Signing a generational talent in the draft can make or break a franchise’s history. As New York City hosts the WNBA Draft Lottery on Sunday night, the Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, Portland Fire, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Toronto Tempo will participate in the process to determine the first overall selection in the 2027 WNBA Draft.

While several top-level talents like Hannah Hidalgo and Madison Booker are in the fray, JuJu Watkins’ decision to enter or skip the 2027 draft remains the elephant in the room.

No matter what Watkins decides, the Houston Comets, operating in their first offseason since relocating from Connecticut, and the Toronto Tempo share the highest mathematical odds to secure the first overall pick, each holding 32.9 percent odds (329 out of 1,000 combinations). The Washington Mystics hold the next-best lottery odds, a notable position given the franchise reached the 2026 postseason as the No. 5 seed. Here’s how all six teams are shaping up.

Houston Comets

As the Connecticut Sun relocate to Texas to operate as the Houston Comets, the franchise is positioned to potentially draft Madison Booker and keep the collegiate prospect in-state. The incoming front office is projected to prioritize Booker’s three-point shooting and physical profile. Given the uncertainty surrounding the long-term retention of the current roster, Booker’s positional versatility provides immediate structural stability. She remains a primary draft target for the organization, even if Houston’s lottery position drops to the third overall pick.

However, everything changes for the Comets if JuJu Watkins makes herself available for the draft. The USC guard enters the draft as the consensus projection for the first overall pick. Watkins recently returned to the USC squad after missing the entirety of last season while recovering from a torn ACL sustained during the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Before the injury, Watkins earned AP First Team All-American honors in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, culminating in National Player of the Year recognition for her 2024-25 campaign. Over that sophomore season, she averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 32.5 percent from three-point range, and 82.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Once the first two selections are drawn, the league determines the remainder of the lottery order based on cumulative winning percentages, ordered from lowest to highest. Under this structure, the Houston Comets can fall no lower than the third overall pick.

Toronto Tempo

After finishing their inaugural season 11-33, the Toronto Tempo shares the highest probability of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft Lottery, positioning the franchise to draft JuJu Watkins or Hannah Hidalgo.

The Toronto Tempo currently has six players under contract for the 2027 season, a group heavily skewed toward the backcourt. Guards Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, Julie Allemand, and Rice account for four of those roster spots, leaving Teonni Key and Aneesah Morrow as the only signed forwards.

Entering the offseason with $4.5 million in salary cap space, the fourth-highest mark in the league, per Spotrac, the franchise is expected to target frontcourt depth. The Tempo also holds selections in the second and third rounds of the WNBA Draft, which management will likely utilize to add size and acquire a traditional center to balance the current roster construction.

Even if the Tempo land Watkins or Hidalgo, it remains to be seen how Sandy Brondello will integrate them into the current squad.

Seattle Storm

Despite setting the WNBA single-season record for losses with an 8-36 finish this year, the Seattle Storm is not the statistical favorite to secure the 2027 first overall pick. The WNBA draft lottery system utilizes two-year cumulative records to determine odds. Because Seattle reached the playoffs with a 23-21 record in 2025, their combined mark positions them with the fourth-highest probability (9.3 percent) of winning the lottery.

With Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam anchoring the frontcourt, Seattle’s primary 2027 draft objective is perimeter reinforcement from a guard-heavy class. Mikaylah Williams represents a potential fit, offering perimeter shooting, shot creation, and distribution, while Seattle’s interior personnel could successfully mitigate her noted defensive liabilities.

The Storm can also potentially land Hannah Hidalgo. Anchoring the Notre Dame backcourt, the 5-foot-7 guard has established a collegiate profile defined by high-volume scoring and historic defensive production. Entering the season as a three-time AP All-American and the reigning Naismith and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Hidalgo’s previous campaign featured national benchmarks. She led the NCAA in steals, at 5.6 per game, setting single-game (16) and single-season (202) records.

Hidalgo also ranked third in the country in scoring at 25.3 points per game. Her offensive output was supported by 6.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Getting either Hidalgo or even Watkins would give this Seattle team a very good chance to push for deep postseason runs in the years to come.

Washington Mystics

The Mystics hold another premium draft selection stemming from the 2025 trade that sent Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky. That transaction previously yielded the 2025 third overall pick, which Washington utilized to draft two-time All-Star Sonia Citron.

Unlike the Toronto Tempo, the Mystics can actually do well with a pick like JuJu Watkins or Hannah Hidalgo. Guard Georgia Amoore averaged 7.0 points and 3.4 assists on 37.2 percent shooting this season after missing her rookie year with a torn ACL. While her performance metrics improved over the course of the season, her overall production has not yet aligned with the standards of a lead guard for a title-contending franchise.

The Mystics could target Kansas guard S’Mya Nichols, a 6-foot primary ball-handler out of the Big 12. She provides passing accuracy and low turnover rates, addressing a specific vulnerability that hindered Washington in its playoff loss to the Atlanta Dream. Furthermore, her positional size aligns with the franchise’s established defensive system, presenting a practical roster fit.

Portland Fire

The Fire have just a 5.2% chance at No. 1 pick. However, potentially with the fifth or sixth overall selection, the Portland Fire can add South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson to an already capable backcourt. Stepping into the primary ball-handling role for the top-ranked Gamecocks this season in place of Raven Johnson, Tessa Johnson brings perimeter shooting that fits Portland’s offensive system. She also provides necessary defensive pressure on the wing, addressing a notable vulnerability for the Fire last season.

Fire head coach Sarama implemented new developmental programs and tactical systems in her first WNBA season while securing immediate roster buy-in. While coaching transitions often struggle to balance tactical application with player communication, Sarama established both elements effectively. Her combined analytical and interpersonal approach yielded tangible results, as multiple Portland players recorded career-best statistical seasons under her system.

While highly unlikely, a high draft pick will ensure that the process that Sarama has initiated will get a boost.

Los Angeles Sparks

The Los Angeles Sparks hold two selections in the upcoming draft lottery, having acquired the Phoenix Mercury’s 2027 first-round pick in a midseason trade involving Kelsey Plum. Entering the draft, the franchise possesses a 2.4 percent probability of securing the top overall pick with their own selection, alongside an additional 1.2 percent chance via the acquired Phoenix asset.

So in total, the Sparks have just a 3.6 percent chance to land the number one pick. For the WNBA’s broader business interests, JuJu Watkins joining the Los Angeles Sparks would immediately stimulate the Southern California market. The franchise has underperformed during the league’s recent growth period, ceding West Coast market share to the Golden State Valkyries. Acquiring the USC guard would reestablish Los Angeles as a primary driver of the WNBA’s big-market expansion.

Following the recent postseason success of French players in the WNBA, Sarah Cisse has drawn scouting attention for her athleticism and scoring ability. The Los Angeles Sparks could target Cisse to pair with JuJu Watkins, adding significant positional size to their rebuilding roster.

No matter where the players land, the upcoming draft class promises to be an exciting one. The WNBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, with proceedings set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.