For a long time, UCLA’s Lauren Betts seemed destined for that No.1 2026 draft pick. The 6’7 center is a dominant presence in the post who controls the paint with her awesome size and strength. She’s got a ton of power but also has great hands and nimble feet. Her qualities should be assets for almost every team in the league. The ceiling isn’t visible yet. For the first time in a while, Betts has slipped from the No.1 spot in the 2026 mock drafts.

Dallas Wings has the highest chance of getting that No.1 pick (42%) at the November 23 Lottery. Minnesota Lynx (via Chicago Sky) is behind at 26.1%. Ahead of the lottery, ESPN released their latest draft projections and pushed Betts to the No.2. Taking her No.1 spot is someone with ‘international flavor’. It is the Spanish center Awa Fam

“Fam’s agent told ESPN that competing in the WNBA is her “top priority” for 2026. She currently plays for Valencia in Spain and will turn 20 in June. Her potential seems very high, and she could be another key building block for the Wings to add after 2025 No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers was WNBA Rookie of the Year last season,” Michael Voepel wrote. 

The major reason behind this change is that the draft lottery is due to the development in the Dallas camp. The Wings hired longtime USF coach Jose Fernandez as their next head coach. They emphasised “international relations” in their hiring process, and Fernandez certainly has a plethora of them. His 25 years of globally focused recruiting at USF and extensive work with USA Basketball and FIBA which together built a huge network with European clubs, federations, and agents. That has caused this change from Lauren Betts to Fam. 

“His (Jose Fernandez) USF program had extensive recruiting contacts in Europe — 12 of the 14 players on the Bulls roster for 2024-25 hailed from outside of the United States — and we’ve tilted our projected top pick in ESPN’s latest WNBA mock draft in that direction, too,” Voepel wrote. 

Betts and Fam are fairly neck to neck when it comes to quality. Betts is averaging 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.1 blocks through 5 games this season. Last year, she averaged 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.9 blocks. So, it’s a slow start in comparison. For 19-year-old Fam, she is already a pro in Spain. 

She plays with players who are 4-12 years older, and she was two years younger than the competition at the 2023 U19s and 2024 U20s. Last season, she averaged 10.0 points, 6.3rebounds, and 1.7 assists, according to 4ps basketball. Her athleticism, decision-making, and passing are all highly regarded. Another reason for Fam’s rise to the top is her possible fit with Dallas Wings point guard Paige Bueckers. 

Awa Fam A Better Fit For Paige Bueckers Than Lauren Betts?

Dallas Wings have the No.1 pick for the second consecutive year. The Wings won the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes. As expected, she dazzled in her rookie campaign. Bueckers finished as the Rookie of the Year, an All-Star, and made the All-WNBA Second Team while leading the team in points and assists per game. The Wings are looking to build around her, giving Bueckers the pieces to succeed. According to Chiney Ogwumike, Fam’s profile fits better for Bueckers than Lauren Betts. 

“Very dynamic, mobile big. So, if you’re trying to pick someone to play alongside Paige Beckers, maybe it’s not the back-to-the-basket big. It’s this big right here. Awa Fam, who is tremendous with her athleticism, is a good finisher, soft touch, can extend the floor, has enough size. I think that’s why we have more motion than we thought,” Chiney Ogwumike said on NBA Today regarding Fam. 

It’s not about Betts but about how she fits with the Dallas Wings. If Minnesota, the Sky, or the Mystics get the No.1 pick against the odds, Betts would likely move up again. “Betts is still in the mix as the No. 1 pick, which is where we had her in our first 2026 mock draft last month,” Voepel wrote. Even for the Dallas Wings, plans might still change. With the CBA situation still evolving, there is little idea how the squad would look next year. Fernandez and Bueckers will work from an almost clean slate, and their pick will depend on how the squad pans out.