What's Going On With The WNBA

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:52:41 +0000

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2026 WNBA Championship Odds: Dream Scenario

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:51:00 +0000

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The Atlanta Dream sent shockwaves across the WNBA on Monday by acquiring two-time All-Star Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky in a blockbuster trade for two future first-round picks.

Oddsmakers reacted instantly by adjusting the Dream’s championship odds from +1500 to +850, vaulting them into the top tier of genuine title contenders.

Fresh off a franchise-best 30-win season in 2025, Atlanta now pairs the league's reigning rebounding leader with stars Rhyne Howard and Brittney Griner.

Reese’s relentless motor and defensive interior presence provide the final piece for Coach Karl Smesko’s high-efficiency system.

Let's take an early look at 2026 WNBA odds for which squads are favored to hoist the trophy next.

🏆 2026 WNBA title odds favorites

Odds courtesy of bet365, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

📈 WNBA championship odds over time

Here's a visual representation of how the WNBA championship has odds evolved since the offseason.

WNBA opening oddsMinnesota Lynx +300Indiana Fever +350Las Vegas Aces +360New York Liberty +500Phoenix Mercury +1000Atlanta Dream +2000Seattle Storm +2200Golden State Valkyries +3500Los Angeles Sparks +4600Washington Mystics +4700Dallas Wings +5000 Chicago Sky +15000Toronto Tempo +20000Connecticut Sun +25000Portland Fire +25000Understanding WNBA championship odds

Sportsbooks will post odds for the WNBA Finals shortly after the previous season's conclusion. These odds are constantly adjusted throughout the offseason as players switch teams or are injured. Once the regular season begins (May), title odds will change daily as teams win and lose games and more roster changes occur. Sportsbooks will also adjust the WNBA odds based on handle and liability to certain teams.

WNBA Championship odds will usually look like this:

New York Liberty +300

This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to profit $300 if the Liberty win the WNBA title. If it's close to the end of the season and the WNBA has a particularly dominant team, you might see a minus sign (-) ahead of its odds. 

Las Vegas Aces -380

This means you have to bet $380 to win $100 on an Aces championship.

Above we have posted the American odds for the WNBA championship. However, these are easy to convert to decimal odds or fractional odds with our odds converter tool. And don't forget to check out our WNBA forum if you're interested in chatting with other basketball bettors about WNBA odds. 

Past WNBA Finals winners

Odds courtesy of Sports Odds History.

Teams with the most WNBA Championships

Minnesota, Houston, and Seattle are tied atop the all-time WNBA Championship tally with four apiece, while three more teams follow closely with three each.

Despite their early dominance, the Comets folded during the 2008 recession and were disbanded when the league was unable to find new ownership. 

WNBA Championship odds trends

Here are some trends to keep in mind when betting on WNBA championship futures: 

The No. 1 overall seed has gone on to win the title in eight of the past 10 seasons.

The Houston Comets, Seattle Storm, and Minnesota Lynx are tied for most all-time WNBA Championships with four apiece.

The Aces' 2023 win was the first time a team had repeated as WNBA champs since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002.

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2026 WNBA Mock Draft: Projecting all 45 picks

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Lauren Betts #51 of the UCLA Bruins and Maryam Dauda #30 of the South Carolina Gamecocks battle for position during the first quarter in the National Championship of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 WNBA Draft is almost here, and that’s always reason enough for excitement. The fact that it’s taking place in the middle of an unprecedented offseason makes things even more chaotic.

Fresh off the signing of a historic collective bargaining agreement, the WNBA is essentially speed running its offseason in order to begin the 2026 regular season on time. One week after the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo expansion draft, free agency has opened, and unlike a typical offseason in which the annual WNBA Draft happens long after things have cooled down, the 2026 Draft will be held next Monday – just a few days into the accelerated free agency period, and likely well before many key free agents have made their decisions.

Needless to say, there’s going to be a lot going on at once, and with teams around the WNBA juggling free agency and the draft at the same time, it’s going to be even tougher than usual to predict where each of the draftees will be headed. Nevertheless, this is a crucial moment for the WNBA to build upon the momentum it’s enjoying, and with two new teams and an unusually ambiguous situation near the top of the draft board, it’s better to embrace the chaos than to shy away from it.

So, in following an SB Nation tradition, here’s our 2026 WNBA Mock Draft, with projections for all three rounds and 45 players.

1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam, C (Spain)

Fam is widely regarded as the top international prospect in this year’s draft class, and though she’s just 19 years old, she already has plenty of experience playing for the Spanish national team and in higher-level FIBA competitions. An excellent pick-and-roll player and a strong passer for her position, Fam’s game is tailor-made for WNBA offenses, and slotting her next to a future MVP candidate in Paige Bueckers would give the Wings one of the highest-upside guard/center duos in the league. To be clear, there’s not much that Dallas doesn’t need at the moment, but if the Wings are thinking about how to best complement their young star, it will be hard for them to pass on a talent like Fam.

