Draft

– Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky 
to Take Part in WNBA Draft Lottery 2026 –
NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2025 – The WNBA Draft Lottery 2026 will be broadcast on Sunday, Nov. 23, on ESPN, the WNBA announced today.
ESPN will air the 30-minute, WNBA Draft Lottery Special at 6:30 p.m. ET with WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin revealing the results of the Lottery during ESPN’s coverage.  This marks the 14th consecutive year that ESPN networks will present the WNBA Draft Lottery.
The Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky will take part in the 25th annual WNBA Draft Lottery. The 2026 WNBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Lottery odds are based on the two-year (2024 and 2025) cumulative records of the five teams that did not make the playoffs in the most recent season. With a cumulative record of 19-65, the Wings will have the most assigned combinations (420 out of 1,000) and are guaranteed at least the third pick.
As the result of a prior trade between Minnesota and Chicago (23-61), the Lynx possess the Sky’s first round pick and will have 261 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick. Seattle, which owns the Los Angeles Sparks’ (29-55) first round pick by virtue of a January 2024 trade, has the third-most chances (167).
Washington, 30-54 over the past two seasons, has 97 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick, and Chicago, which owns the Connecticut Sun’s (39-45) first round selection, has the fifth most chances (55).
In the drawing, 14 balls numbered 1-14 will be placed in a lottery machine and mixed.  Four balls will be drawn to determine a four-digit combination.  The team assigned that four-ball combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The four balls will then be placed back into the machine and the process will be repeated to determine the second pick.  Of the three teams not selected in the drawings, the team with the worst cumulative two-year record shall select third; the team with the next worst record will select fourth; and the remaining team shall select fifth.
A representative from the league’s independent accounting firm Ernst &amp; Young will be in attendance to oversee the Draft Lottery process.
Below are the number of chances for teams to land the top pick in WNBA Draft Lottery 2026.
<table style="width: 94.5191%" width="705">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Team</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">Combined 2024-2025 Record</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">Chances (out of 1,000)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Dallas Wings</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">19-65</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">420</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Minnesota Lynx from Chicago Sky</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">23-61*</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">261</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Seattle Storm from Los Angeles Sparks</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">29-55^</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">167</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Washington Mystics</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">30-54</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">39-45+</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
* Chicago and Minnesota have extinguished Minnesota’s right to swap its own first round pick for Chicago’s own first round pick and Chicago has traded its own first round pick to Minnesota (Sika Koné, Nikolina Milić, 4/14/24), (Draft picks, 4/13/25)
^ Los Angeles has traded its own first round pick to Seattle (Kia Nurse, 1/31/24)
+ Phoenix has traded its own first round pick to Chicago (Kahleah Copper, Morgan Bertsch, Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, 2/6/24) and Chicago has swapped Phoenix’s first round pick for Connecticut’s own first round pick (Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, 7/17/24)
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WNBA Draft Lottery 2026 To Take Place Sunday, Nov. 23 on ESPN

Game Preview/Recap

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Game Recap: Dream vs. Sun (9/10/25)

Top Plays

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Top Plays of the Day, 9/10/25

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Saniya Rivers with 16 Points vs. Atlanta Dream

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Marina Mabrey with 22 Points vs. Atlanta Dream

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Aneesah Morrow Posts 11 points & 10 rebounds vs. Atlanta Dream

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Connecticut Sun vs. Atlanta Dream - Game Highlights

Awards

NEW YORK, September 10, 2025 – The WNBA today announced Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles has been named the recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, recognizing her extraordinary commitment to service, social justice, and creating lasting impact in the communities she serves.
Named for WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, the award honors a current WNBA player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community where they work or live. The award’s recipient embodies Staley’s spirit, leadership, charitable efforts, love for the game, and inspirational presence in their community.
This marks the second time Charles has earned the award – first in 2012 as a rising star, and now as a veteran leader whose impact and dedication have only deepened over time.
This year, Charles will reach a powerful milestone in her community work, placing the 500th Automated External Defibrillator (AED) through her Hopey’s Heart Foundation. What began as a personal mission has grown into a life-saving legacy, fueled by her determination to ensure schools, recreation centers, and communities across the country have access to critical resources. Charles founded the Hopey’s Heart Foundation in 2013 in honor of her late aunt, Maureen “Hopey” Vaz, to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and provide AEDs to organizations in need.
Hopey’s Heart remains a family-run foundation, with Charles and her loved ones dedicating countless hours to outreach, research, education, and fundraising. This year, Yale New Haven Health pledged $20,000 to support AED distribution, enabling the foundation to reach the 500-device milestone.
Charles has also engaged fans through team-based initiatives, including a rebounding challenge that allowed supporters to pledge donations tied to her on-court performance. Beyond fundraising, she has been a visible ambassador for heart health, speaking at community events, health fairs, and awareness campaigns such as the American Heart Health Month.
“In every aspect of her game and character, Tina stands as a representation of the ideals and spirit of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Throughout her remarkable career, Tina has consistently used her platform to raise awareness and drive meaningful change. Her dedication to service, advocacy, and giving back to the community reflects the values that define our league. Tina continues to build a legacy that will inspire generations to come.”
Charles’ impact extends beyond Hopey’s Heart. In 2012, she personally funded the construction of a school in Mali, opening educational opportunities for hundreds of children. In New York City, Charles launched Hopey’s Week, a series of sports safety clinics focused on concussion prevention and injury awareness. She has also been a vocal advocate for racial and social justice, using her platform to elevate community voices and push for systemic change.
“Tina Charles exemplifies what it means to be a leader both on and off the court. We are thrilled to recognize her tireless efforts beyond the game over the course of her career, creating a profound and permanent impact within the entire sports community,” said Dawn Staley. “This award signifies the lasting legacy that leadership leaves behind. Tina embodies the values and hard work that continue to inspire her teammates, fellow athletes, fans, and members of her community.”
“Through my mother at a young age, I learned the importance of being a servant unto others, and receiving the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is truly special for me — especially for Hopey’s Heart Foundation to receive this honor through its work in raising awareness for sudden cardiac arrest,” said Tina Charles. “I started the foundation in April of 2013 and never thought its impact would cast as wide as it has. I’m thankful to everyone who has supported the foundation along the way. Thank you.”
A designated committee selected Charles as the winner of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to Charles’ charitable foundation, Hopey’s Heart Foundation.
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