2026 WNBA Mock Draft: Eight South Carolina and UCLA players projected to go in first round
The Gamecocks and Bruins are meeting for the national title on Sunday, and WNBA fans should get familiar with both teams
Championship Sunday has arrived in women's college basketball. UCLA and South Carolina are playing for the 2026 NCAA women's basketball national title on Sunday afternoon. The Bruins held off Texas in the Final Four, while the Gamecocks stunned UConn to end the Huskies perfect season and exact revenge after last year's championship game defeat.
Thanks to the coin flip between the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, the full order for the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13 is now set. The Tempo will select No. 6 overall, with the Fire right behind them at No. 7. Additionally, thanks to a pair of trades connected to the expansion draft, the Fire now have the No. 17 pick, the Chicago Sky have No. 21 and the Tempo have No. 26.
Unlike the past few years, when the No. 1 pick was set in stone for months leading up to the draft, there has been plenty of debate about what the Wings should do with the top pick. What will Curt Miller and Co. do? And how will the rest of the night shake out?
Ahead of Sunday's championship game, here's a look at how the first two rounds might go with CBS Sports' Mock Draft 3.0.
First round
1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam -- C, Spain
The 19-year-old Fam had an excellent showing against Team USA during the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico last month, which was yet another reminder that she's already capable of holding her own against top-level WNBA competition. She's an excellent athlete and a highly skilled offensive player who could be a perfect pick-and-roll partner for Paige Bueckers.
2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles -- G, TCU
Miles is one of the best playmaking prospects we've ever seen. She can throw every pass in the book with either hand, and has an innate ability to see the floor and create opportunities out of nothing. She would give the Lynx the true point guard they've been missing the last few years, and Minnesota's defensive infrastructure would be able to cover up for some of her issues on that side of the ball.
3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd -- G, UConn
Fudd is coming off a really rough showing in the Final Four and a disappointing NCAA Tournament overall. Still, her 3-point shooting ability is largely unmatched. She has impeccable form, a lightning-quick release and can shoot off the move. Fudd will be one of the league's best pure shooters from Day 1, and would be a perfect fit in Seattle. The Storm desperately need someone who can help space the floor around their frontcourt talent.
4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts -- C, UCLA
The 6-foot-7 Betts has been spectacular during the NCAA Tournament as she's led UCLA to the national championship game. As a traditional center in a rapidly evolving game, Betts is a polarizing prospect. However, she is the best rim protector in this class, and has significantly improved her defensive mobility. There are fair questions about how her offense will translate to the pros, but she's too big and talented defensively to pass on here.
5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice -- G, UCLA
Rice, who has been hot and cold in the NCAA Tournament amid UCLA's run to the title game, makes a lot of sense here for the Sky, who desperately need a point guard of the future. Rice is an excellent perimeter defender, a strong rebounder for her position and a steady facilitator who has plenty of experience playing alongside elite bigs. Plus, she's grown into a reliable catch-and-shoot 3-point threat.
6. Toronto Tempo: Raven Johnson -- G, South Carolina
The Tempo took a Valkyries-esque approach to the expansion draft and have an experienced roster that could be fairly competitive. Adding the 23-year-old Johnson, who will play in her third consecutive NCAA national championship game with South Carolina on Sunday, would give them an elite perimeter defender who could contribute right away. Plus, Johnson has improved significantly as playmaker, and the Tempo are thin at point guard.
7. Portland Fire: Nell Angloma -- F, France
The Fire's approach to the expansion draft was completely different from the Tempo's. They looked for youth and potential, and appear to be happy with a long-term project. Selecting French wing Nell Angloma would fit well with that thinking. The 19-year-old was a big riser in this class after an impressive season France. She's a big, physical, athletic wing who loves to get downhill and excels in transition.
8. Golden State Valkyries: Gianna Kneepkens -- G, UCLA
Kneepkens has had a fairly quiet NCAA Tournament, but remains one of the best shooters in this class. She is hyper-efficient from all over the floor, joined the vaunted 50/40/90 club this season and would be a great fit for a Valkyries team that desperately needs someone who can knock down shots. Natalie Nakase's bunch set a WNBA record for 3-point attempts per game last season but was 11th in 3-point percentage.