2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles, G (TCU)

The Lynx are in the enviable position of adding a top-two pick to what should be a championship-caliber roster, so there are plenty of directions they can go in here. Miles would improve Minnesota’s backcourt depth significantly and give the team its point guard of the future, and judging from the emphasis the Lynx have placed on ball movement and assisted shot rate in recent seasons, they should be excited by that idea. Miles is the best playmaker in the class; she excels at getting into the paint, pushing the ball in transition and creating shots for others, and she’d thrive in a Lynx culture that already values finding open teammates.

3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd, G (UConn)

You won’t find a better jumpshooter in the class than Fudd. She averaged a career-best 17.3 points per game as a graduate student, shooting 44.7 percent on 6.7 3-point attempts per game, and her rock-solid mechanics made her one of the country’s most prolific off-screen scorers. While Fudd isn’t the type of guard who will consistently create shots off the dribble, her off-ball gravity and instincts will be tremendously useful wherever she’s drafted, and that’s something the Storm should be strongly considering.

4. Washington Mystics: Lauren Betts, C (UCLA)

Betts reminded everyone just how dominant she can be during UCLA’s championship run, averaging 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game and shooting 68.8 percent from the floor in NCAA Tournament play. While there’s no blindingly obvious fit for Betts early in the draft, 6-foot-7 centers who can move their feet, make consistent reads and score efficiently don’t grow on trees, and it would be surprising if the All-American fell out of lottery range due to teams’ positional needs. The Mystics showed last season that they’re comfortable accumulating young talent, and if Betts falls to them at No. 4, it’s feasible that they’ll take her there and figure the rest out later.

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice, G (UCLA)

The Sky once again find themselves in a rebuild after trading franchise cornerstone Angel Reese to Atlanta, and without having much in the way of future assets, this is a pick they simply need to get right. Rice was one of the country’s more productive lead guards as a senior, averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and over 90 percent on free throws, and with her size and skill she should be able to play at either guard position in the WNBA. She was also frequently hailed by UCLA’s coaches as the program’s culture-setter, which should appeal to a Sky team in desperate need of a dependable building block.

6. Toronto Tempo: Raven Johnson, G (South Carolina)

Not many players in this class have raised their draft stock as much as Johnson, who bet on herself by returning to college for another season and has been reaping the rewards. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year can guard at an elite level anywhere on the perimeter and isn’t afraid to mix it up against taller players, either. On offense, Johnson has become a dependable (albeit low-volume) 3-point shooter, and she’s unflappable with the ball in her hands, most recently posting an assist/turnover ratio of 3.16. Her on-court leadership and ability to set the tone on defense would make her a fine choice for Toronto’s first-ever draft pick.

7. Portland Fire: Flau’jae Johnson, G (LSU)

Johnson became one of college basketball’s biggest stars almost immediately, and though her production tapered off as a senior, she’s clearly still a first-round talent. One of the few guards in the class who can truly push the envelope on both ends of the floor, Johnson is a lithe, explosive scorer with a smooth pull-up jumpshot, and she makes plays on defense that most other guards simply aren’t physically capable of making. As an expansion team, it would make sense for Portland to make a bet on her upside. 

8. Golden State Valkyries: Gabriela Jaquez, G/F (UCLA)

Jaquez made a name for herself as one of the nation’s best “glue” players, and while that might seem like faint praise, she showed just how valuable a wing with such a malleable skillset can be. Jaquez posted elite shooting splits as a senior (62.2 percent on 2-pointers, 39 percent on 3-pointers and 86 percent on free throws), and her nose for the basketball makes her a constant threat on the offensive boards. She’d fit on any WNBA team, so don’t expect her to fall much further than this.

9. Washington Mystics: Gianna Kneepkens, G (UCLA)

No WNBA team made or attempted fewer 3-pointers than the Mystics did last season, so they’ll probably be trying to modernize their shot profile through the draft. Kneepkens is an outstanding shooter, having made at least 42 percent of her threes in each season dating back to 2022. Kneepkens’ release is a bit unorthodox and she may have a hard time staying in front of quicker guards on defense, but she’s a good enough passer and cutter to contribute in areas beyond only shooting.

