WNBA Draft Shatters Records: Rookie Pay Soars, UCLA Dominates Picks

New York City hosted the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday , and the event delivered two headline shifts: sharply higher projected rookie salaries at the top of the board and a record number of selections from UCLA. Azzi Fudd, a guard from UConn, went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings. Officials tied the pay jump to a landmark seven-year labor deal ratified last month.

Fudd is projected to earn $500,000 in her rookie season, a figure described as nearly seven times the $78,831 earned by the 2025 No. 1 pick. The next two selections also carried elevated projected compensation. Olivia Miles, taken No. 2 by the Minnesota Lynx, is set to receive $466,913 , while Awa Fam Thiam, selected No. 3 by the Seattle Storm, is projected at $436,016 .

Beyond the top three, the draft’s pay structure was presented as a league-wide reset for incoming talent. According to the projections cited, every drafted player who makes a roster this season is expected to earn more than any WNBA player did last season. The league’s new labor framework was cited as the driver of the change, with the draft serving as an early, visible test of how the updated terms translate into player compensation.

UCLA set a WNBA draft record by placing six players, including five in the first round, marking the most selections from a single school in one draft. The first-round UCLA draftees were Lauren Betts (No. 4, Washington Mystics), Gabriela Jaquez (No. 5, Chicago Sky), Kiki Rice (No. 6, Toronto Tempo), Angela Dugalić (No. 9, Washington Mystics), and Gianna Kneepkens (No. 15, Connecticut Sun). The sixth UCLA player drafted was not detailed in the information provided.

The draft also marked a first for a new franchise. The Portland Fire made their inaugural selection at No. 7, choosing Iyana Martín Carrión from Spain. Separately, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is exploring international expansion, including potential preseason and regular season games abroad, as the WNBA approaches its next phase of growth.

The league’s calendar is also in focus, with the 30th WNBA season set to begin on May 8 . While the draft projections outline a new pay ceiling for rookies, a key uncertainty remains how many drafted players ultimately secure roster spots and therefore realize the projected salaries.