The WNBA is finally ready to enter a new era in which its players get compensated much more fairly for their talents. After signing the new CBA, the WNBA hosted the 2026 Draft, and it was a memorable one. Everyone who watches women’s basketball had their own guesses about the draft order.

Some claimed Lauren Betts would go first, while others clamoured for Olivia Miles. The one name that was in everyone’s top 3 consistently was UConn star, Azzi Fudd. And it was Fudd that became the #1 pick in the 2026 Draft. As we prepare for the start of th new season, we decided to write a review of the top 5 WNBA draft picks. Was Fudd the right choice for the Wings? Should Flau’jae have been a higher pick? Read and find out!

1. Azzi Fudd

Azzi Fudd has been one of the most talked-about players in the country from the time she was in high school. She went into college as a top prospect, and despite some serious challenges with injuries, Fudd proved her worth. She won a National Championship in 2025, showing out as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four tournament. In her final season at UConn, Fudd averaged 17.3 points 2.6 assists 3.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals.

Fudd is one of the purest shooters the game has ever seen, even receiving praise from NBA legend Stephen Curry. And it was precisely good shooting and dynamic energy that the Wings were missing the previous season. 2025 ROTY Paige Bueckers did her best, but she was missing another shooting threat to space the floor and make the Wings more dangerous. More than that, Fudd and Bueckers are a proven backcourt duo, having played together for four years at UConn, winning a National Championship.

We can’t predict the future, but based on our review of the top 5 WNBA draft picks, Azzi Fudd is a stellar #1 pick. She is gifted, hard-working, and above all else, resilient, which makes her a perfect fit for the Wings.

2. Olivia Miles

The Minnesota Lynx selected Olivia Miles with their #2 pick at the 2026 Draft. Olivia Miles has been one of the most exciting guards in college, playing for TCU. During her 5-year college stint, Miles averaged 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Her versatility and strength will make her feel right at home with the rest of the Minnesota Lynx.

While some predicted that she’d go #1, it was clear that Azzi Fudd was too strong a competitor. Even so, the Lynx needed a strong two-way guard. Miles is a solid shooter, she facilitates great scoring opportunities, and she rebounds well. That is precisely what the Lynx needed as their current guard core either scores well or rebounds well, but not both.

3. Awa Fam Thiam

During our review of the top 5 WNBA draft picks, we found Awa Fam to stand out among her peers. She is the only one with pro experience, even though she is only 19. Fam has been playing professionally in Europe since 2021, giving her an edge over the other players. The Seattle Storm were in need of a big to strengthen the core led by Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga. That’s what makes Awa Fam the perfect pick!

Ezi Magbegor is more of a forward than a center, and Malonga, as talented as she is, is only 20 years old. Awa Fam, on the other hand, may be turning 20 this year, but she has five years of pro experience. Playing for Valencia Basket Club against some of the best players in Europe, many of whom play in the WNBA too, Fam averages 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

4. Lauren Betts

Lauren Betts is coming off a National Championship win with UCLA. So, it was no wonder that the Washington Mystics chose her with their fourth pick. The Mystics were one of those teams in dire need of a center. As it stood before the draft, the only center on their roster was Stephanie Dolson, who is already 34 years old. That is why our review of the top 5 WNBA draft picks ranks Betts as a fantastic pick.

That was why they desperately needed a young big that has experience winning. Lauren Betts was one of the leaders in UCLA’s quest to the National Championship, and she’s stepping into the WNBA hungry for more. She averaged 14.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists during her four years at college. Although most experts predicted her to be picked in the top 3, being the fourth pick is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

5. Gabriela Jaquez

Gabriela Jaquez is a guard hailing from California. She spent four years in college playing for the UCLA Bruins, and she crowned her senior year with a National Championship. Jaquez averaged 9.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in her college career. While these aren’t dizzying numbers, they paint a picture of a solid and reliable guard, especially when you consider the fact that she averaged only 1.3 turnovers.

The Chicago Sky is stacked with stars at the guard position, including Diggins and Vandersloot, but they still picked Jaquez. The Sky may be the perfect landing place for this rookie because of the veterans on her team. She will likely get to play limited minutes in her rookie year, learning from legends like Diggins and Vandersloot, not to mention sophomore Van Lith.