10. Indiana Fever: Ta’Niya Latson, G (South Carolina)

Indiana spent much of last season trying to make up for injuries to its backcourt, and while that was a somewhat extreme example of how a lack of depth can affect a team, the Fever should probably be looking to shore up their guard rotation anyway. They could certainly do much worse than Latson, who is among the most talented scorers in the country. A three-time All-ACC First-Teamer and former Division I scoring champ, Latson transferred to South Carolina from Florida State to compete for a championship and become a better all-around player, and under Dawn Staley’s tutelage she increased her field goal percentage (48.6 percent) while significantly cutting down on her turnovers. Latson’s strength will always be her scoring, though; she can get into the paint and draw fouls at will, and while she’s probably not going to be as prolific of a scorer in the WNBA as she was at Florida State, her shot creation will be invaluable.

11. Washington Mystics: Nell Angloma, F (France)

Angloma has made a lot of noise playing for Montpellier in EuroCup Women and the Ligue Féminine, and though she slowed down a bit in the second half of the French season, at 19 years old her best days are still ahead of her. Angloma’s pure strength and relentlessness attacking the hoop make her a major threat in transition, and despite her age, she’ll be able to handle the WNBA’s physicality right away. Even if she can’t make it this summer, she’s plenty worthy of being drafted and stashed in the first round, which the Mystics would have no problem doing with one of their three first-round picks.

12. Connecticut Sun: Iyana Martín, G (Spain)

The Sun were one of the worst teams in the league last season and aren’t in a very favorable draft position, so they might need to think outside the box here. Martín is only 20 years old, but she’s already a featured player for Spanish club Perfumerias Avenida, and she was impressive for the Spanish national team in the recent FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Connecticut doesn’t have much going on at guard right now, so Martín would fill a need right away, and seeing as how the Sun are in the middle of a rebuild, they could afford to be a little more patient with her than other WNBA teams.

13. Atlanta Dream: Marta Suarez, F (TCU)

We all know that Dream head coach Karl Smesko wants his team to shoot a lot of threes, and judging from how Naz Hillmon transformed her game to fit that system last year, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Atlanta draft another stretch big. Suarez bombed away from long range in her graduate season, shooting 37 percent on six 3-point attempts per game, and she’d get plenty of open looks playing alongside Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese. She can also pass the ball better than most at her position, and while she’s been turnover-prone throughout her collegiate career, that’s hopefully something that can be mitigated in a pro system.

14. Seattle Storm: Cotie McMahon, F (Ole Miss)

When McMahon transferred from Ohio State to Ole Miss for her senior season, she instantly became one of the SEC’s highest-profile players, and she was as good as advertised for the Rebels, averaging a career-best 19.1 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists. McMahon is known for her bull-in-a-china-shop style of play, and while Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin gave McMahon more reps as a passer than she ever had previously, her ability to slash and draw contact remained her greatest strength, yielding 6.6 free throw attempts per game. 

15. Connecticut Sun: Madina Okot, C (South Carolina)

South Carolina would have loved to keep Okot for another season, but the appeal they submitted was recently denied, so the 6-foot-6 center will be headed to the WNBA instead. Okot’s physical gifts are obvious, and even though she’s only been playing basketball for a few years, finishing her collegiate career for a Gamecocks program that regularly churns out WNBA talent could only have done her good; she averaged 12.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and even showed glimpses of a 3-point shot. The Sun are still firmly in the phase of acquiring as much young talent as possible and seeing what sticks, so they can afford to take a swing on Okot at the end of the first round.

16. Seattle Storm: Tonie Morgan, G (Kentucky)

Morgan’s decision to transfer from Georgia Tech to Kentucky for her senior season turned out to be a beneficial one, as she ranked second in the country in assists per game (7.9) for a Wildcats team that made the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. An athletic downhill attacker, Morgan excels in the drive-and-kick game, and while her 3-point shot is still a bit shaky, she has the physical tools to be an above-average defender in a more aggressive scheme. She’d be a solid addition to the Storm, especially if they lose Skylar Diggins-Smith in free agency.

17. Portland Fire: Janiah Barker, F (Tennessee)

As a mobile, 6-foot-4 forward who can dribble, shoot from the midrange and move well laterally, Barker’s ceiling has never been in question, but she never truly put it all together at any of her three programs (Texas A&M, UCLA and Tennessee). Still, Barker is too talented to fall much further than this, and though she has possibly the widest range of outcomes of any player in this class, if a team like Portland has patience and invests in her development, she could significantly outplay her draft position.

18. Connecticut Sun: Lani White, G (Utah)

White was a bit of a late bloomer, having only been a full-time starter in her junior and senior seasons, but she finished her collegiate career strong, averaging 15.9 points per game and shooting 40.4 percent from long range. Factor in her size on the perimeter (6-foot-0) and there’s a lot to like about White’s chances in the pros, especially on a team that could use a reliable 3-point shooter.

