With the 2026 WNBA Draft set for April 13 in New York, the league has announced the 15 prospects invited to attend. The group features top collegiate standouts and international talent as the league enters a new phase of growth.
The announcement, made April 9, comes ahead of a draft that reflects the WNBA’s expanding footprint. The league’s growth is shown by the addition of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 and the new Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo this year. These moves create more roster opportunities and open the way for more players. This draft class blends elite NCAA players with versatile foreign talent, bringing global experience.
The WNBA announced that invited players will be in attendance at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City, where the draft will be held live on ESPN.
Invited Prospects
Nell Angloma (France): A versatile forward with international experience, Angloma has developed within the French system, bringing size, mobility, and a developing offensive skill set.
Lauren Betts (UCLA, USA): A dominant center, Betts anchors the paint with rim protection and efficient interior scoring, emerging as one of the top post players in college basketball.
Angela Dugalić (UCLA, USA): A skilled forward, Dugalić offers positional versatility, floor spacing, and frontcourt size.
Awa Fam Thiam (Spain): A professional center with Valencia Basket, Fam Thiam combines size and mobility with high-level international experience, including competition with Spain’s national team.
Azzi Fudd (UConn, USA): A dynamic guard, Fudd is known for elite perimeter shooting and shot creation, making her one of the top offensive talents in the class.
Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA, USA): A well-rounded guard, Jaquez contributes in scoring and playmaking, bringing versatility and basketball IQ to the perimeter.
Flau’jae Johnson (LSU, USA): A dynamic guard with high energy, Johnson impacts both ends of the floor with scoring, athleticism, and defensive intensity.
Raven Johnson (South Carolina, USA): A defensive-minded guard and facilitator, Johnson excels in transition and as a floor general within structured offenses.
Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA, USA): An efficient perimeter scorer, Kneepkens is known for her shooting ability and offensive consistency.
Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina, USA): One of the nation’s prolific scorers, Latson brings proven offensive production and shot creation ability.
Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss, USA): A physical and dynamic forward, McMahon contributes with rebounding, defensive versatility, and is a three-level scorer.
Olivia Miles (TCU, USA): An elite playmaker and offensively gifted, Miles controls tempo with advanced court vision and passing ability, consistently ranking among assist leaders.
Madina Okot (South Carolina, Kenya): A center with an international background, Okot provides size, rebounding, and defensive presence in the frontcourt. She expanded her game by adding a solid outside shot.
Kiki Rice (UCLA, USA): A strong, poised guard, Rice combines scoring and playmaking with size and leadership at the position.
Marta Suárez (TCU, Spain): A versatile forward, Suárez brings a versatile offensive game with the ability to score inside and out.
ESPN 2026 WNBA First Round Projections
According to ESPN, the projected first round reflects a mix of NCAA stars and international prospects:
- Dallas Wings — Olivia Miles
- Minnesota Lynx — Awa Fam Thiam
- Seattle Storm — Azzi Fudd
- Washington Mystics — Lauren Betts
- Chicago Sky — Flau’jae Johnson
- Toronto Tempo — Nell Angloma
- Portland Fire — Iyana Martin
- Golden State Valkyries — Gianna Kneepkens
- Washington Mystics — Cotie McMahon
- Indiana Fever — Raven Johnson
- Washington Mystics — Gabriela Jaquez
- Connecticut Sun — Kiki Rice
- Atlanta Dream — Ta’Niya Latson
- Seattle Storm — Marta Suárez
- Connecticut Sun — Madina Okot
*Angela Dugalić — Outside of first round projection
The 2026 WNBA Draft class highlights a strong international presence with prospects like Awa Fam Thiam, Marta Suárez, Madina Okot, and Nell Angloma, while the continued excellence of elite collegiate programs like UCLA and South Carolina is evident through their high number of invited players. Perimeter talent serves as the primary engine for this year’s class, headlined by a deep group of guards including Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, Kiki Rice, Flau’jae Johnson, Raven Johnson, and Ta’Niya Latson.
The league’s rapid expansion, incorporating the Golden State Valkyries, Portland Fire, and Toronto Tempo, has increased the number of available roster spots league-wide, creating more opportunities for deeper draft classes in the future with more impact players.
