WDKB's 2026 WNBA Draft Reactions
WDKB recaps a head-scratching draft that also had some really nice outfits.
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Marisa’s WNBA draft reactions! You can read the 2025 edition in the WDKB archives.
This is primarily an outfit reaction writeup, combined with the faintest whiff of basketball analysis. I’m just some lady on the internet; I have no basketball bona fides and no fashion credentials. Nonetheless, let’s get into it!
Draft invitees
15 players were invited to attend the WNBA draft in person in New York (Source). The orange carpet isn’t limited to draft prospects; from what I can tell, past and current WNBA players walk the orange carpet too. Draft-eligible players sometimes attend the draft as part of the audience, and come up to the stage when their name is called.
Draft ‘fit hints
Raven Johnson (IG): “I’m about to give grown woman. I’m about to give bad b-word.”
Madina Okot (IG): “I know for sure that I’m gonna kill…I want it to be a surprise.”
Lauren Betts (IG): “I’m working with Coach…I would say it’s very shiny.”
Flau’jae (IG): “I told them I’m like Draftzilla, I need my dress to be tea.”
Olivia Miles (IG): “I don’t know yet, my fitting is later today…Definitely more classy side.”
Cotie McMahon (IG): “I don’t even have a style honestly…For the draft, it’s giving business and personal, like Latto said.”
Azzi Fudd (IG): “I’m working with Coach, we’re doing a custom piece. It’s not fully finished yet, so I can’t really tell you what it looks like because I don’t even know.”
Ta’Niya Latson (IG): “Simple, classic look, timeless, nice dress, some red bottoms probably, but stay tuned, you’ll see.”
Outfit power rankings
I watched a video showing all the draftees and I was initially very underwhelmed! But I feel better about it now. You can re-watch the WNBA Orange Carpet on YouTube.
S tier - Wow!
Flau’jae Johnson
Azzi Fudd (draft outfit)
A tier - Great!
Lauren Betts
Ta’Niya Latson
B-tier - Okay, nice
Madina Okot
Cotie McMahon
Kiki Rice
Azzi Fudd (orange carpet outfit)
Angela Dugalić
C-tier - The forgettable or unenjoyable tier
Nell Angloma
Gabriela Jaquez
Raven Johnson
Marta Suarez
Awa Fam Thiam
D-tier - ??
Olivia Miles (I’m sorry Olivia)
Gianna Kneepkens
Actual draft reactions
First round (1–15)
Note that the lottery consists of picks 1–4 only.
1 - DAL - Azzi Fudd
Oh, Dallas went for it!
Azzi Fudd oh my GOD!!! I haven’t seen her other look yet (at least, I have heard that there is another look), but her draft dress is so slinky! Sparkly! Bronze! Purple! She’s so cute! I hope I get a better look at her dress. She’s got a big smoky eye and her hair is down!
Azzi’s dad is wearing a multicolored floral blazer, which is very striking. It’s not his fault, but it’s clashing so much with the neon green Wings hat.
I haven’t gotten a clear look at her nails, but I think her nails match the bronze on her dress. She later mentioned that she changed her nails between the orange carpet and the draft.
As mentioned on the broadcast, she’s the 7th UConn Husky to be drafted #1 overall.
She was very thrown off by hearing her voice over the PA during her interview with Holly, which, fair.
2 - MIN (from CHI) - Olivia Miles
I do like Olivia Miles’ outfit more without the additional jacket. I still don’t like it though.
She’s wearing a black suit with a purple striped tie, along with wide grey slacks. Her hair is out! I love that! The lining of her blazer has the names of her parents and her brother embroidered in red, along with the date of the draft.
True to form, Mark Campbell (TCU WBB head coach) is wearing an all-purple three-piece suit.
Olivia Miles is also perceiving her voice via reverb and not enjoying it.
