The 2025-26 WNBA season was filled with hero storylines, ranging from A’ja Wilson jolting the Las Vegas to WNBA glory or the Fever Culture just about keeping Indy’s hopes alive. The Aces captured their third championship in four years, solidifying themselves as a true dynasty. But as the confetti settles, the attention has already shifted to what’s next. For the lottery-bound teams, the focus now turns toward the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery.

It’s the first big step in rebuilding hopes, reshaping rosters, and maybe, just maybe, finding the next superstar who can change a franchise’s fate. The W still hasn’t announced a date for the 2026 Draft Lottery, or any major offseason event, for that matter.

The reason behind the delay is simple: the ongoing CBA negotiations between the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association. Both sides are still trying to hammer out a deal that is actually an upgrade to the current state of affairs, and until that’s done, everything else remains on hold. In the recent past, the lottery has been held in late November or early December. But with these CBA talks dragging on, no one really knows when it’ll happen now.

Be it rain or sunshine, the market, however, waits for nobody. The odds are already out! This year’s lottery field features the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, and Washington Mystics. But half of them won’t be able to use their picks because of the trades they made before.

For the past three years, the WNBA Draft has been easy to predict when it comes to picking the first pick. Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers were all projected to lock up the No. 1 spot from day one. But this time, things are wide open. There’s NO clear-cut favorite heading into the 2026 class, and that’s what makes it exciting.

The crème de la crème of this group is talent-heavy — Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, Flau’Jae Johnson, and Olivia Miles are the names everyone’s watching. So, let’s dive in and see which teams make the most sense for these future stars. (And sorry, Awa Fam fans, she’s not part of this…)

Lauren Betts

If anyone besides JuJu truly earned the National Player of the Year spotlight, it was the UCLA center. She was the anchor who lifted the Bruins to their first-ever No. 1 overall seed and carried them all the way to a historic Final Four. And when the lights got the brightest… she never blinked!

Lauren Betts is a special player. She completely owns the paint on both ends. Inside, she’s a powerhouse, finishing through contact like it’s second nature. On defense, she turns the lane into her territory, using her length and timing to swat away anything that comes close. Betts catches everything thrown her way and is also sharp enough to avoid foul trouble. But she has her weaknesses as well…

Last season, Lauren Betts barely stepped outside her comfort zone, attempting just 11 jump shots and rarely looking at the basket when the ball swung to her on the perimeter. Defensively, she dominated the paint, but the WNBA’s three-second rule won’t allow her to camp there simply. The real question is whether she can stretch her game, adapt, and rise to the next level against the speed and spacing of the pros.

Betts’ year-to-year growth has been exponential. She went from averaging 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists as a rookie to 14.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in her sophomore season. By her junior year, she hit career highs with 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. That kind of steady improvement is rare.

In her senior year, Betts isn’t just looking to win the big dance with UCLA; she’s also gunning to be the No. 1 pick in the draft! So, which team would make perfect sense for her?

Verdict: The Dallas Wings currently hold the best odds of landing the first pick in the WNBA draft, boasting a whopping 40% chance according to CBS Sports. That makes them one of the frontrunners to pick Betts. Why? Size had been a glaring issue for the Wings last season.

Outside of Yueru Geiselsöder and McCowan, the roster was filled with players around six feet tall. When your backcourt features Arike Ogunbowale at 5’8” and Aziaha James at 5’10”, it’s easy to see how a lack of size hurt the team, contributing to just 10 wins and ultimately leading to Coach Koclanes’ exit. Betts, with her imposing 6’7” frame, could change all of that.

Another team that could target Betts is the Seattle Storm, who hold about a 17% chance of securing the first pick thanks to the Jewell Loyd trade. Seattle ranks in the bottom three in the league across 10 different rebounding categories and sits dead last in points from inside the arc, according to SB Nation. Adding Betts could instantly fix both issues, though it might not be their top priority since they already have Dominique Malonga.

Azzi Fudd

Azzi Fudd had already grabbed headlines in the WNBA before Paige Bueckers called her her girlfriend. The UConn standout appeared in 34 games, starting 30 of them (both career highs) and averaged 13.6 points per game while knocking down an impressive 43.6% from downtown.

Azzi Fudd capped her season in style, earning Most Outstanding Player honors after pouring in 24 points in the championship game and 19 against UCLA in the semifinals. Beyond the numbers, she moves brilliantly off the ball, bending defenses with her constant motion while knocking 47.4% from the field.

She isn’t just a scorer but her 5’11” frame makes her a formidable defender too. Do not forget the key steals she racked up against Gamecocks guard Milaysia Fulwiley in the championship game!

