WNBA draft winners and losers: UCLA makes history, Ta'Niya Latson drops
NEW YORK — The 2026 WNBA Draft looked like it would have some surprises.
But as it turned out, Azzi Fudd, who was predicted to be the top pick going into the college season, was indeed, selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings . She will be reunited with UConn teammate Paige Bueckers .
UCLA had a record six players from their national title team drafted including Angela Dugalic, Gabriela Jaquez , Gianna Kneepkens , Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kiki Rice . Notre Dame had five players drafted in the top 20 in 2019. The 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks and 2008 Tennessee Volunteers also had five players drafted in a single year, but not in the first round.
In all 45 players had their names called. Here are the winners and losers of the WNBA draft:
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
2026 WNBA Draft winners
Dallas Wings
No one is probably more relieved the WNBA draft is over than the Wings. Picking Azzi Fudd No. 1 overall has to feel like a sigh of relief and happiness all at the same time. Fudd is a dynamic talent whom Dallas can pair with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to form a three-guard attack that should be hard to defend. The UConn product brings her stellar shooting and off-ball movement to a franchise that has sorely missed that in recent seasons.
Cori Close and UCLA
The Bruins set a WNBA draft record by having five players selected in the first round, led by Lauren Betts going fourth overall to the Washington Mystics . Beginning with Betts, UCLA had players taken back-to-back-back, with Gabriela Jaquez going fifth to the Chicago Sky and Kiki Rice going sixth to the Toronto Tempo . Angela Dugalić will join Betts in Washington as she was drafted ninth overall, while Gianna Kneepkens was taken 15th overall by the Connecticut Sun . A sixth UCLA player, Charlisse Leger-Walker, was taken in the second round by the Sun. With the transfer portal still open and her top six scorers to replace, UCLA head coach Cori Close can sell to recruits the fact that she can develop WNBA prospects.
Duke's Taina Mair
Taina Mair wasn't projected to go in the first-round on many draft boards, but the Duke guard played her way into the No. 14 pick by way of a sensational performance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament . Mair scored 43 total points across Duke's Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games against LSU and UCLA, respectively. Mair is the first Blue Devil selected in the first round since 2018, when Lexie Brown was taken ninth overall by the Connecticut Sun.
Dawn Staley and South Carolina
South Carolina ended its season with an ugly loss to UCLA in the national championship game, but Dawn Staley's program officially turned the page with a great showing at the 2026 WNBA Draft. Staley had three players selected in the draft, led by Raven Johnson going to the Indiana Fever with the No. 10 overall pick.
2026 WNBA Draft losers
Teams allowing the Las Vegas Aces to draft Janiah Barker
The Las Vegas Aces always manage to pull off a head-turning move without many draft picks. They did it again this year by drafting Janiah Barker late in the second round, a good value at No. 29. The new Aces rookie gets the chance to learn from a gaggle of veterans who have won at the highest level in nearly every possible way, something many in their first year don't get the chance to experience. The Tennessee forward already a solid blend of size and skill that make her hard to defend when she's in rhythm, and now she'll have a chance to be coached by Becky Hammon, which can help refine her skills. Pencil Barker in on the way-too-early All-WNBA rookie team.
South Carolina's Ta'Niya Latson
Latson transferred to South Carolina from Florida State to boost her WNBA draft stock and be part of something bigger. It seemed like she would accomplish both of those goals as the Gamecocks reached the national title game and Latson was widely projected to be a first-round pick. But of the 15 prospects invited to attend the WNBA draft, Latson had to wait the longest. She was finally taken off the board by the Los Angeles Sparks , who grabbed her in the second round with the 20th overall pick. Latson will get the chance to make an impact in LA as she joins a Sparks team equipped with Kelsey Plum , but otherwise needs backcourt depth.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 WNBA Draft winners and losers: UCLA makes history