19. Washington Mystics: Frieda Bühner, F (Germany)

Bühner has been playing for the German senior national team since 2024, and she most recently averaged 19 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in EuroCup Women for Spanish club Movistar Estudiantes. Bühner’s lack of size in the frontcourt (6-foot-1) will likely limit her positional versatility, but she’s a highly efficient scorer, and she shoots the 3-pointer well enough (40.7 percent in EuroCup play) to be drafted as a stretch big early in the second round.

20. Los Angeles Sparks: Teonni Key, C (Kentucky)

The Sparks had size last season, but it didn’t translate to good team defense, so don’t be surprised if they try to shore that up through this year’s draft. At 6-foot-5, Key is more of a traditional center, and though she had to share the paint with All-SEC forward Clara Strack, Kentucky made it work, ranking second in Division I in block rate (16.3 percent) as a team. Key’s experience anchoring that kind of defensive infrastructure would make her a welcome addition to the Sparks, especially if they’re looking for a more physical big to play alongside Cameron Brink.

21. Chicago Sky: Kara Dunn, G (USC)

Dunn has averaged better than 15 points per game in each of her last three seasons (two at Georgia Tech and one at USC) and has been efficient in doing so, most recently shooting 57.3 percent on 2-pointers and 37.8 percent on threes. The Sky could stand to improve their shot profile for 2026, and a big part of that will be adding wing players who are willing to shoot the ball; Dunn, an All-Big Ten Second-Teamer, is someone who could bring more of a scoring punch.

22. Toronto Tempo: Charlisse Leger-Walker, G (UCLA)

Leger-Walker may have been the least-heralded player in UCLA’s stacked starting lineup, but the former Washington State standout provided a crucial, steady-handed backcourt presence next to Kiki Rice, averaging a team-high 5.6 assists per game and keeping the Bruins’ offense moving. Granted, her role was much smaller than it had been in past seasons, when she stuffed the stat sheet on a daily basis. Leger-Walker will surely get drafted by a team in need of guard depth such as Toronto, though she may need to prove that she’s still capable of being more than a game manager in training camp.

23. Golden State Valkyries: Shay Ciezki, G (Indiana)

Ciezki finished her collegiate career with a bang, nearly doubling her scoring effort from last season at 22.8 points per game and knocking down 2.5 3-pointers per game at a 44.6 percent clip. There will inevitably be questions about how effectively the 5-foot-7 Ciezki will be able to get her shot off at the pro level, but with range that extends well beyond the arc, she could find a role as a gunner off of Golden State’s bench.

24. Los Angeles Sparks: Angela Dugalić, F (UCLA)

Dugalić may have sacrificed her spot in UCLA’s starting lineup in her final season, but she was still a key contributor to the Bruins’ championship run, providing efficient scoring and defensive versatility at power forward. It’s fair to wonder if Dugalić’s graduate season wasn’t just a one-off (her 58.8 percent 2-point shooting percentage was by far a career-best), but at a mobile and skilled 6-foot-4, she’s going to be coveted regardless.

25. Indiana Fever: Nyla Harris, F (North Carolina)

The heart and soul of a Tar Heels team that made the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, Harris is an exceptionally hard worker whose numbers (11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game) often undersold her overall impact. Even so, she averaged 3.1 offensive rebounds per game and shot 60.2 percent on 2-pointers, and she’s the type of big who can make an instant impact if she’s paired with a good pick-and-roll guard.

26. Toronto Tempo: Latasha Lattimore, F (Ole Miss)

In terms of pure athletic potential, Lattimore is one of the most intriguing prospects in the class. A rangy 6-foot-4, Lattimore gets off the floor quickly and blocks shots with ease, and though she was often used on the perimeter during her stint at Ole Miss, she showed the ability to attack closeouts off the dribble as well. Lattimore doesn’t currently have an ideal position on either end of the court, but she still has a path to WNBA success, should she land with the right player development coach.

27. Phoenix Mercury: Maggie Doogan, F (Richmond)

Doogan is the classic example of an immensely productive mid-major player who doesn’t get the same kind of shine as her power conference peers. She led Richmond to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments and won Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors twice, most recently averaging 21.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game as a senior. Doogan obviously won’t be asked to carry a team like that as a pro, but the fact that she shot 59.2 on 2-pointers and 40.4 percent on 3-pointers while commanding that much defensive attention bodes well for how she’ll fit alongside WNBA talent.

28. Atlanta Dream: Sydney Shaw, G (West Virginia)

Another shooter for the Dream. West Virginia has been known for its press defense and the tenacity of its guards, and while Shaw proved to be more than capable in playing in such a system, most of her value came via her 3-point shooting. Shaw got up 6.4 threes per game as a senior, making 42.4 percent of them, which was crucial for a team whose other players preferred to get into the paint and get to the free throw line.

