2026 WNBA Draft grades for all 15 teams

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2026 WNBA Draft grades for all 15 teams

Jess Koffie, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Thu, Apr 16, 2026 ·

9 min read

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2026 WNBA Draft grades for all 15 teams appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The 2026 WNBA Draft marked a pivotal moment for the W, which is balancing league expansion, an unprecedented growth in popularity, and record-setting contract amounts for both rookies and veterans . And with 15 teams picking, including newcomers like the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire , front offices had to approach the draft with sharply different priorities.

Some franchises targeted immediate contributors to support their playoff contention goals, while others focused on high-upside prospects who could anchor the next era. This class leaned heavily on elite guard play, versatile wings, and international talent, reflecting the modern evolution of the women's game. Let's take a look at not only how well teams drafted, but how they executed their own planned trajectories.

Atlanta Dream

Picks: Madina Okot (No. 13), Indya Nivar (No. 28), Kejia Ran (No. 43)

Atlanta leaned into athleticism and defensive upside, selecting players who can switch across positions and contribute in transition. Okot is an energy piece who can defend in the paint, while Nivar adds ball-handling depth, and Ran represents a longer-term international project. The Dream improved their overall roster flexibility, which complements the roster they've built upon with their offseason trades and additions .

Grade: B-

Chicago Sky

Picks: Gabriela Jaquez (No. 5), Latasha Lattimore (No. 21), Tonie Morgan (No. 32)

Chicago's draft was noticeably defined by cohesion and fit. Jaquez brings immediate two-way value, capable of defending top opponents while contributing consistently on offense.

The additional guards provide depth and playmaking, fitting perfectly into a system-oriented approach. While the Sky may not have landed an already established superstar, they added reliable contributors who align with their identity and could accelerate team chemistry alongside the new free agency signings .

Grade: B-

Connecticut Sun

Picks: Nell Angloma (No. 12), Gianna Kneepkens (No. 15), Charlisse Leger-Walker (No. 18), Serah Williams (No. 33, traded to Fire for Taylor Bigby)

Connecticut once again prioritized size and balance. Kneepkens, Leger-Walker, and Bigby strengthen the perimeter with shooting, good decision-making, and plenty of experience for their age, while Angloma adds size and physicality inside.

This is a solid and practical class that helps the Sun go another step forward in their rebuild. Connecticut added multiple rotation-level players who fit its playing style, even if the class lacks a singular franchise-changing star.

Grade: B+

Dallas Wings

Picks: Azzi Fudd (No. 1), Zee Spearman (No. 31)

Dallas made the defining move of the 2026 WNBA Draft by selecting Fudd first overall. She brings elite scoring and shot creation ability, and star potential, immediately elevating the franchise's outlook.

Zee Spearman, meanwhile, adds depth in the frontcourt. But the success of this class will ultimately depend on Fudd's development into a franchise cornerstone and her ability to take advantage of the existing chemistry with Wings teammate Paige Bueckers . Few teams changed their trajectory more dramatically in one night.

Grade: A

Golden State Valkyries

Picks: Flau'jae Johnson (No. 8, traded to Storm for Marta Suárez), Ashlon Jackson (No. 23), Kokoro Tanaka (No. 38)

Golden State ended up with a solid but slightly conservative class, especially after moving Johnson to Seattle on draft night. Suárez is a worthwhile player to have gotten in return, though, and her ability to hustle is hard to match.

Jackson offers immediate shooting depth and defensive capability, while Tanaka is an intriguing international prospect. However, the absence of a top-name talent limits the overall ceiling of this class, and the fact that the Valkyries' existing lineup is mostly still intact shows that the picks are more about roster maintenance and bench depth than transformation.

Grade: B

Indiana Fever

Picks: Raven Johnson (No. 10), Justine Pissott (No. 25), Jessica Timmons (No. 40)

Indiana focused on deepening its backcourt, adding scoring and playmaking to complement its existing core. Johnson is a fantastic two-way guard who will definitely help the Fever improve defensively.

While the talent level does improve the roster, they did not significantly address frontcourt depth. Regardless, this is a steady draft class that leans into development and can complement Indiana's fully healthy elite lineup.

Grade: B-

Las Vegas Aces

Picks: Janiah Barker (No. 29), Jordan Obi (No. 44)

For a championship contender like the Aces, the draft is more about depth than immediate impact. Barker and Obi are developmental players, and at least Barker can realistically carve out a bench role. But given the strength of the existing roster, this low-risk approach is understandable, even if it offers little in return immediately.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Sparks

Picks: Ta'Niya Latson (No. 20), Chance Gray (No. 24), Amelia Hassett (No. 35)

The Sparks got the steal of the draft in Latson, who somehow slipped from a first-round prospect into the second round. As the NCAA's leading scorer just a year ago, she brings a shooting ability that can hang with the vets around her and an improved all-around game thanks to Staley's system.

