EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN FRANCISCO -- The WNBA Finals are showcasing the best teams of 2026. Soon we will turn our attention to the college game's top talent that could be headed to the league next year.When the 2026-27 women's college basketball season opens Sunday, the top seniors and draft-eligible juniors will begin leading their teams and posting credentials for their professional futures.All eyes will be on JuJu Watkins, the dynamic USC Trojans guard whose sophomore season ended prematurely when she suffered an ACL injury on March 24, 2025, in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Watkins sat out last season, so age-wise, she is eligible for the 2027 draft. And if Watkins returns to the level of play we saw from her during her first two seasons with the Trojans, she will be the No. 1 selection.The WNBA has not yet released details about the 2027 draft lottery, but we know teams are awarded odds based on their record over the last two seasons. The Houston Comets, who are the former Connecticut Sun, were 22-66 (.250 winning percentage) over the last two seasons.That ties the 2026 expansion team Toronto Tempo, who went 11-33 (.250) in its only season so far. So technically, they will split having the best odds for getting No. 1. There is a tiebreaker procedure in place for if there is an odd number of lottery combinations available, and that goes to the Comets. For that reason, we are putting Houston first and Toronto second until the actual lottery happens.Here's our initial look at how the 2027 WNBA draft could shape up.1. Houston Comets: JuJu WatkinsUSC | guard | 6-foot-2 | seniorThis could be a full-circle moment if Watkins is the Comets' pick. When the franchise launched in 1997, another USC guard -- Cynthia Cooper -- was the star. And there are similarities in their games, too, as Watkins is a taller version of the smooth-scoring Cooper. The Comets folded amid the global financial crisis in 2008 with four titles. And even though it's sad to see Connecticut lose its team, the Comets' return is special for the WNBA. Having Watkins as the new face of the franchise would mean a lot.2. Toronto Tempo: Madison BookerTexas | forward | 6-foot-1 | seniorBooker has so many qualities that are coveted by pro coaches: her length, quickness, defensive prowess and midrange game. She has averaged 17.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in her career. The concern is 3-point shooting, where she has been inconsistent. As a freshman, she shot 30.6% from behind the arc; as a sophomore 40.3; and as a junior just 28.4. She hasn't made more than 25 3-pointers in a season. There's so much positive about Booker that this won't keep her from being a high pick, but pro teams hope to see progress from her behind the arc as a senior.3. Washington Mystics: Hannah HidalgoNotre Dame | guard | 5-foot-6 | seniorThe Mystics need another 3-point shooter, but they could get that through free agency. And while Hidalgo isn't an outstanding shooter from behind the arc -- 148 of 444 (33.3%) for her career -- she is so incredible at so many other things that the Mystics might find it hard to pass if she is available. Hidalgo has 481 steals in her career and is the most feared on-ball defender in the women's college game. She is an exceptional scorer, averaging 23.9 points in three seasons, and is also a dependable playmaker (4.8 assists). Her height isn't likely to count against her because of how much else she brings to the table.4. Seattle Storm: Kymora JohnsonVirginia | guard | 5-foot-7 | seniorThe Storm need a point guard, and we'll see if Johnson has the kind of senior season to turn the heads of teams picking high in the draft. She had the best season of her career as a junior, averaging 19.5 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals while making 103 3-pointers. Johnson led the Cavaliers to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2000, and now she'll be in a new system with former Richmond coach Aaron Roussell in charge of the Cavs.5. Portland Fire: Mikaylah WilliamsLSU | guard | 6-foot-0 | seniorIt's not fair to tag Williams with the expectation of being the next Seimone Augustus in the WNBA. But they share some things in common beyond both coming out of LSU. Augustus, the No. 1 pick in 2006, was one of the best jump shooters in WNBA history. Last season, Williams shot 50.7% from the field and 42% from 3-point range. She will need to improve defensively, but her size and shooting are both in her favor.6. Los Angeles Sparks: S'Mya NicholsKansas | guard | 6-foot-0 | seniorThe Jayhawks have fallen short of the NCAA tournament the past two seasons and haven't made it past the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 