By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Photo: WNBA/X
It’s back-to-back for the Dallas Wings who won the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery on Sunday night and will have the first overall pick in Draft to be held on Monday, April 13, 2026.
This is the second year in a row that the Wings have picked No. 1 in the draft. Last year they chose UCONN’s Paige Bueckers who went on to be voted as a starter in the WNBA All-Star Game and was named the league Rookie of the Year.
It’s an exciting night in Dallas to secure the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row, said Wings GM and Executive Vice President Curt Miller.
“It’s a huge momentum moment for our franchise. These are exciting times with our young core and new facilities coming on board and a new coach. What great momentum for the Dallas Wings and we can’t be more excited.”
Earlier this month the Wings introduced Jose Fernandez as the team’s next head coach. A veteran leader, Fernandez brings nearly 35 years of coaching experience to Dallas, with the last 25 years spent as head coach of the University of South Florida women’s basketball team.
In September, the Wings broke ground to celebrate the start of construction on a new, state-of-the-art practice facility at Joey Georgusis Park in west Dallas/Oak Cliff. The facility will serve as the permanent training home of the Wings. The new facility is designed to benefit both professional athletes and the community, offering multipurpose spaces for youth programs, local athletics, and special events.
Dallas, which entered the Lottery with the most chances to win the top pick (420 out of 1,000),
The Minnesota Lynx, which had the second-most chances to win the top pick (261), will have the second selection. The Seattle Storm will select third after having the third-most chances to land the top pick (167).
The fourth selection belongs to the Washington Mystics, which had 97 chances to receive the first pick. The Chicago Sky, which had the fifth-most chances to garner the top pick (55), rounds out the top five.
Lottery odds were 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 had the most assigned combinations (420 out of 1,000) and were guaranteed at least the third pick.
The results of the 25th annual Lottery were revealed during the 30-minute, WNBA Draft Lottery Special on ESPN.
The order of selection for the remainder of the first round as well as the second and third rounds will be announced at a later date.