29. Las Vegas Aces: Rori Harmon, G (Texas)

Small point guards who don’t shoot many 3-pointers generally don’t have long shelf lives in the WNBA, but if any such player can buck that trend, it’s Harmon. One of the peskiest point-of-attack defenders in the country, Harmon was named to four All-Defense Teams during her time at Texas (two in the Big 12 and two in the SEC), and the 3.78 assist/turnover ratio she posted this season ranked No. 3 in Division I. 

30. Washington Mystics: Jessica Timmons, G (Alabama)

A change of scenery was all Timmons needed to prove that she was one of the country’s deadliest scorers. After struggling to get consistent playing time at NC State, she was much more successful at Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide in scoring (16.3 points per game) and earning All-SEC honors. While Timmons didn’t contribute nearly as much peripherally, her quickness with the ball and ability to knock down shots off the dribble will be what WNBA teams value.

31. Dallas Wings: Kyla Oldacre, C (Texas)

No one embodies Texas toughness quite like Oladacre. The 6-foot-6 center is nearly impossible to keep off the boards, and the physicality she plays with ensures that she draws plenty of fouls. She’s not going to play heavy minutes no matter where she gets drafted, but she’ll be productive in her time on the court; according to Her Hoop Stats, Oldacre posted an offensive rebounding rate of 15.5 percent, a block rate of 6.0 percent and a free throw rate of 26.7 percent as a senior.

32. Chicago Sky: Cassandre Prosper, F (Notre Dame)

If the Sky are still looking for help at forward in the third round, Prosper would be a good choice. The ACC’s Most Improved Player, Prosper stepped into a consistent starting role for the first time as a senior, and she posted career-highs in scoring (13.6 points), rebounding (6.5 rebounds) and defensive stats (1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks). She also moves her feet better than most power forwards and brings a good amount of versatility in defending the pick and roll as a result.

33. Connecticut Sun: Laila Phelia, G/F (Syracuse)

Though an eye injury derailed Phelia’s once-promising collegiate career, she was able to regain some momentum after transferring to Syracuse for her senior season, averaging 13.7 points and two steals per game and earning All-ACC Second Team honors. Phelia isn’t the most efficient scorer, but as a large perimeter defender who can knock down the 3-pointer at a decent clip, she’ll have some appeal as a complementary player later in the draft.

34. Washington Mystics: Jalyn Brown, G (Michigan State)

Brown had to sacrifice her high-usage role when she transferred from Arizona State to Michigan State, but she turned in the most efficient scoring season of her career, shooting 56.6 on 2-pointers and 41.3 on threes. At 6-foot-1, Brown brings plenty of size to the perimeter, so if her jump in scoring efficiency is for real, she offers decent two-way potential for a team looking to add to its wing depth.

35. Los Angeles Sparks: Jordan Harrison, G (West Virginia)

What Harrison lacks in size (5-foot-6) she makes up for in relentlessness, especially defensively. An All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defense Team selection, Harrison was the head of the snake for a havoc-inducing Mountaineers team, averaging 5.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game. It may be difficult for Harrison to stick on a team that already has several options at point guard, but she’s absolutely the kind of player who can unseat an established veteran if they’re too complacent in training camp.

36. Toronto Tempo: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, F (Baylor)

It’s easy to look at Littlepage-Buggs and imagine swiss-army-knife potential, especially as a defensive player. She’s mobile, long-limbed, and aggressive on the glass, and her ability to rebound and push the ball herself added a unique dimension to Baylor’s offense. What’s not as clear is how Littlepage-Buggs will contribute to a WNBA team in the halfcourt; her physical gifts may be enough to sneak her onto the right roster, but everything else is still mostly theoretical.

37. Portland Fire: Christeen Iwuala, F (Ole Miss)

Iwuala broke out as a senior, averaging a career-best 12.5 points and 8.3 rebounds (3.4 offensive) per game while shooting 60.1 percent from the field, and that was on an Ole Miss team that didn’t exactly put a premium on floor spacing. Iwuala may not have the height to play center at the WNBA level, but there aren’t many harder workers on the offensive glass, and she could really do some damage alongside pro-level guard play.

38. Golden State Valkyries: Mya Perry, G (Cincinnatti)

The Bearcats’ leading scorer at 17.8 points per game, Perry is open the second she walks into the gym, with a quick release and the ability to can deep 3-pointers coming off screens. Perry’s peripheral statistics were nothing to write home about, both at Cincinnati and her prior school, Florida Atlantic, but her talents as a shooter are not in question, and she might be able to find a home in the WNBA as more of a specialist than a go-to scorer.

39. Seattle Storm: Ashlon Jackson, G (Duke)

Jackson has a knack for hitting big shots, and she cemented herself as a Duke legend when her game-winning jumper lifted the Blue Devils past LSU in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. This might be a case of the lore exceeding the production – Jackson wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of efficiency as a senior, shooting 40 percent on 2-pointers and 30.7 percent on 3-pointers – but her shot quality could improve greatly playing alongside WNBA talent, and this late in the draft, teams will want to bet on her basketball pedigree.

