Dallas Wings select UConn's Azzi Fudd No. 1 in 2026 WNBA draft

NEW YORK --Azzi Fuddis on her way toDallasas the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft with a $500,000 payday waiting for the formerUConnstar.

Fudd will pair again with former Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers, who was the Wings' top pick last year. Bueckers -- who along with Fudd gave UConn a record seven No. 1 selections -- was in attendance at the draft along with Fudd's Huskies teammates.

"I'm excited to play again with Paige, she's an incredible player," Fudd said.

UCLAstars Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez went in the top five, a little over a week after leading the Bruins to their first NCAA championship.

Their teammate, Kiki Rice, went sixth toToronto, the first pick for the expansion franchise. The Tempo chose to have the higher pick in the college draft after winning a coin toss, giving thePortland Firethe top choice in the expansion draft earlier this month.

UCLA matched UConn's record of having four players drafted in the first round, a mark the Huskies set in 2002, whenAngela Dugaliwent ninth to Washington, teaming her again with Betts.

The Bruins also could top Tennessee(1997, 2008), Notre Dame(2019) and South Carolina(2023), which all had five players drafted in total.

The new collective bargaining agreement that was ratified last month gave huge pay raises to rookies. Fudd will make nearly seven times what Bueckers earned last season as the top choice. The No. 2 and No. 3 picks will get $466,913 and $436,016, respectively.

Second- and third-round picks will make $270,000 -- which is more than the previous maximum salary in the old CBA.

MinnesotatookOlivia MilesofTCUwith the No. 2 pick. Miles decided to stay in college last season instead of enter the WNBA draft. She transferred fromNotre Dameto the Horned Frogs. She helped the team reach the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.

"Deep breath that's why I got emotional," Miles said of finishing her journey. "It's finally here, finally heard my name. This is what this was for."

After Seattletook Spain center Awa Fam Thiam at No. 3, Washington selected the 6-foot-7 Betts before the Chicago Sky followed with Jaquez.

Portland took Spanish guard IyanaMartín Carrión with its first-ever pick.Flau'jae Johnson ofLSUwent next to theGolden State Valkyries.