When is WNBA draft? Date, draft order, what you need to know
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The WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) have agreed in principle to a new collective bargaining agreement, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
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As the agreement moves through channels to be finalized — a term sheet needs to be signed, voted on by players and ratified by a board of governors — we can finally look forward to the league's 30th season.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the season will start on time on May 8. Training camp begins on April 19. The WNBA also needs conduct free agency and expansion drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. So, a lot to get through, including the 2026 WNBA draft. Here's what to know about the draft.
When is the 2026 WNBA Draft?
The 2026 WNBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 13, a little more than a week after a national champion will be crowned in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. ESPN is set to broadcast and live stream the draft.
What WNBA team has No. 1 draft pick?
The Dallas Wings were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the draft lottery for the second consecutive year. The Wings will have first dibs on big names like UConn's Azzi Fudd, Spain's Awa Fam, UCLA's Lauren Betts, TCU's Olivia Miles and LSU's Flau'jae Johnson.
"We want someone who wants to win," said Wings forward Maddy Siegrist, who represented the team at the lottery in November. The Minnesota Lynx will pick second in the draft, followed by the Seattle Storm.
WNBA mock draft
From UCLA's Kiki Rice, who is rising up the draft board, to South Carolina's Raven Johnson, whose play has turned heads all season, USA TODAY's Meghan L. Hall reviews where prospects could land in her latest WNBA mock draft.
WNBA draft order
First round
1. Dallas Wings2. Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago)3. Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles)4. Washington Mystics5. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut)TBD. Portland FireTBD. Toronto Tempo8. Golden State Valkyries9. Washington Mystics (from Seattle)10. Indiana Fever11. Washington Mystics (from New York via Minnesota and Connecticut)12. Connecticut Sun (from Phoenix via Chicago)13. Atlanta Dream14. Seattle Storm (from Las Vegas)15. Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota via Washington)
Second round
16. Seattle Storm (from Dallas)17. Chicago Sky18. Connecticut Sun19. Washington Mystics20. Los Angeles SparksTBD. Toronto TempoTBD. Portland Fire23. Golden State Valkyries24. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)25. Indiana Fever26. Chicago Sky (from New York)27. Phoenix Mercury28. Atlanta Dream29. Las Vegas Aces30. Washington Mystics (from Minnesota)
Third round
31. Dallas Wings32. Chicago Sky33. Connecticut Sun34. Washington Mystics35. Los Angeles SparksTBD. Toronto TempoTBD. Portland Fire38. Golden State Valkyries39. Seattle Storm40. Indiana Fever41. New York Liberty42. Phoenix Mercury43. Atlanta Dream44. Las Vegas Aces45. Minnesota Lynx
When is the 2026 expansion draft?
The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire join the league in 2026 as the 14th and 15th WNBA franchises, but the teams will have to wait a little longer to begin assembling their rosters. That's because the rules and format of the upcoming expansion draft have been negotiated in the new CBA, meaning the draft cannot be held until a deal is in place.
"We have given our general managers some guidance on how we’re thinking, but until we get the collective bargaining agreement done, it won’t be finalized as to the format or process," Englebert said in October. "But you can expect, because you saw what we did last year, something similar."
When the Golden State Valkyries joined the league as the 13th franchise in 2025, the team's expansion draft was held on Dec. 6, 2024. The draft rules were released on Sept. 30, 2024 and WNBA teams were required to provide the league with a roster list of all their players by Nov 25, 2024, including six protected players that wouldn't be available for selection. Golden State then got to pick one player from each team, nearly two months before team-building continued through free agency in late January.
The timeline will be much tighter for the Tempo and Fire with the WNBA's May 8 start. The league has to squeeze in an expansion draft for two teams, free agency featuring over 100 players, and the 2026 WNBA draft before opening night.
When does WNBA free agency start?
It is not yet known when exactly free agency will begin, but it will likely be a wild ride with about 80% of players being free agents.
2026 WNBA season schedule
The WNBA's landmark 30th season is scheduled to tip off on Friday, May 8.
- May 8: Opening Night
- June 1-17: Commissioner's Cup
- July 24-27: All-Star Weekend (Chicago)
- Sept. 1-16: FIBA Break
- Sept. 24: Last day of regular season
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is 2026 WNBA draft? Date, draft order, what you need to know