WNBA mock draft: March Madness standouts vie for top spot

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Now that the WNBA's CBA impasse has been solved and the draft positions for the expansion Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are locked in, here's a look at our first mock draft of the year ahead of the April 13 event.

All stats are from the 2025-26 collegiate and European continental campaigns.

Awa Fam (Valencia) 🇪🇸

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-4

As much as we'd like to see a Paige Bueckers-Azzi Fudd reunion, the Wings were a porous defensive side last season with the league's second-worst defensive rating (109.1), and Fam can help address that issue. The 19-year-old has quick feet, can guard both in the paint and on the perimeter, and boasts massive upside at both ends. If she's lacking experience, it certainly didn't show in Spain's World Cup qualifier against the USA.

Azzi Fudd (UConn) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 5-foot-11

Fudd might not be the versatile defensive menace that Fam is, but the UConn icon did record 2.5 steals per game, and the Huskies were a much-improved defensive unit with her on the court. Where Fudd truly shines is on offense. Her 3-point percentage was second in Division I and she buried 53.2% of her 2-point attempts - tremendous efficiency, and a profile that the Lynx should view as an eventual replacement for 33-year-old Kayla McBride.

Olivia Miles (TCU) 🇺🇸

Position: Point guard
Height: 5-foot-10

Miles could have been picked in the 2025 draft but instead transferred from Notre Dame to TCU, where she led the Horned Frogs in points, assists, and steals (1.8). She was also third on the team in rebounds and seventh in the nation in assists, which is impressive considering TCU doesn't play at a quick pace. Her offensive and playmaking talents are elite, though flashes of disinterest on the defensive end relegate her to second-tier status behind Fam and Fudd.

Lauren Betts (UCLA) 🇺🇸

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-7

The role of traditional bigs has diminished as the WNBA embraces positionless play. Still, March Madness' Most Outstanding Player is an imposing presence in the paint who dominates the glass at both ends, and her basketball IQ and soft touch will likely translate to the next level. Betts has also become more adept at switching and should become a foundational piece for a Mystics team brimming with young talent.

Kiki Rice (UCLA) 🇺🇸

Position: Point guard
Height: 5-foot-11

The Sky require a playmaking guard who can provide a perimeter threat to complement post player Kamilla Cardoso, and Rice can be exactly that. While Rice might not fit the profile of a pure point guard, she excels in pick-and-roll scenarios and can get downhill courtesy of a quick first step, skills that Chicago desperately needs. Rice is also disruptive on defense, which will help a Sky team that was dead last in steals per game.

Flau'jae Johnson (LSU) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 5-foot-10

The Tempo will look to establish an identity from Day 1, and Johnson is a fiery competitor whose energy is felt at both ends. Her scoring average is down from last season's 18.6 points per game, but that's largely because LSU did a better job of spreading the ball around. Johnson is a three-level scorer with elite athleticism, and she has the capacity to be a star both on and off the court - qualities that a franchise starting from scratch should value.

Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-feet

Kneepkens is this draft's marquee heat-check merchant, and we mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Her ability to flourish from the perimeter as an off-ball guard will benefit a Fire team in need of immediate scoring and secondary playmaking. Her absurd 50-40-90 splits should translate well to the WNBA, as should her 2.72 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is tied with teammate Rice for seventh best in Division I.

Nell Angloma (BLMA - France) 🇫🇷

Position: Small forward
Height: 5-foot-11

Angloma, who plays for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA) in her native France, doesn't turn 20 until June. She has a penchant for getting downhill, which results in high-percentage chances or trips to the foul line. Angloma has tons of upside, especially if she can fine-tune her jumper. The Valkyries have a stable of French players in Janelle Salaun, Iliana Rupert, and Carla Leite who can assist with the acclimation process.

Raven Johnson (South Carolina) 🇺🇸

Position: Point guard
Height: 5-foot-9

Johnson will provide the Mystics with immediate help as one of college basketball's premier perimeter defenders courtesy of her 6-foot-2 wingspan and lightning-quick decision-making. She's also made a leap as a playmaker and 3-point shooter, two skills Washington should target - especially with last year's No. 6 pick, Georgia Amoore, returning after missing her entire rookie campaign.

Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard/small forward
Height: 6-foot

Jaquez, the sister of Miami Heat forward Jaime and the fourth Bruin in our top 10, is a versatile presence who can play up to four positions and has elite size. She excels in off-ball scenarios, which is a plus for a Fever side blessed with a ball-dominant core that includes Caitlin Clark and hopeful returnee Kelsey Mitchell. She has a high motor, thrives in the margins, and boasts a much-improved 3-point shot. Jaquez is the ultimate teammate.

Janiah Barker (Tennessee) 🇺🇸

Position: Power forward
Height: 6-foot-4

With their third first-round pick, the Mystics can take a chance on a developmental frontcourt piece with massive upside in the event Shakira Austin leaves in free agency. Barker possesses athleticism, size, and defensive versatility that allows her to guard multiple positions. Her 3-point shooting significantly improved from the previous season's 18.2% clip, and she's an effective scorer in transition.

Madina Okot (South Carolina) 🇰🇪

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-6

The Sun need help after a horrid season where they ranked near the bottom of almost every statistical category. Okot has the potential to be their frontcourt focal point for years to come, and there's reason to believe that she's barely scratched the surface - she started playing organized basketball in her mid-teens. Okot is an elite rebounder blessed with sneaky athleticism and strong interior defense.

Marta Suarez (TCU) 🇪🇸

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-3

Suarez, 23, should smoothly slot into Karl Smesko's system for the win-now Dream that prioritizes spacing and versatility. She could also help in the rebounding department following Angel Reese's shock trade to Chicago. Few stretch-fours can shoot from deep with Suarez's efficiency, and she's well-rounded enough to be the right fit for Atlanta at the No. 13 selection.

Iyana Martin (CB Avenida - Spain) 🇪🇸

Position: Point guard
Height: 5-foot-8

The Storm have two first-round selections, but it's unlikely that there's room for two rookies in their rotation. This is why Martin, the EuroLeague Young Player of the Year in 2025 and MVP of the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2023, makes a lot of sense as a draft-and-stash prospect. Martin, 19, impressed alongside Fam in Spain's World Cup qualifying defeat to the U.S. and displayed the traits of an elite facilitator with impact player potential.

Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 5-foot-8

Latson led the nation in scoring the previous season at Florida State, but her statistics declined due to a lower usage rate under Dawn Staley at South Carolina. In the short term, being one of many cogs in the Gamecocks' wheel may have hurt her draft stock. A leg injury didn't help either. Latson might prove to be one of the steals of this draft and could provide the Sun with much-needed supplementary backcourt scoring.