The 2025 WNBA draft is in the books, and starting next month we’ll find out how those players adapt to the league. But it’s not too early to examine next season’s college senior class to see who might be in the mix for being selected in the first round of the 2026 draft.
In the past four drafts, the No. 1 pick seemed certain throughout the women’s college basketball season: guard Rhyne Howard (2022), forward/center Aliyah Boston (2023), guard Caitlin Clark (2024) and guard Paige Bueckers (2025). The Atlanta Dream‘s Howard and the Indiana Fever‘s Boston and Clark were all selected as WNBA rookie of the year, an honor Bueckers is favored to win this season.
For 2026, a center is projected to go No. 1. But some top-notch guards will be in the mix, too. For this list, we’re ranking only players who will be designated as seniors/grad students in the 2025-26 college season. The draft, as always, could include overseas players and draft-eligible juniors.
The WNBA, which grows to 13 teams this season with the expansion Golden State Valkyries, will expand…
