WNBA: Eight of the best players to know from the 2026 WNBA Draft class

With the 2025 WNBA Draft officially in the books, we can now start looking forward to…the 2026 WNBA Draft?

Okay, so maybe that’s a little premature. Not many fans start thinking about next year’s draft immediately after the current year’s draft ends.

Any WNBA coach or general manager will tell you that drafting is a year-round process, though. League scouts don’t only look at what’s immediately in front of them; they pay attention to players all across the country, in different classes, and even international players who aren’t yet draft-eligible, watching closely for signs of growth and considering what things might look like the next time they’re on the clock.

No, this isn’t a mock draft. The WNBA season hasn’t even started yet, and a lot can happen in a year. But it’s safe to say that there are a handful of players that are certain to be drafted in 2026, no matter what happens between now and then. So, if you’re into looking ahead (way, way ahead) to future WNBA drafts, here are some names you’ll want to watch out for.

Olivia Miles (TCU)

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Miles shocked the basketball world when she announced that she’d not only be forgoing the 2025 WNBA Draft to stay in school, but that she’d also be transferring from Notre Dame, where she had grown into one of the country’s few truly elite point guards. Miles was virtually guaranteed to be selected in draft lottery range had she entered the 2025 draft, and that won’t change for 2026. This time around, there’s even a chance she gets selected No. 1 overall.

With her advanced court vision and playmaking ability, Miles will instantly become TCU’s focal point as head coach Mark Campbell tries to continue the program’s historic ascent while navigating the loss of his top three scorers (Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince and Madison Conner) from last season. Campbell still has a lot of work to do there, but based on what we’ve seen from him so far, he knows how to get the most out of his lead guards. Miles should have no problem repeating her statistical averages from last season (15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game) for her new team, and as of right now, she’s the top point guard in the 2026 WNBA Draft class.

Lauren Betts (UCLA)

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UCLA earned the top overall seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a talented and well-rounded roster, but it was obvious to anyone watching that Betts was the one player who made that Bruins team what it was. At 6-foot-7, Betts is one of the most physically imposing players in the country, and it’s almost impossible to keep her from burying defenders in the paint. She’s coordinated for her size, too. Betts shot 64.8 percent from the field as a junior largely due to the ability to finish with either hand. The 2.9 blocks she averaged also showcased impeccable anticipation and timing.

As Betts begins her senior campaign, perhaps the biggest question concerning her draft stock is just how valuable a player of her archetype can be in the WNBA. There aren’t many teams that run their offense primarily through the post, and for all her talent, Betts will probably be a one-position player as a pro. If she keeps playing like she has in her last two seasons at UCLA, though, there will be very few players drafted before her—if any at all.

Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)

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Latson has been one of the most prolific scorers in the country since her very first collegiate game, and she most recently led Division I in scoring (25.2 points per game) as a junior. The high-octane combo guard is almost impossible to keep out of the paint, having gone to the free throw line 10 or more times on 19 occasions throughout her career, and she’s a threat to pull up from mid- and long-range, too, making her one of the most difficult defensive assignments in the nation.

After three years of personifying Florida State’s offense-first, offense-second approach, Latson will now be tasked with leading a South Carolina program that has championship expectations. It’s a perfect marriage of skill and need: The Gamecocks get the go-to perimeter scorer they lacked during their 2025 NCAA Tournament run, while Latson is sure to benefit from Dawn Staley’s coaching, especially within South Carolina’s stout defensive infrastructure. Latson may not put up the individual numbers we’re used to seeing in her final season, but by the time the 2026 WNBA Draft rolls around, she’ll likely have become a better player.

Awa Fam (Spain)

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There’s a lot to consider when evaluating and drafting international prospects (especially for a way-too-early draft primer!), but it’s not much of a stretch to say that Fam will be one of the biggest talents in the 2026 draft class, regardless of nationality. Currently just 18 years old, Fam’s game is polished far beyond anyone else her age; she already boasts a strong low-post repertoire and finishing ability, as well a remarkable knack for finding cutting teammates from the top of the key.

Most international draft prospects are thought of as “stash” prospects, or players who WNBA teams select knowing full well they won’t be able to play in the United States right away. Fam is different. She’s already had a good amount of professional experience, including EuroCup Women and EuroLeague Women dating as far back as 2021, and most recently logged starter’s minutes for the Spanish senior national team in the 2025 Women’s EuroBasket Qualifiers. By this time next year, Fam will be among the biggest names in the 2026 draft class.

Azzi Fudd (UConn)

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Like Miles, Fudd chose to use her additional season of NCAA eligibility rather than enter the 2025 WNBA Draft. She’s fresh off an NCAA Championship with the Huskies, and even more importantly for her draft stock, she’s completely healthy, which is something we haven’t been able to say in years.

Fudd will always be best-known for her shooting ability, and rightfully so—her jumpshot is flawless, mechanically speaking, and she drained 43.6 percent of her 3-point attempts as a senior. She’s more than a shooter, though, as she reminded nationally-televised audiences during the 2025 NCAA Tournament, when she racked up 18 steals in six games. Fudd’s basketball pedigree was enough to keep her in draft conversations while she was battling a myriad of injuries earlier in her career, and if she can stay on the court in her fifth year, she’ll be a shoo-in first-round draft pick in 2026.

Flau’jae Johnson (LSU)

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There were rumors that Johnson would skip her senior season to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft, but she ultimately chose to stay in school for one more year. Johnson might be the most instantly-recognizable name in women’s college basketball at the moment, and her star will continue to rise as she gets mentioned as a potential lottery pick in 2026.

As Johnson has grown at LSU, she’s taken on more and more of an offensive role, most recently averaging a team-high 18.6 points per game as a junior. She’s an explosive athlete who regularly makes big plays on both ends of the court, and her nose for the basketball has led to at least two offensive rebounds per game in each of her three collegiate seasons. With Mikaylah Williams (17.3 points and 3.4 assists per game as a sophomore) sharing the backcourt, Johnson probably won’t have to carry LSU in her senior season, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her counting stats take another jump, either.

Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)

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After three productive seasons at Ohio State that earned her a pair of All-Big Ten First Team honors, McMahon will finish her NCAA career at Ole Miss. She joins a Rebels program that has become known for its defense, and based on that alone, there’s a lot to like about the fit; McMahon is an exceptionally strong wing player who plays a relentless and physical style of basketball, which is sure to align with the culture Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin has created.

There’s no question that McMahon has a WNBA build, and she showed crucial improvement in her 3-point shooting as a junior, connecting on 38.6 percent of her 3.1 attempts per game (both career-bests). Her 2-point scoring slipped to just 45.1 percent, however, and her overall floor game seemed to plateau in an Ohio State system that tends to let its players operate freely. Should McMahon show growth at Ole Miss, she has the potential to be picked in the late first round of the 2026 draft, so the development of her intangibles will be something to watch this winter.

Serah Williams (transfer portal)

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For most teams in the Big Ten, a player averaging 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game would be a big deal—and that’s not to say that Williams isn’t. But Wisconsin is far from a women’s basketball powerhouse, and for three years Williams has flown under the radar as a talented center whose individual numbers have been diminished by the records of the teams that she’s played for.

Hopefully for Williams, that won’t be the case next season. The 6-foot-4 forward entered the transfer portal last month and, while she has yet to choose her next school, it’s safe to assume that she’ll want to go to a program that has a chance at competing for a conference title. As for Williams herself, going to a stronger team may mean that she won’t be the focal point like she was at Wisconsin, but if that means she’ll draw more attention as a WNBA Draft prospect, it will be well worth it.