The race for the No. 1 selection in the 2026 WNBA Draft is on, and the Dallas Wings have secured the best odds for the pick. Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts have emerged as the primary contenders to go No. 1. Although Dallas currently holds the strongest odds, the outcome is not guaranteed, with only a percentage chance separating them from others.
The league, which welcomed the Golden State Valkyries as its 13th franchise this year, will expand again in 2026, with Toronto and Portland joining to bring the WNBA to 15 teams.
Azzi Fudd or Lauren Betts: Who Helps the Dallas Wings More?
The Dallas Wings’ difficult season has shifted the spotlight toward the future. After dropping eight straight contests, Dallas now owns the league’s best odds of landing the No. 1 selection in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
The team sits at 9-32, a record that has officially knocked it out of playoff contention with three games left on the schedule. Its combined record over the past two seasons is the worst in the league, giving the Wings the highest chances to land the No. 1 pick in the next draft. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued Dallas throughout 2025, leaving the team anchored at the bottom of the standings.
According to league rules, finishing last provides a 40% chance of securing the first pick and ensures no worse than a top-three slot. The franchise with the second-worst record has only a 25% chance and could fall outside the top three.
The upcoming draft class has already created significant buzz, with names like Awa Fam, Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, and Olivia Miles projected as players who could immediately help the Wings.
The debate between Fudd and Betts has become a central storyline. Fudd is recognized for her elite scoring and consistent 3-point shooting, while Betts is praised for her commanding presence in the paint. Fans have taken sides on social media.
“If Azzi joined the team, her and Paige would be unstoppable next season + she is a great and consistent 3 point shooter which is what they need!” one fan wrote. Fudd and Bueckers were teammates at UConn.
Another countered, “To build the team the smart choice is Betts. The W needs to grow the game so having Azzi in her OWN team to build around her is the smart choice to build a competitive future.” Another doubled down, saying the Wings should go after Betts, as picking Fudd “makes no sense” from a “basketball perspective.”
Statistically, Dallas has struggled on both ends of the floor this season. The Wings average 81.5 points per game, ranking ninth in the league, and their point differential of -6.8 is the third worst in the WNBA. They currently trail the Chicago Sky by one game for the second-worst record and sit 1.5 games behind the Connecticut Sun.
Recent history suggests the No. 1 pick carries immediate value. The last four top selections — Rhyne Howard in 2022, Aliyah Boston in 2023, Caitlin Clark in 2024, and Paige Bueckers in 2025 — were all college standouts long before draft night. Howard, Boston, and Clark each went on to win WNBA Rookie of the Year, while Bueckers is the frontrunner for the same honor this season.
With the 2026 draft lottery approaching, Dallas faces an offseason of major decisions.