WNBA draft tonight

The 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association draft starts Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, with Dallas holding the No. 1 pick and Azzi Fudd among the prospects in New York. (wnba.com) (espnpressroom.com) The league said 15 prospects were invited to The Shed at Hudson Yards, including UCLA center Lauren Betts, Connecticut guard Azzi Fudd, Spain center Awa Fam Thiam and Texas Christian University guard Olivia Miles. The Women’s National Basketball Association Orange Carpet show begins at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2, followed by WNBA Countdown at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. (wnba.com) (espnpressroom.com) Dallas won the top selection in the November 23, 2025 lottery after entering with 420 of 1,000 combinations. Minnesota picks second, Seattle third, Washington fourth and Chicago fifth. (wnba.com 1) (wnba.com 2) This draft comes less than a month before the regular season opens on May 8, giving teams a short runway to fit rookies into training camp and preseason plans. ESPN said its draft broadcast will cover all three rounds from the floor in New York. (wnba.com) (espnpressroom.com) The first round also includes the Toronto Tempo at No. 6 and the Portland Fire at No. 7, the first college draft picks for the league’s two expansion teams. Golden State picks eighth in its second draft cycle, pushing the first round to 15 selections. (wnba.com 1) (wnba.com 2) Mock drafts did not settle on one favorite by Monday afternoon. ESPN’s final projection moved Miles to No. 1, while its coverage also said Fudd still had a case to go first and Seattle was a possible landing spot if she slid to No. 3. (espn.com) The draft also lands in the league’s 30th season, and ESPN said Tina Thompson, the first No. 1 pick in 1997, will voice special features during the telecast. Holly Rowe will interview draftees on site, with Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Andraya Carter calling the picks. (espnpressroom.com) By Monday evening, the orange carpet is already doing part of the job the draft always does: introducing the next class before the games begin. The picks that follow will decide which rookies report to camp with lottery expectations and which arrive with depth-chart fights ahead. (espnpressroom.com) (wnba.com)