Now with the added experience of taking a step back and playing alongside a well-balanced team, Latson will slot perfectly into a lineup of high-caliber players in LA. Gray and Hassett were also high-upside shooters to take a chance on. The collective fit and depth make this a quietly effective draft for the Sparks.

Grade: B+

Minnesota Lynx

Picks: Olivia Miles (No. 2), Lani White (No. 45)

The Lynx, who had the second and very last picks in this year's WNBA Draft, addressed a critical need at the point guard position by drafting Miles. The TCU star's playmaking ability can transform the backcourt, which is now missing a few key pieces after the expansion draft and free agency.

Miles is a perfect culture fit for Minnesota and has the potential to become a long-term leader for the team. White is an interesting developmental addition, but the class will ultimately be judged by Miles' progression into a franchise superstar.

Grade: A-

New York Liberty

Picks: Manuela Puoch (No. 41)

With only one late selection, New York grabbed a draft-and-stash prospect from Australia. Puoch is an international player with developmental potential as a big who can hit threes, fitting more with New York's need of future depth than immediate help. However, there's no way to tell whether Puoch will be able to translate her style of play to the W or find her place in a mostly established Liberty lineup.

Grade: C+

Phoenix Mercury

Picks: Ines Pitarch-Granel (No. 27), Eszter Rátkai (No. 42)

Phoenix's draft outcome lacks a clear identity. Both selections offer international experience, but neither stands out as a difference-maker. It doesn't help that the Mercury's first pick didn't come until the end of the first round, but there was still plenty of talent on the board they could've snatched up to help fill Satou Sabally 's absence. Without a clear strategic direction or high-end talent, this class feels more speculative than impactful.

Grade: D

Portland Fire

Picks: Iyana Martín Carrión (No. 7), Frieda Bühner (No. 17), Taylor Bigby (No. 37, traded to the Sun for Serah Williams)

Portland surprisingly continued to embrace the global trend that appeared in the expansion draft , selecting two international prospects early. The Fire trading for Williams to add some athletic depth was the most surefire move they made in this year's draft, which is an intriguing strategy that signals the team's plan is to focus on long-term development. The potential is there, but the immediate impact of both drafts seems limited, and the Fire don't look like they'll pull of a Valkyries-level plot twist any time soon.

Grade: C-

Seattle Storm

Picks: Awa Fam (No. 3), Taina Mair (No. 14), Marta Suárez (No. 16, traded to Valkyries for Flau'jae Johnson), Grace VanSlooten (No. 39)

Seattle assembled one of the most impressive classes in the draft. Fam provides a dominant interior presence alongside last year's pick Dominique Malonga , while Johnson adds high-caliber scoring, nearly unmatched hustle, and star power. Mair's pick was a little more on the surprising side, but she and VanSlooten bring depth and versatility, giving the Storm both immediate contributors and long-term assets.

Grade: A-

Toronto Tempo

Picks: Kiki Rice (No. 6), Teonni Key (No. 22), Saffron Shiels (No. 26), Charlise Dunn (No. 36)

Toronto's inaugural class is anchored by Rice, a poised and skilled point guard capable of leading an offense right away. Meanwhile, if Key can continue to grow from her time at Kentucky, she contribute reliably on the defensive end.

Head coach Sandy Brondello is taking a chance by drafting two of her fellow Aussies in Shiels and Dunn, especially since Shiels has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the past year and may not come play in North America anytime soon. These picks prove that the Tempo's draft method was to build on a solid foundation of fundamentals for its first-ever season, but there are still some question marks here.

Grade: B-

Washington Mystics

Picks: Lauren Betts (No. 4), Angela Dugalić (No. 9), Cotie McMahon (No. 11), Cassandre Prosper (No. 19), Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (No. 30), Rori Harmon (No. 34)

Washington maximized its many opportunities, ending up with a deep and versatile class. Betts becomes the team's much-needed anchor the interior as a dominant big, while Dugalić provides an elite level of help. McMahon and Harmon also have deep skillsets that will undoubtedly add to the promising and talented roster.

Prosper and Littlepage-Buggs add to the Mystics' depth in a tangible way, leaving no pick in this draft wasted. The squad might be young overall, but this approach strengthens both the present roster and promises Washington will be a powerhouse in the future.

Grade: A

The 2026 WNBA Draft highlighted the growing league's strategic diversity. Teams like Dallas and Seattle capitalized on elite talent, while others such as Portland and New York focused on long-term development.

Across the board, the variety of players chosen reflects where women's basketball is headed. As these rookies begin their professional journeys, this class has the potential to reshape team identities and influence the W's competitive balance for years to come.

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