3 - SEA (from LAS) - Awa Fam Thiam
Awa Fam is wearing a bright red gown. It looks like it’s made of gauze, maybe? It has some drape. It has a lot of cutouts on the left side at the shoulder and waist. She is wearing GIGANTIC pear-shaped diamond-and-gold earrings.
It looks like some of her relatives are here, which is so nice! Two of her brothers are here, who she describes as “two crazy people.”
I looove this red color on her, but I think the dress itself could be cut more nicely. She did say she picked it off the rack, but if a dress doesn’t look good on a 6’4” basketball player, who is it gonna look good on? The drop-waist and ruching feels very 2020s though.
HAHA this isn’t even a full-length dress on her! She is so tall!
Seattle’s frontcourt is gonna be so much. So tall. So long.
Not related to the draft picks, but the floral arrangements in front of the TV desk are nice. It’s almost like they got the memo about the crimson/burgundy outfits this year; there are some big red flowers along with some peach and greenery.
4 - WAS - Lauren Betts
Lauren Betts is wearing a floor-length sparkly black dress, to go with her hair in Hollywood waves. It’s not gonna change my life, but it IS beautiful. She is so beautiful.
Her family is there! She said her sister missed day 3 of Coachella to be in NYC with her. It is nuts how tall her whole family is.
She looks so happy! Seeing her smile makes me smile.
Holly Rowe hasn’t made anyone cry yet…is that about to change? (It did not change!)
Betts says that she’ll call her now-teammate Michaela Onyenwere “Coach Mic” just to get on her nerves. (Michaela Onyenwere is an assistant coach for UCLA.)
5 - CHI (from CON) - Gabriela Jaquez
What???
Gabriela is wearing a floor-length black v-neck dress decorated with silver stars.
Her parents are there, but I didn’t see Jaime! (Jaime is attending via FaceTime.)
6 - TOR - Kiki Rice
Kiki Rice has an all-black leather ensemble from Coach. The top is a cropped camisole, with fake off-the-shoulder baggy sleeves. The skirt is high-waisted and has a long slit. Her hair is down and it looks so good!
ESPN showed a list of all of Toronto’s possible players so far. The fonts didn’t match. The left column was in Helvetica, but the right column was in not-Helvetica. This continued for every team roster graphic for the rest of the evening.
First ever entry draft pick for Toronto!
Kiki’s family is there, as is her boyfriend Cason Wallace. Since the Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up the #1 seed in the west, I guess he has some time off to come to NYC for the draft.
7 - PDX - Iyana Martín Carrion
“First ever” entry draft pick for Portland!
She’s not present at the draft, but between her, Awa Fam, and Marta Suarez, it’s a big draft for Spanish basketball.
8 - GSV - Flau’jae Johnson (traded to SEA)
My Golden State Valkyries are on the clock! I am not okay! I have no idea what’s going to happen!
Flau’jae Johnson’s outfit is WOW. You gotta see a picture of this one, I can’t do it justice. Black velvet high-neck dress with side cutouts and a floor-length black fur stole. She’s got magenta eyeshadow and diamond chandelier earrings. (I lowkey want to change up my wedding earrings now…)
She said of her outfit “I told my team, I want to look like I’m going to the WNBA draft at 6:00 and the Met Gala at 6:30.”
She looks so genuinely surprised! I hope that means she’s genuinely happy!
If Kim Mulkey comes to a game I will boo and boo and boo. We know Flau’jae looks good in purple though :)
Her mom is wearing a very sparkly pink suit. Her whole family is wearing the purple hats, which is so cute.
9 - WAS (from SEA) - Angela Dugalić
Another floor-length black dress! This is an off-the-shoulder look, and I think it’s sequined. Her hair is in a slickback bun. A little light on jewelry, but is she wearing an engagement ring? 👀
She joins her UCLA teammate Lauren Betts in Washington, along with her assistant coach Michaela Onyenwere.
10 - IND - Raven Johnson
Raven Johnson is wearing a blazer dress with three-quarter-sleeves made of a few different grey/black/white fabrics. In her own words “I feel like I’m giving Kamala Harris if you ask me.” She’s wearing a beautiful diamond choker with drop earrings. She also has a bob, which is so cute!
