Not knowing who the number-one pick in the draft will be is new territory for many WNBA fans. In recent years, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers had all separated themselves so much that people already knew who the top pick would be long before the draft. This year is very different, and fans are dying to find out who the organization will draft to pair with Paige Bueckers. In a recent interview with WFAA, Jose Fernandez didn’t give anything away.
When asked what he wanted to say to people asking who the number-one pick would be, Fernandez said, “They’re going to find out in a couple of months.”
He also said that some prospects had already separated themselves, but that free agency would have a big impact on who the Wings will draft.
There could be a lot of player movement in free agency
Almost every veteran player is a free agent and just waiting for a new CBA that will allow them to sign a new contract. Because of the sheer number of free agents, there should be a lot of player movement, which is great for a team like the Wings. Dallas needs better players around Paige Bueckers, and a wild free agency period is the perfect chance to chase impactful contributors.
The Wings still lag behind other organizations when it comes to player experience. But they are working on that, and playing with Bueckers should still be an intriguing opportunity for many players.
Since there is no clear number-one pick yet, free agency could greatly impact the Wings’ draft choice. If they bring back Awak Kuier and can land someone like Nneka Ogwumike, Alanna Smith, Ezi Magbegor, or Azurá Stevens in free agency, they may not feel the need to draft another big. In that case, picking Azzi Fudd would make more sense than Awa Fam or Lauren Betts.
The 2026 WNBA Draft could still be delayed
The draft is supposed to take place on April 13. But there is still no new CBA. After an in-person meeting between players, league officials, and team owners, there has been some movement. Nevertheless, the two sides still seem to have different opinions on what the revenue-sharing model should look like.
Breanna Stewart’s decision to play for the Turkish club Fenerbahce after the Unrivaled season also doesn’t inspire much confidence that she expects training camp to start in mid-April as planned.
If the draft is delayed, fans will have to wait even longer to see who the Wings will pick.