9. Washington Mystics: Flau'jae Johnson -- G, LSU
Johnson may not actually fall this far, but she had an underwhelming senior season and struggled in LSU's season-ending loss to Duke in the Sweet 16. If she is still on the board at No. 9, she would be a no-brainer for the Mystics, who need some scoring punch on the perimeter. Though her production can be inconsistent, few prospects in this class can create shots as easily as Johnson, who is also a strong 3-point shooter.
10. Indiana Fever: Ta'Niya Latson -- G, South Carolina
Latson's numbers fell off a cliff this season after her transfer to South Carolina, but she's come up with some big performances to help the Gamecocks reach the national championship. She has an incredible ability to get downhill and finish at the rim despite her size, excels in transition and has improved as a defender under Dawn Staley. Latson could be a good fit in Indiana as a bench scorer.
11. Washington Mystics: Iyana Martín -- G, Spain
The Mystics have three first-round picks, which gives them the flexibility to use one on the 19-year-old Spaniard Martín, who had an impressive showing at the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament last month. Martín has a slight frame, but she is an awesome passer with a flair for the dramatic and a pesky perimeter defender. She might be a draft-and-stash candidate, but that would be fine for the Mystics given their abundance of young talent.
12. Connecticut Sun: Gabriela Jaquez -- G, UCLA
Jaquez has been her reliable self all tournament long for the Bruins, who are one win away from their first NCAA title. While she may not have a ton of upside, Jaquez's versatility on the wing allows her to fit into any lineup. As her brother, Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. told CBS Sports last month, she'll be a perfect "plug and play" option in the pros. Her motor, willingness to do the dirty work and knack for coming up with hustle plays stands out.
13. Atlanta Dream: Madina Okot -- C, South Carolina
Okot, who has been a presence in the paint for the Gamecocks en route to Sunday's NCAA championship, has only been playing basketball since 2020, and her lack of high-level experience is obvious at times. So too, though, is her potential, particularly on the defensive end. That she's started knocking down some 3s late in the season is also very encouraging. She would be a worthwhile upside swing for the Dream, who need frontcourt depth.
14. Seattle Storm: Charlisse Leger-Walker -- G, UCLA
Leger-Walker will turn 25 later this year, but what she lacks in upside she makes up for with experience and decision-making, as she's shown during UCLA's run through the NCAA Tournament. She's not much of a scoring threat, but she knows how to organize a team and run an offense, and could step in and contribute right away. That could be key for a Storm team that's looking to compete.
15. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon -- F, Ole Miss
McMahon's NCAA Tournament and college career came to an end in controversial fashion when she fouled out against Minnesota in the second round. Her inability to score outside of the paint is concerning, but she is a terrific athlete and an extremely physical driver who gets to the free-throw line at will. With the last pick in the first round, and the Sun's second of the night, it's probably worth betting on her work ethic and competitive spirit.
Second round
16. Seattle Storm: Janiah Barker -- F, Tennessee
17. Portland Fire: Marta Suarez -- F, TCU
18. Connecticut Sun: Serah Williams -- F, UConn
19. Washington Mystics: Maggie Doogan -- F, Richmond
20. Los Angeles Sparks: Tonie Morgan -- G, Kentucky
21. Chicago Sky: Shay Ciezki -- G, Indiana
22. Toronto Tempo: Angela Dugalić -- F, UCLA
23. Golden State Valkyries: Frieda Bühner -- Forward, Germany
24. Los Angeles Sparks: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs -- Forward, Baylor
25. Indiana Fever: Justine Pissott -- F, Vanderbilt
26. Toronto Tempo: Payton Verhulst -- G, Oklahoma
27. Phoenix Mercury: Saffron Shiels -- G, Australia
28. Atlanta Dream: Kara Dunn -- G, USC
29. Las Vegas Aces: Ashlon Jackson -- G, Duke
30. Washington Mystics: Raegan Beers -- C, Oklahoma
Barker is a clear first-round talent, but she just hasn't shown enough consistency throughout her college career, which ended in strange circumstances with a suspension in February and a DNP -- Illness in Tennessee's NCAA Tournament defeat. She's certainly worth a flier for the Storm with their third pick of the night.
No. 21 might be a bit too high for Ciezki, who is only 5-foot-7, but the Sky desperately need someone who can shoot and she is truly elite, both off the catch and off the dribble.
Bühner, a German forward, and Shiels, an Australian guard, are intriguing prospects who could be draft-and-stash options for the Valkyries and Mercury, two franchises who have been adept at scouting international players.
Pissott had an awesome senior season and could be fun as a stretch-four playing alongside Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
