WNBA Draft 2024: Date, Time, Order, and Essential Details
Flau’jae Johnson celebrated a new collective bargaining agreement. She thanked the WNBPA for securing the deal before she joins the league.
Agreement and timing
A term sheet was signed on Wednesday, March 18. Players then voted to ratify it nearly unanimously.
The WNBA board of governors approved the deal on Tuesday, March 24. The new CBA clears the path for the upcoming draft.
Draft date, time and broadcast
The 2026 WNBA Draft is set for Monday, April 13. The event will be held at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.
Television coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Pre-show events start earlier with the WNBA Orange Carpet Special at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The WNBA Countdown Presented by Google airs at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is expected to officiate the event.
How the draft order was determined
The Dallas Wings secured the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year. They selected Paige Bueckers in the 2025 draft.
The Minnesota Lynx hold the second pick. The Seattle Storm will select third.
Prospects linked to top picks include UConn’s Azzi Fudd, Spain’s Awa Fam, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, TCU’s Olivia Miles, and LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson.
First-round order (selected highlights)
- 1. Dallas Wings
- 2. Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago)
- 3. Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles)
- 4. Washington Mystics
- 5. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut)
- 6. TBD — Portland Fire or Toronto Tempo (coin flip pending)
- 7. TBD — Portland Fire or Toronto Tempo (coin flip pending)
- 8. Golden State Valkyries
- 9. Washington Mystics (from Seattle)
- 10. Indiana Fever
- 11. Washington Mystics (from New York via Minnesota and Connecticut)
- 12. Connecticut Sun (from Phoenix via Chicago)
- 13. Atlanta Dream
- 14. Seattle Storm (from Las Vegas)
- 15. Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota via Washington)
Second- and third-round highlights
- Round two begins with pick 16: Seattle Storm (from Dallas).
- Picks 17–30 include Chicago, Connecticut, Washington, Los Angeles, Golden State, Phoenix, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Minnesota.
- Round three includes Dallas at 31 and concludes with Minnesota at 45.
Expansion draft details
Two franchises join the WNBA in 2026. The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will become the 14th and 15th teams.
The expansion draft is scheduled for Friday, April 3. ESPN will broadcast the event at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The expansion draft will have two rounds. Picks follow a snake format, meaning the first-round winner will pick second in round two.
Each selection allows the new teams to acquire a player contract or negotiating rights from an unprotected-player pool.
Free agency and season timeline
Free agency opens Tuesday, April 7. The process includes designations, negotiations, and signings.
- April 7–8: Designations
- April 9–11: Negotiations
- April 12–19: Signings
The WNBA’s 30th season will begin Friday, May 8. Training camps open April 19.
Key schedule dates
- April 3: Expansion Draft
- April 7–18: Free agency window
- April 13: WNBA Draft
- April 25–May 3: Preseason games
- May 8: Opening night
- June 1–17: Commissioner’s Cup
- July 24–25: All-Star Weekend in Chicago
- Aug. 31–Sept. 16: FIBA break
- Sept. 24: Final day of the regular season
Projections and watch list
Mock drafts place TCU’s Olivia Miles high on draft boards. Other names remain in contention for top slots.
A Filmogaz.com mock draft highlights Awa Fam as a potential fit for teams seeking interior presence. Scouts expect a busy free-agency period.
For context, searches for “WNBA Draft 2024: Date, Time, Order, and Essential Details” will find similar breakdowns of schedule and procedure. Follow Filmogaz.com for updates.
