University of Connecticut’s Azzi Fudd goes number one in the toughest WNBA draft class in recent history.

The 2026 WNBA draft class descended on Hudson Yards, New York, into a never-before-seen financial landscape, thanks to the brand-new seven-year labour deal signed at the beginning of March.

There was much contention as to who would go at number one. With UConn's Azzi Fudd, TCU’s Olivia Miles, Awa Fam Thiam from Spain, and UCLA’s Lauren Betts.

For the second consecutive year, the Dallas Wings had the Number one overall pick.

With the first pick of the draft, the Dallas Wings selected 5’11 Shooting Guard Azzi Fudd. Due to the new legislation, Fudd will earn $500,000 in her inaugural season, nearly seven times the $78,831 Paige Bueckers earned in her rookie season.

The No. 2 (Minnesota Lynx’s Olivia Miles from TCU) and No. 3 (Seattle Storm’s Awa Fam Thiam from Spain) picks will get $466,913 and $436,016, respectively.

Fudd will be reunited with former UConn teammate Bueckers. The duo led the Huskies to a national title in 2025; Fudd was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

It’s the first time since 2011 that back-to-back number one selections were from the same school.
Fudd becomes the seventh No. 1 pick in UConn history. It’s the third time the Huskies have had back-to-back top overall picks in the WNBA draft.

After winning the National championship just a week earlier, the Bruins set a new WNBA record for the most first-round selections from a single school, seeing five players off the board in the opening round:
At No. 4, the Washington Mystics selected centre Lauren Betts.
At No. 5, the Chicago Sky drafted guard Gabriela Jaquez.
At No. 6, the Toronto Tempo made history by selecting guard Kiki Rice as the franchise’s first-ever draft pick.
At No. 9, forward Angela Dugalić joined Betts in the nation’s capital with the Mystics.
At No. 15, the Connecticut Sun capped the historic run by drafting guard Gianna Kneepkens, officially sealing the UCLA sweep.

The history-making didn’t stop there. In the second round, the Sun returned to the well, drafting UCLA guard Charliesse Leger-Walker. With that selection, UCLA became the first program in WNBA history to have six draftees in a single draft.
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During her pre-draft news conference, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, “The past 30 years have been about building the foundation,” and that. “The next 30 are about scaling the game, unlocking what’s possible for the entirety of women’s basketball and women’s sports.”