When is WNBA draft 2026? Date, Start-Time, TV Channel, Stream, Full Order of Picks

2026 WNBA Draft: date, start time, TV channel, live stream, full draft order, Paige Bueckers among top prospects..

The countdown to the 2026 WNBA Draft is officially on.

Top college stars from the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament will soon hear their names called by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in New York City as they make the jump to the professional ranks.

The draft is moving forward as scheduled after the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) reached a new collective bargaining agreement. A term sheet was signed on March 18, players ratified it nearly unanimously, and the league’s board of governors approved the deal on March 24.

Sportshistori.com Brings Here about complete guide to the 2026 WNBA Draft including the date, start time, pick order, TV channel & more.

When is the WNBA Draft 2026?

The 30th edition of WNBA Draft will be held on Monday, April 13, live coverage begins around 7pm. The draft will be live from Spring Studios in New York City.

Date: Monday, April 13

Where is the 2026 WNBA Draft?

The WNBA draft will be held at the Shed, a cultural center and exhibition space in Manhattan's Hudson Yards neighborhood of New York.

Little more than a week after a national champion will be crowned in the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament.

What time does the WNBA Draft starts.?

The 2026 WNBA Draft will be held on Monday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The draft will be live from Spring Studios in New York City, the same venue as last year.


Date: Monday, April 15

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT

What TV channel is the WNBA draft on?

The 2026 WNBA Draft begins at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. 

Coverage starts earlier with the WNBA Orange Carpet Special at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, followed by the WNBA Countdown Presented by Google at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

How to watch the WNBA draft on television?

The WNBA draft, featuring the top college players in women's basketball, will air on television on ESPN. The network will also have a pre-show at 7 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live streaming of the WNBA draft?

The WNBA draft can be streamed Live on the ESPN website and the ESPN app.

How to watch the 2026 WNBA Draft, time, TV channel.

The WNBA draft is Monday, April 13, with the event taking place at the Shed in New York. The draft will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, continuing through three rounds and 38 total picks.

Date: Monday, April 13

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (Coverage begins at 7 p.m.)

Location: The Shed (New York City)

TV channel: ESPN

Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)

Who has the overall No.1 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft??

For the second straight year, the Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 overall pick.

After selecting Paige Bueckers in 2025, the Wings will choose first again in 2026. Top prospects expected to be in the mix include Azzi Fudd (UConn), Awa Fam (Spain), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Olivia Miles (TCU), and Flau’jae Johnson (LSU).The Minnesota Lynx have the No. 2 pick, and the Seattle Storm pick No. 3.

WNBA Draft 2026 results: full draft order of picks by round.

Here is the first draft order 2026 for all three round picks.

Here’s a full look at every selection from this year’s draft:

First Round Draft Order

1 Dallas Wings

2 Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago Sky)

3 Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles Sparks)

4 Washington Mystics

5 Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun)

6 Toronto Tempo

7 Portland Fire

8 Golden State Valkyries

9 Washington Mystics (from Seattle Storm)

10 Indiana Fever

11 Washington Mystics (from NY Liberty)

12 Connecticut Sun (from Phoenix Mercury)

13 Atlanta Dream

14 Seattle Storm (from Las Vegas Aces)

15 Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota)

Second round

16 Seattle Storm (from Dallas Wings)

17 Chicago Sky

18 Connecticut Sun

19 Washington Mystics

20 Los Angeles Sparks

21 Portland Fire

22 Toronto Tempo

23 Golden State Valkyries

24 Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle Storm)

25 Indiana Fever

26 Chicago Sky (from New York Liberty)

27 Phoenix Mercury

28 Atlanta Dream

29 Las Vegas Aces

30 Washington Mystics (from Minnesota Lynx)

Third round

31 Dallas Wings

32 Chicago Sky

33 Connecticut Sun

34 Washington Mystics

35 Los Angeles Sparks

36 Toronto Tempo

37 Portland Fire

38 Golden State Valkyries

39 Seattle Storm

40 Indiana Fever

41 New York Liberty

42 Phoenix Mercury

43 Atlanta Dream

44 Las Vegas Aces

45 Minnesota Lynx

Here's the full list of No. 1 overall picks since the WNBA Draft was inaugurated in 1997:

WNBA Draft top prospects: Who are some key players to watch in the WNBA draft?

Azzi Fudd – Guard, UConn (Graduate Student)

A sharpshooting guard with excellent size (5'11"), elite shooting (around 45% from three), strong defense, and high basketball IQ. Many recent mocks project her as a top-3 pick, with some even having her going No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings. She brings instant scoring and championship experience.

Awa Fam – Center/Forward, Spain (Valencia)

The top international prospect in the class. At 6'4" and just 19 years old, she offers size, mobility, and interior presence. She’s frequently mocked in the top 2–4 range and could be a strong fit for teams needing frontcourt help.

Olivia Miles – Guard, TCU (Graduate Student)

A versatile, high-usage guard who averaged near triple-double numbers this season (around 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6+ assists). She’s an elite playmaker and scorer but has drawn some questions about defensive effort. Often projected as a top-3 pick.

Lauren Betts – Center, UCLA (Senior)

A dominant 6'7" post player with soft touch, good rebounding, and shot-blocking ability. She provides size and efficiency inside and is consistently ranked in the top 5, though her exact slot varies by mock draft.

Flau’jae Johnson – Guard, LSU

An explosive, athletic guard with scoring upside and strong perimeter defense. She’s a high-energy player who often appears in the top 5–8 range in projections.

Other Notable Prospects

Kiki Rice – Guard, UCLA  

Ta’Niya Latson – Guard, South Carolina (transfer)  

Cotie McMahon – Forward, Ohio State  

Janiah Barker and other depth pieces expected to go in the mid-to-late first round.

What is the format of the 2026 WNBA Draft? 

Draft Order Highlights

The Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 overall pick (for the second straight year).

The Minnesota Lynx have the No. 2 pick.

The Seattle Storm have the No. 3 pick.

Picks 6 and 7 belong to the two expansion teams (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo).

Their exact order (who picks 6th and who picks 7th) will be decided by a coin flip on March 27, 2026.

The draft uses a snake format in the later rounds for the expansion teams:

The team that picks 6th in Round 1 will pick 7th in Round 2 and 6th again in Round 3.

The team that picks 7th in Round 1 will pick 6th in Round 2 and 7th in Round 3.

How the Draft Works?

Teams select players in order from Round 1 through Round 3.

Players can come from college (NCAA), international leagues, or other eligible sources.

Once a player is selected, their rights belong to that team.

Who is eligible to enter the 2026 WNBA Draft? 

2026 WNBA Draft Eligibility

U.S. Players must:Turn 22 in 2026, or

Graduate from college (or be graduating soon), or

Be 4 years removed from high school.

International Players must:Turn 20 in 2026.

Players must formally declare for the draft and renounce any remaining college eligibility.That's the basic eligibility for the 2026 WNBA Draft. 

When does the 2026 WNBA season start? Key dates to remember

April 3: WNBA Expansion Draft (Toronto Tempo & Portland Fire) – 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN  

April 7–18: Free Agency window  

April 13: 2026 WNBA Draft  

April 19: Training camps begin  

April 25 – May 3: Preseason games  

May 8: 2026 WNBA season opens (30th anniversary season)

The new CBA has created massive movement potential this offseason, with many star players hitting free agency after opting out of extensions.

____