Analysts disagree on where Fudd will be selected in the draft. Will she wind up in Dallas? Minnesota? Seattle? Other?
Azzi Fudd, the senior standout guard at UConn, won’t have a long wait to learn her next destination.
The 2026 WNBA Draft will be held Monday at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. Coverage on ESPN will begin at 7 p.m.
Unlike the 2025 draft, when UConn’s Paige Bueckers was a no-contest No. 1 pick, mock drafts don’t agree on a top selection.
The Dallas Wings chose Bueckers with the No. 1 pick last season and will select in that spot again, followed by, in order the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky.
The mock drafts
Until his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Michael Voepel projected Fudd would join Bueckers in the Wings’ backcourt. This week, he updated his projection after the Women’s NCAA Tournament to Olivia Miles of TCU staying local and heading to Dallas, with Spanish center Awa Fam going to Minnesota.
That leaves the Storm to take Fudd at No. 3, with her perhaps falling due to her subpar stats late in the tournament.
“Fudd could still be picked No. 1, which is where we've had her in two previous mock drafts. But this could be a good landing spot for her as the Storm might retool with a younger group under new coach Sonia Raman,” Voepel wrote.
“Fudd was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 Final Four but didn't have as strong an NCAA tournament this season. After a career-high 34 points with eight 3-pointers in the second round, Fudd totaled just 31 points on 12-of-39 shooting (30.8%) in her last three games. She was 3-of-15 for eight points in the Huskies' national semifinal loss to South Carolina.”
South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) controls the ball against UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 3. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesAt CBS Sports, draft analyst Jack Maloney’s prediction also sends Fudd to the Storm.
“Fudd is coming off a really rough showing in the Final Four and a disappointing NCAA Tournament overall,” he wrote. “Still, her 3-point shooting ability is largely unmatched. She has impeccable form, a lightning-quick release and can shoot off the move. Fudd will be one of the league's best pure shooters from Day 1, and would be a perfect fit in Seattle. The Storm desperately need someone who can help space the floor around their frontcourt talent.
Maloney projects the 6-foot-4 Fam being selected by the Wings, with Miles off to Minnesota and Fudd to Seattle
TCU guard Olivia Miles (5), shown here in an Elite Eight game against South Carolina in the Sacramento Region 4 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 29, could be the No. 1 pick of the WNBA draft. Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn ImagesAt USA Today’s For The Win, analyst Cory Woodruff shakes things up. His mock draft sends Fudd to the Wings, center Lauren Betts of national champion UCLA to Minnesota with the No. 2 pick, Miles to Seattle and Fam to the Mystics.
In need of a center, the Mystics were projected to select the 6-7 Betts by both ESPN and CBS.
“It’s incredibly fun to think about a Paige Bueckers-Azzi Fudd UConn reunion in Dallas,” Woodruff wrote. “Those two were electric together in Storrs, and Dallas might not want to wait on potential-laden center Awa Fam to develop. There's not even a guarantee she'd play in the WNBA this season.
There is a possibility Azzi Fudd (35) could be teammates once again with Paige Bueckers (5) with the Dallas Wings. Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images“The Wings might want to pry as much of a title window open as possible with Bueckers on her rookie deal. Fudd is the most sensible fit in that regard. She's already has experience with Dallas' best player, and she's got the mileage you want out of your top draft pick. It wouldn't shock us if Fam is the pick, but a backcourt led by Bueckers and Fudd would make the Wings a must-watch this summer.”