Will UConn's Azzi Fudd be the No. 1 pick in 2026 WNBA Draft?

PHOENIX — Ahead of the Final Four and with the 2026 WNBA Draft looming, ESPN’s Andraya Carter had a simple response to a question about one of the biggest stars of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Could UConn’s Azzi Fudd be picked No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings?

“Yeah, of course,” Carter told USA TODAY Sports. “Why not? ” Pressed further, Carter explained Fudd’s value.

“She's a specialist when it comes to being a shooter — the ability to hit shots, the ability to space the floor,” Carter said. “There's so many things that when you have a floor spacer, just that skill set alone is an amazing opportunity to have success at the WNBA level. Even on nights if she's not hitting (3-pointers), she can attack long close outs, which puts the defense in scramble mode.

When the defense is in scramble mode, somebody's going to be open. ” In this year’s WNBA draft — which will be held Monday night in New York — there seems to be a clear separation between the top four prospects and everyone else. There’s 6-foot-7 UCLA center Lauren Betts, who just powered the Bruins to the national championship.