Good luck with those fans Raven :’) At least she and CC can do a “beef squashed” thing?
I love Raven but I do not love her outfit. Also, her shoes are SO tall.
It’s really sweet that Dawn Staley came out of the crowd to walk Raven to the stage.
11 - WAS (from NYL) - Cotie McMahon
Cotie McMahon is wearing a burgundy blazer dress and tie with a white collared shirt and burgundy leather gloves. She’s also wearing strappy black heels with white socks. Her envelope clutch is hidden by the banner on the broadcast, but it’s bejeweled and quite striking. I hope she gets the fruit dessert pastries that she wants.
Good for Cotie and her leather gloves!
Coach Yo is there and she looks hyped. Also, her driver’s license is on the back of her phone lol.
Big year for blazer dresses, and I think that short dresses are a little tough with stairs.
Tina Thompson is here, talking about her own draft night. By way of being humble, she says that things now are “a little bit better.” She shouts out the NBPA for their work on labor negotiations, particularly Nneka Ogwumike and Alysha Clark.
12 - CON (from PHX) - Nell Angloma
This is my first time seeing Nell’s outfit! She’s wearing a white suit ensemble, with puff sleeves and a sash/belt. Matching white heels also.
An inspired interview situation where Holly is giving the interview questions in French and Nell is answering in English. Nell’s parents seem very entertained by this. This started out well, but it has gone downhill.
13 - ATL - Madina Okot
Madina Okot is so tall that they had to zoom out when they talked to on the orange carpet! She said she was inspired by Kamilla Cardoso’s draft day outfit.
She’s wearing a pinstriped red cropped suit with a satin red tie with white stripes. Her hair is in a great hollywood waves ponytail. I don’t know if I support cropped fitted blazers. I love her hair though.
Ryan Ruocco is making fun of the height disparity between Madina and Holly, and he’s right for that.
The little babies at her table wearing the giant hats…I love them…
14 - SEA (from LVA) - Taina Mair
She is not at the draft. This is a surprise, right?
15 - CON (from MIN) - Gianna Kneepkens
Hmm…Baby blue halter dress, maybe by Coach. Fabric looks cheap, I’m sorry to say, and that’s on Coach. I think the color washes her out a little bit too.
That makes 5 first-round picks for UCLA. Of course, there are more picks in the first round than before, but still.
Her parents look very emotional! I’m happy for her, and for them!
She’d like everyone to know that none of her brothers taught her how to shoot.
Second round (16–30)
Overall picks 16–30, sometimes expressed as 2.1–2.15
16 - SEA (from DAL) - Marta Suárez (traded to GSV)
Marta Suarez is wearing a bright red suit-inspired ensemble with a very wide black leather belt. She painted her own purse (just as she does her shoes), which is also signed by all the other green room attendees.
I want to see what she has painted on her left hand!
The contrast between her red suit and the green/yellow Storm jerseys is very stark.
Yet another tall and versatile player for Seattle.
She says that the Spanish players wearing red was not intentional.
Ohhhh no, is Holly going to make her cry? Why are we talking about Marta’s late mother?
News???
Valks
WHAT
WHAT THE
WHY OH MY GOD THIS RUINED MY NIGHT
The Golden State Valkyries have traded the rights to Flau’jae Johnson to the Seattle Storm in exchange for the rights to Marta Suarez and a 2028 second-round pick. I am sick.
17 - PDX (from CHI) - Frieda Bühner
She’s not here, and I need to keep processing the Flau’jae trade.
18 - CON - Charlisse Leger-Walker
Charlisse is wearing a pinstriped grey two-piece with a low-cut vest and slacks.
First ever player from Aotearoa selected in the WNBA draft, we love to see it! (Shoutout to friend of the blog Taka Kauri)
19 - WAS - Cassandre Prosper
Cassandre is wearing a silver satin suit with a matching tie. There is something interesting happening with her sleeves. Her older brother appears to be at the draft too.