40. Indiana Fever: Serah Williams, F (UConn)

Williams transferred to UConn after three seasons as Wisconsin’s featured player, and though her counting stats took a major hit, she posted career-highs in scoring efficiency (58.8 field goal percentage) and block rate (9.8 percent). Williams can definitely score, as evidenced by her time with the Badgers (17.4 points per game as a sophomore and 19.2 as a junior), but it’s more likely she makes a WNBA roster because of her defense.

41. New York Liberty: Grace VanSlooten, F (Michigan State)

VanSlooten showed considerable improvement after transferring from Oregon to Michigan State, averaging at least 15 points per game and shooting better than 50 percent from the field in two seasons as a Spartan. She’s not a great free throw shooter and lacks range on her jumpshot – two factors that are going to limit her draft appeal as a combo forward – but she’s a hard worker on the offensive glass and showed that she can compete in an uptempo defensive system, so she’ll have more than enough going for her as she competes for a roster spot.

42. Phoenix Mercury: Indya Nivar, G (North Carolina)

Nivar certainly has the physical tools to be a WNBA guard – at least on defense, where her quickness and top-notch instincts make her one of the country’s most prolific ball hawks (2.7 steals per game). Her poor free throw shooting and finishing at the rim are red flags, however, so until those get resolved, she’ll have to lean on her hustle and defense to earn herself a spot on a training camp roster.

43. Atlanta Dream: Yarden Garzon, G (Maryland)

Garzon’s stock took a hit after an underwhelming senior season at Maryland, but her size on the perimeter (6-foot-3) and ability to launch 3-pointers from well beyond the arc should still be enough to get her drafted. As she showed earlier in her collegiate career at Indiana, Garzon is perfectly capable of shooting above 40 percent on threes on high volume; the question will be whether she can hang well enough athletically to take advantage of that skill.

44. Las Vegas Aces: Laura Ziegler, F (Louisville)

Ziegler finished her collegiate career at Louisville after three strong seasons at Saint Joseph’s, and while that meant she was no longer her team’s go-to player, she still made the All-ACC First Team after averaging 11 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Ziegler isn’t much of a defensive playmaker at power forward, but she’s an above-average passer for her position and can knock down the 3-pointer at a decent clip, making her an intriguing later-round option for a team looking to add some offensive skill to their frontcourt.

45. Minnesota Lynx: Raegan Beers, C (Oklahoma)

A two-time All-SEC First Team honoree, Beers made a name for herself as one of the country’s most efficient low-post scorers, and on the surface her numbers are impressive: In each of the past three seasons, she averaged better than 15 points and nine rebounds per game, and shot well above 60 percent from the field. She’s strictly a drop coverage defender, however, and that’s not going to change in the WNBA; Beers’ offensive ability should still get her drafted, but she’ll have to land on a team in major need of frontcourt depth in order to stick.

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Three pressing questions about the potential of the Connecticut Sun’s final WNBA season

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Aneesah Morrow, Leïla Lacan and Saniya Rivers. | NBAE via Getty Images

The WNBA’s time in Connecticut is sunsetting.

The Connecticut Sun, an institution of WNBA excellence, both on the court and in the stands, since 2003 are becoming the Houston Comets in 2027 after the sale of the team.

But before the impending relocation and rebranding , Connecticut will celebrate its Sunset Season.

So, what should we expect from the Sun during their 2026 swan song? Will the organization reward the fans in Uncasville and across New England with one last memorable season? Or, is the future in Houston already directing franchise decisions? Sun fans, script your ideal farewell, or spill any frustrations, in the comments.

1. Is “No wins for Watkins” the edict for the Sun?

It’s unclear how much influence, official or implicit, the incoming ownership and leadership of the Comets has over the current basketball operations of the Sun.

Can Connecticut autonomously make moves? Or, are they expected to adhere to certain expectations, such not trading away future draft picks, clogging the salary cap sheets with big contracts or doing anything else that could have longer-term ramifications?

The moves the Sun do, or don’t, might provide hints.

Thus far, it seems like the Sun are prioritizing the future over the present, as the organization did not protect Marina Mabrey in the expansion draft, allowing her to be selected by the Toronto Tempo.

There’s an argument that leaving Mabrey up for grabs for one of the expansion team was a smart team-building strategy, regardless of who is calling the shots.