tournament in Nichols' three years. So fans nationally might not be very familiar with Nichols. But if they saw Kansas' run to the WBIT semifinals last season, that was an indication of how good she is. She averaged 18.5 points, 3.3 rebound, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals in those four games. Nichols is great at getting to the line; last season she led Division I in free throws (243) and free throw attempts (287).7. Los Angeles Sparks: Sarah CissFrance | forward | 6-foot-2The women's basketball talent just keeps coming out of France. Ciss is a stretch power forward who turns 20 in January and thus will be eligible for the draft. She was MVP of the U20 European Championships this summer, which France won.8. New York Liberty: MiLaysia FulwileyLSU | guard | 5-foot-11 | seniorSometimes it seems as if Fulwiley is a magician both on offense and defense -- then other times she seems to lack the discipline on court that coaches need from her. If you can live with the mistakes, Fulwiley's game is tantalizing. She has averaged double-figure scoring all three seasons, including a career-best 14.6 points last season with the Tigers. But she came off the bench, just as she did her first two seasons at South Carolina. Fulwiley has started just four of 112 college games.9. Dallas Wings: Tessa JohnsonSouth Carolina | guard | 6-foot-1 | seniorJohnson was first among power-conference players and fourth nationally in 3-point percentage last season (44.8), making 90 of 201 from behind the arc. If that shooting prowess from long range remains for her senior season, Johnson could move up the draft board. She scored in double figures in every game of the NCAA tournament last season.10. Indiana Fever: Khamil PierreNC State | forward | 6-foot-2 | seniorPierre doesn't shoot the 3, but she is relentless in the paint. After two strong years at Vanderbilt, she transferred to NC State and led the ACC in rebounding last season (11.9 RPG) while averaging 16.7 points and shooting 52.5% from the field.11. Chicago Sky: Oluchi OkananwaMaryland | guard | 5-foot-10 | seniorOkananwa was the ACC's Sixth Player of the Year as freshman at Duke in 2024, then was the ACC tournament MVP as a sophomore in 2025. But last season, she transferred to Maryland, became a starter and averaged a career-best 17.8 points. She was named to the all-Big Ten first team and all-defensive team. She could jump up on the draft board with a strong senior season, especially if she improves her career 31.5% shooting from behind the arc.12. Chicago Sky: Ashlyn WatkinsSouth Carolina | forward | 6-foot-3 | seniorWatkins has a lot to prove this season, and a chance to impress scouts. Part of the Gamecocks' 2024 national championship team, she played just 14 games in 2024-25 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Watkins didn't play last season, and now will be part of a loaded post corps for the Gamecocks. Her best statistical season was as a sophomore (9.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG), but stats won't paint the whole picture of her pro potential. She could really grow into her game in the WNBA.13. Dallas Wings: Chloe KittsSouth Carolina | forward | 6-foot-2 | seniorKitts' journey has some similarity to Gamecocks teammate Watkins in dealing with knee injuries. Both were on the 2024 national championship team as sophomores. Kitts was then a full-time starter as a junior, averaging a career-best 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds in 2024-25. But she missed 2025-26 after tearing her ACL in practice before last season. Kitts, who was the 2025 SEC tournament MVP, probably needs to show she can step out behind the arc with some success as a senior to help her in the draft.14. Golden State Valkyries: Talaysia CooperOle Miss | guard | 6-foot-0 | seniorAfter spending her freshman season at South Carolina and her sophomore and junior years at Tennessee, Cooper will finish her college career at another SEC school. In today's transfer-heavy world, that much movement won't make as much difference to WNBA evaluators as it once might have. As a sophomore, Cooper led the SEC in steals (3.1 per game) and was on the league's all-defensive team. She averaged around 16 points both seasons with the Lady Vols, becoming a better 3-point shooter (61 of 178, 34.3%) last year. But Tennessee had a rough finish to the season, and Cooper is looking for a fresh start as a senior at Ole Miss.15. Minnesota Lynx: Ainhoa RisacherFrance | forward | 6-foot-1Another draft prospect from France, Risacher is a versatile wing who turns 20 next July, making her WNBA-eligible. Like fellow draft prospect Ciss, Risacher played on France's winning U20 European Championships team this summer.
