The Dallas Wings on Sunday won the right to select first in the 2026 WNBA Draft — which comes with a caveat.<\/p>\n
The 2026 draft class is loaded. Most analysts agree on that. There is a spate of top prospects jostling for position atop teams’ draft boards, including Lauren Betts, Awa Fam, Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles.<\/p>\n
But no one player has separated herself from the pack just yet.<\/p>\n
Granted, the draft is not until April 13, giving these wildly-talented NCAA standouts time to hone their craft and make their case to WNBA executives with their play. However, a former #1 overall pick, aware of what teams look for at the top of the draft, believes the Wings should not overthink this choice.<\/p>\n
Chiney Ogwumike has it clear: Azzi Fudd should be the top pick<\/p>\n
On Wednesday’s edition of NBA Today, two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike — the older sister of WNBA president Nneka Ogwumike — encouraged Dallas to “shoot their shot<\/a>” and draft UConn guard Azzi Fudd with the first overall pick.<\/p>\n \u201cI would not be surprised if Azzi Fudd is the number one pick,” Ogwumike said. “She\u2019s someone that\u2019s leading them in scoring so far and has had multiple games with multiple threes. So she\u2019s a shooter, and that\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed she is a shooter. Fudd is arguably the nation’s best at that. Thanks to her textbook jump shot, Fudd is averaging 21.0 points per game for the #1-ranked Huskies — and shooting an eye-popping 54.8 percent from 3-point range.<\/p>\n