Mabrey’s best WNBA season was as a super sub on the 2024 Sun, as she hasn’t proven to have the true star goods required to elevate a team. However, considering Connecticut made her the offensive No. 1 last season, it’s fair for her to want to maintain that role, and receive a contract requisite of it. The Sun could have cored Mabrey and subsequently traded her, but, after her trade request saga from last offseason, Connecticut might have realized that they were unlikely to secure significant assets in such a deal. In short, letting Marina go allowed the Sun to avoid a contract negotiation standoff and/or a difficult trade market.

Alternatively, the Sun could have kept Mabrey and tried to build a roster better suited to support her talents. However, in their liminal state, the Sun are unlikely to be able to attract the kind of star-adjacent veteran free agents that could maximize Mabrey.

But, biding goodbye to Marina does NOT mean the Sun are, or should-be, in full tank-mode. That is, unless that’s the order from on high.

If dreams of JuJu Watkins are dancing in the heads of folks in Houston, is Connecticut supposed to do what’s necessary—lose lots of games—to possibly gift the Comets, and all the bandwagoners suddenly interested in the WNBA, the No. 1 pick? That would be pretty cruel twist for Sun fans.

What’s your assessment of the Sun’s plan for 2026? Should they have protected Mabrey, whether to re-sign or trade her? Are you concerned that the Comets, and not the Sun, are the priority? Whatever the plan, are Sun fans getting screwed? (Yes.)

2. Can any of the Sun’s young players start to make a star leap?

The Sun also might be too good to rack up losses, and the lottery balls that come with them.

No, the playoffs are not a likely outcome for the Sun. Nevertheless, this team is stocked with enough talent to believe that they’re not doomed to defeat after defeat.

Leïla Lacan, in particular, showed a lot during her first season in the WNBA and seems poised for an even better sophomore season. During her 25 games last season, she flashed star upside, twice scoring more than 20 points in game, registering a 14-assist game and averaging over 2.2 steals per contest. She then has turned in a fantastic season competing in EuroLeague Women, helping Basket Landes overachieve and earn a spot in the Final Six. With good size, excellent perimeter defense, an ability to get to the rim and passing chops, Lacan is a a reliable jumper away from guaranteeing a star guard trajectory.

The Sun’s 2025 first-round draft picks also inspire confidence. Aneesah Morrow’s relentlessness on the glass instantly translated to the WNBA, while Saniya Rivers’ top-tier athleticism made her one of the best defenders in the W from the jump. While both need to find a way to more consistent offensive production to become true stars, they project to provide star-in-their-role impact.

The Sun also have two more young players who have a chance of becoming special. Last season, the team swung a midseason trade for Aaliyah Edwards. On Thursday, they took a similar flier on Diamond Miller.

Edwards is coming off an impactful Unrivaled season, setting the league record for double-doubles. As Beckett Harrison explained during Unrivaled, it’s unwise to think Edwards can totally translate her 3×3 success to a 5×5 setting. Beckett also wrote extensively about her struggles to gain traction as a member of the Washington Mystics.

Even so, Edwards has shown enough to hold out hope that this is the season in which she finds her WNBA niche.

The same applies to Miller, who showed hints of stardom after the Minnesota Lynx drafted her No. 2 overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Injuries then interrupted her rise. After she was traded to the Dallas Wings last season, she looked particularly out of sorts. But, she is still a 6-foot-3 25-year-old forward who had five games of more than 20 points as a rookie. The book is far from closed on Miller’s W future.

Watching this fivesome blossom should be tons of fun for Sun fans. There’s also a chance that Connecticut continues to acquire more young players stuck in situations similar to those of Edwards and Miller, further stocking the team with players who could rediscover their promise in a Sun uniform.

Do you think Lacan has real star upside? What about Morrow and Rivers? Are you confident that Edwards and/or Miller can become positive contributors in Connecticut? Are there any young players you would like to see the Sun try to trade for? Or, do you think the team needs some vets to provide stability?

3. Who should the Sun hope falls to No. 12 in the draft?

The No. 12 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft will give the Sun another young talent to development.

After projecting Gianna Kneepkens to the Sun in his pre-Tournament mock draft, our Eric Nemchock now has the Sun selecting Iyana Martín, the Spanish point guard prospect, with Kneepkens off the board. Connecticut certainly could use the 3-point shooting of someone like Kneepkens, although Martín, who just turned 20-years-old, possesses more upside. She could also give the team a different guard archetype, allowing for interesting combinations with Lacan and Rivers.

Depending on the team’s plans with Olivia Nelson-Ododa, a restricted free agent, the Sun might look to buoy their frontcourt size, as both Morrow and Edwards are undersized bigs. Eric has Connecticut taking Madina Okot at No. 15; if they’re concerned about another team grabbing her, they could take her at No. 12.

