi Fudd is the odds-on favorite to be selected by the Wings with the No. 1 overall pick. Her relationship with Paige Bueckers, dazzling off-ball shooting skills and solid defense make her an ideal candidate to become the seventh UConn player to be selected first overall.

There are plenty other leading lights expected to draw buzz in the night, from Olivia Miles to Awa Fam. The draft process has proven a fickle sorceress in recent weeks. It’s unlikely that will change come draft night.

The Sporting News is tracking live grades from the first round of Monday’s WNBA Draft. Follow below for analysis on how every team did with its first-round selection in 2026.

MORE: Inside Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd’s relationship timeline