Pulling myself back together for the blog.
20 - LAS - Ta’Niya Latson
I gasped when I saw Ta’Niya Latson’s outfit and her hair, it’s very Old Hollywood-esque. True to her word, she is indeed wearing red bottoms. She’s wearing a floor-length scoop-neck sleeveless black sparkly dress. She’s also wearing elbow-length sheer black gloves. For jewelry, she’s wearing what looks like a diamond choker and diamond drop earrings.
She looks so cute, I’m so happy for her.
I believe she’s the last player in the green room to come off the board.
21 - CHI (from PDX) - Latasha Lattimore
22 - TOR - Teonni Key
23 - GSV - Ashlon Jackson
24 - LAS (from SEA) - Chance Gray
25 - IND - Justine Pissott
26 - TOR (from NYL) - Saffron Shiels
27 - PHX - Ines Pitarch-Granel
28 - ATL - Indya Nivar
29 - LVA - Janiah Barker
30 - WAS (from MIN) - Darianna Littlepage-Buggs
Third round (31–45)
Overall picks 31–45, sometimes expressed as 3.1–3.15
31 - DAL - Zee Spearman
32 - CHI - Tonie Morgan
33 - CON - Serah Williams (traded to PDX)
Serah Williams is wearing a brown puff-sleeve blazer with chain detailing over a satin top. She said it’s made by a Nigerian-British designer. She was on the orange carpet broadcast earlier.
In a big year for suit-like outfits, I like hers a lot, aside from the “loose thread” details.
34 - WAS - Rori Harmon
35 - LAS - Amelia Hassett
36 - TOR - Charlise Dunn
37 - PDX - Taylor Bigby (traded to CON)
38 - GSV - Kokoro Tanaka
Relative to the Japanese national team, she is their most exciting young player, but relative the WNBA competition, she’s not much of anything I fear. We’ll see.
I appreciate being pandered to, though.
39 - SEA - Grace VanSlooten
40 - IND - Jessica Timmons
41 - NYL - Manuela Puoch
42 - PHX - Eszter Ratkai
43 - ATL - Kejia Ran
44 - LVA - Jordan Obi
45 - MIN - Lani White
Calling it quits there! Gonna take a looong stress walk to think about my feelings! This will be in your inbox soon enough!
In summary…
If you’ve made it this far, I’m very grateful for you.
Fashion-wise, it was a big draft for…
The color red
Suit-inspired outfits
Sparkly black dresses
Draft-wise, it was a big draft for…
Bigs
People named Charlis(s)e
Bonus fit reactions
Jordan Robinson is wearing what appears to be a custom WNBA corset with cups that kind of look like cat eyes. I don’t think the cups look like cat eyes on purpose. She’s wearing the corset over a white collared shirt and white tie, with a dark navy bubble skirt. She says it’s a custom piece.
Autumn Johnson is wearing a beautiful bronze sparkly dress. She was styled by Amadi, of course!
Other orange carpet appearances included Brittney Elena and Erica Wheeler.
KK Arnold is also wearing dark red, big year for dark red. She keeps moving around, but I think it’s a red trench coat over a red suit. She’s also wearing sunglasses.
Ryan Ruocco is wearing a classic Ryan Ruocco three-piece suit. Ryan always looks nice, thanks Ryan.
Rebecca Lobo is not wearing a jewel toned dress for once! Black lightly pinstriped blazer.
Andraya Carter is wearing pink and she looks so good, as always.
For her press conference, Cathy Engelbert has covered her nausatingly green sparkle dress with a brown leather Coach jacket. Very corporate, since Coach sponsors the draft.
Paige Bueckers is indeed in the audience, wearing a black and white sweater vest.
The UCLA team members in attendance are wearing everything from maximum Hollywood glam to “that’s a Birdy Grey bridesmaid dress.”
Holly Rowe is also doing a Hollywood curls thing with her hair.