The 6-foot-6 Okot has showed precocious basketball instincts, rapidly increasing her skill and confidence despite not picking up the game until she was 17-years-old. If Connecticut believes in her shooting stroke, her offensive versatility could make for a fascinating frontcourt partnership with Morrow. They pair might also grab every rebound.

Who should the Sun select at No. 12? Would you like to see them invest in the backcourt or frontcourt? Is there another prospect that intrigues you?

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Kelsey Mitchell to sign supermax deal, become first $1 million player in Fever history: Sources

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:16:06 +0000

The Indiana Fever and Kelsey Mitchell have agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract that will keep the star guard in Indiana, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Friday. Mitchell can sign her new deal Saturday, per WNBA rules, which will make her the first player in Fever history to make $1 million in a single season.

Mitchell, a three-time All-Star, averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game last year. She led the Fever to the semifinals of the playoffs, despite her main backcourt mate, two-time All-Star Caitlin Clark, being limited to just 13 games due to a slew of soft tissue injuries.

This is a developing story. More to come.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Indiana Fever, WNBA

2026 The Athletic Media Company

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Biggest questions for East contenders, Sparks add Nneka Ogwumike + Ariel Atkins, WNBA free agency reactions

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:31:55 +0000

Subscribe to The Dunker SpotApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

We have a jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way!

First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones look at the top-six in the Eastern Conference (Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Cavaliers, Raptors, Hawks) and share their biggest questions for each team as we inch closer to the playoffs.

From there, the guys shift to the WNBA and react to the Los Angeles Sparks making major moves -- first closing in on a trade centered around sending Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky for Ariel Atkins, then bringing back franchise legend Nneka Ogwumike. They discuss the fits for each move, and how those moves impact their plans moving forward.

They continue their WNBA discussion by analyzing the Diamond Miller-to-Connecticut trade, saluting Aces wing Jackie Young -- officially the WNBA's first $1 million player -- exploring the rumor mill, and catching up on other news.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

1:45 Detroit Pistons

16:30 Boston Celtics

26:15 New York Knicks

36:15 Cleveland Cavaliers

43:01 Toronto Raptors

49:28 Atlanta Hawks

55:14 WNBA news

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown #7 shake hands during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out all episodes of The Dunker Spot and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

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Liberty plan to bring back free agent fan favorite Marine Johannes

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:33:01 +0000

New York Liberty guard Marine Johannès (23) brings up the ball during a game against the Phoenix Mercury.

Shut down the rumor mills. 

Marine Johannès isn’t expected to go anywhere after all.

The Liberty fully intend to re-sign Johannès and plan to have the fan favorite back in New York this summer, a league source told The Post Friday.

Johannès, 31, received a reserved qualifying offer from the Liberty earlier this week, which opened the pathway for her return.

She had been rumored to be a trade candidate, though the league source shut that down point blank.

Johannès was the only Liberty player who appeared in all 44 regular-season games, averaging 6.4 points while shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from deep.

She fell out of the rotation in the playoffs, logging only 10 minutes in three games in the first round against the Mercury.

Johannès has the potential, though, to be a difference-maker for the Liberty.

New York Liberty guard Marine Johannès (23) brings up the ball during a game against the Phoenix Mercury. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post

Johannès the only player who’s been with New York since 2019, though she missed two seasons for the Olympics and another because of the pandemic. She’s become beloved by fans for her one-legged 3s and electric playmaking.

She’s a career 37.7 percent shooter from downtown. Her adaptability and skillset allow her to complement a variety of different lineups. 

Johannès gives the Liberty guard depth, though New York is still in the market for a true backup point guard. 

While the official negotiating period opens Wednesday, WNBA teams can’t start signing players until Saturday.

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Nneka Ogwumike to return to the Los Angeles Sparks, where she spent first 12 years of her career

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:00:44 +0000

Nneka Ogwumike is headed back to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Ogwumike spent the first 12 seasons of her career in Los Angeles after she was drafted No. 1 by the team in 2012. She won the MVP in 2016 and helped the franchise win the WNBA championship that season.

The veteran forward posted on social media a 45-second video that showed her intentions to return to the Sparks, which her agent confirmed was accurate. Free agents can't sign until Saturday.

“It was always see you later, now I’ll see you soon…” Ogwumike wrote in the post. The video showed highlights of her time in Los Angeles.

The 35-year-old Ogwumike averaged 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds for Seattle last season — her second with the Storm.

It's been a busy offseason for Ogwumike. She presided over collective bargaining negotiations as president of the union and helped get a transformational new deal that saw average salaries rise nearly four-times what they were in the previous CBA.

The Sparks have a talented group to go with Ogwumike as the team gave the franchise tag to guard Kelsey Plum, who is also on the union's executive committee, as well as young star Cameron Brink.

This is the busiest offseason in WNBA history with 80% of the players in the league being free agents.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

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