However, Fudd’s injury history is hard to ignore. In her sophomore year, 2022-23, she missed 22 games after a knee injury against Notre Dame when a teammate fell on her leg. She returned after five weeks, only to re-aggravate it and miss more time. Then came the 2023-24 season, when a torn ACL and medial meniscus in her right knee limited her junior year to just two games. Last season marked the first time she played over 30 games, but questions still linger. Can she stay healthy while carrying the Huskies this season? That uncertainty will follow her all the way to the WNBA.

Verdict: There will be teams desperately searching for a shooting guard. A reunion with Paige Bueckers would be a fan favorite, of course, but other teams like the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm are also in need of backcourt talent. The Storm, in particular, will be looking to replace guards like Brittney Sykes and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who may test free agency next season. One team that could seriously target Fudd, though, is the Washington Mystics.

The Mystics could really use another weapon from beyond the arc. They ranked last in three-pointers made per game, three-point attempts, and points from downtown, while sitting in the middle of the pack in three-point shooting accuracy according. With a young core already featuring Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, adding Azzi Fudd would fit perfect and give the Mystics the scoring boost they desperately needed after losing Sykes midway through the season.

Olivia Miles

Over her four years at Notre Dame, Olivia Miles has emerged as one of the nation’s elite guards. Last season, returning from an ACL injury, she exploded offensively, averaging a career-high 18.6 points per game while improving her three-point shooting from 22.8% in 2022-23 to an impressive 40.6%. Three-point shooting and free-throw accuracy were the only real holes in her offensive game, and she’s clearly worked hard to improve them.

Beyond that, there’s no question! Miles is the best passer in next year’s draft class, and we’ll get to see that entirely on display. This season, she’ll get a chance to shine in a whole campaign running a spread pick-and-roll offense under Mark Campbell at TCU, which should only highlight her playmaking brilliance.

Miles’ defense might not be fully W-ready yet, but her ability to create shots for her teammates is already at that level, making her an instant offensive threat. The only lingering question is whether her breakout shooting season was a one-year spike or if she can sustain that accuracy at TCU.

Verdict: Needless to say, Olivia Miles is set to be one of the hottest names in the WNBA draft. She was projected as a lottery pick this year but chose to return for her extra year of eligibility. The Chicago Sky already has frontcourt depth, should Ajša Sivka decide to play this season, along with Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. What they really need is a playmaker, a guard who can create opportunities and set up her teammates. Miles fits that role perfectly.

The Sky had their eyes on her for this year’s draft, but ended up selecting Hailey Van Lith, a move that didn’t quite work out. Adding Miles gives the team another scoring option. Chicago struggled mightily last season, ranking last in turnovers per game, second-worst in points per play, fourth-worst in 3-point rate, and second-worst in overall scoring. Miles has the talent to address many of those issues and immediately make an impact.

Flau’Jae Johnson

Flau’Jae Johnson has achieved everything she needs to, from an NCAA title in her rookie season to countless first-team honors. Still, she made it clear she wasn’t ready for the WNBA draft as she plans to lead the Tigers as their primary scoring option, something she has never done before. “I definitely want to win, but I want to make sure I’m being developed to be the player that I want to be in the WNBA,” she said while announcing her decision to stay.

As a junior, the multi-talented star stepped into the spotlight, assuming a more prominent offensive role after Angel Reese had decided to enter the draft. She posted career highs with 18.6 points per game and 38.3% shooting from beyond the arc, while also contributing 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest.

On defense, Flau’Jae Johnson was nothing short of exceptional, shutting down opponents’ best perimeter threats, sliding into the paint to offer help, and grabbing crucial defensive rebounds to close out possessions.

We saw flashes of her defensive brilliance against Lauren Betts in the Big Dance. Even though LSU couldn’t pull off the win, she put on a show, dropping 28 points, grabbing four boards, and dishing out four assists. It was the kind of performance that turned heads and reminded everyone why she’s built for the big stage.

Verdict: Needless to say, Flau’Jae Johnson will be one of the hottest names in this upcoming WNBA draft. A near lock for a lottery pick. For new expansion teams like the Toronto Tempo or the upcoming Portland Fire team, landing a do-it-all guard with her star power would be a dream. She’s the kind of player who could instantly become the face of a franchise. But that dream likely ends there… expansion teams don’t get free lottery picks, as we saw with the Valkyries.

So where could she land?

Honestly, any team with a lottery pick should jump at the chance. For the Sky, in particular, it makes a lot of sense. They’ve struggled to find a consistent perimeter threat, and her energy and two-way game would fit. Plus, imagine her reuniting with Angel Reese — the chemistry and LSU connection. It just feels right!