The following teams are set to partake in the league\u2019s 25th annual WNBA Draft Lottery, vying for the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, which is scheduled to take place Monday, April 13, 2026: <\/p>\n
Dallas Wings<\/p>\n
Minnesota Lynx (via Chicago)<\/p>\n
Seattle Storm (via Los Angeles)<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics<\/p>\n
Chicago Sky (via Connecticut)<\/p>\n
The lottery order is based on the cumulative record across the 2024 and 2025 seasons among the five teams that did not make the playoffs in 2025. The Wings, with a 19-65 record over the last two seasons, have a 42% chance at snagging the first overall pick in the 2026 draft for the second year in a row. Last year, they selected UConn guard Paige Bueckers<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the Lynx had a phenomenal 2025 season with a league-best 34-10 record, they possess the Sky\u2019s first-round pick and are right behind Dallas with a 26% chance of clinching the No. 1 overall pick. Following Minnesota is Seattle, which has a 16.7% chance by way of the Sparks\u2019 first-round pick from a trade made in January 2024. The Mystics (9.7%) and the Sky (5.5%) have less than a 10% chance to win the lottery this year.<\/p>\n Want even more women\u2019s sports in your inbox?<\/p>\n Subscribe now to The IX Sports<\/a> and receive our daily women\u2019s sports newsletter covering soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers. That includes Basketball Wednesday from founder and editor Howard Megdal.<\/p>\n Readers of The IX Basketball now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.<\/p>\n The WNBA shared the news on X with the caption, \u201cThe stage is set for the WNBA Draft Lottery 2026.\u201d <\/p>\n The stage is set for the WNBA Draft Lottery 2026 \ud83c\udfb0\u2728<\/p>\n Tune in to ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 6:30pm\/ET to see who will secure the No. 1 overall pick between the Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky! pic.twitter.com\/ZqoGZU2mOE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 WNBA (@WNBA) November 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The Draft Lottery consists of a drawing of 14 balls, numbered 1-14, from a lottery machine. Four balls will be drawn, which will determine a four-digit combination. Whichever team was assigned that four-ball combination will be awarded the No. 1 pick. Following this, the four balls will be placed back in the machine to repeat the process to determine the second pick.<\/p>\n After the top two picks are drawn, the remaining three lottery teams will be ordered by their two-year cumulative record. As a result, Dallas will be guaranteed a top-three pick. The full chart of probabilities is available below.<\/p>\n With the 2026 WNBA lottery combinations announced \u2014 @kareemcopeland.bsky.social I believe had it first \u2014 here are the odds for each pick in the top five (assuming the process does not change from 2025)@herhoopstats.com | @theixbasketball.bsky.social<\/p>\n \u2014 Jacob Mox (@jacobmox.bsky.social)<\/a> 2025-09-12T14:20:41.278Z<\/a><\/p>\n UCLA\u2019s Lauren Betts<\/a> is the projected No. 1 pick in ESPN\u2019s recent mock draft. She returned to the Bruins for her senior year instead of declaring for the 2025 WNBA draft. However, the eventual first overall pick is up in the air due to other greats set to make their mark in their senior year, such as UConn guard Azzi Fudd<\/a> and TCU guard Olivia Miles<\/a>.<\/p>\n Want more women\u2019s hockey content? Subscribe to The Ice Garden! The staff of The Ice Garden has paved the way for women\u2019s hockey coverage from the college ranks to international competitions. Of course, that includes in-depth coverage of the PWHL too. For a limited time, free signups at The Ice Garden can sample all the work they do. Check it out, sign up now!<\/p>\n
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