The post-WNBA draft dust has settled, and now all's that left is to wait. In the next week or two players will sign training camp deals, rookies will sign contracts with teams or they won't, and whispers of who might win a championship will ricochet around.
There's really no way to know how a WNBA season might go, but there's no harm in predicting it anyway. Three of us here at High Post Hoops felt brave enough to offer way-too-early 2026 season predictions... so here's how we think things might unfold:
Team most likely to win a championship
Elaine: Las Vegas Aces
When it comes to basketball, there are some people you just shouldn’t bet against. Becky Hammon, A’ja Wilson, and Chelsea Gray are three of them. Plus, the Aces were able to retain their championship core. Few teams will be able to match their experience, star power, and talent.
Nathan: New York Liberty
This offseason, the New York Liberty have made no secret of their desires to win a championship. Retaining the services of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones was critical for the Liberty. Adding Satou Sabally to this mix will only maximise their potential.
Stephanie: New York Liberty
It's almost always a mistake to bet against Becky Hammon and A'ja Wilson, but the Liberty have quietly put together a team that almost defies the word stacked. They're also going to be hungry for a championship after their 2025 season fell apart sooner than they'd hoped.
Team most likely to be at the bottom of the rankings
Elaine: Portland Fire
Being an expansion team is tough, especially one with a rookie head coach that prioritized young players and future potential in the expansion draft. The Fire may have their eyes on 2027 and 2028 lottery picks, and that’s totally okay.
Nathan: Connecticut Sun
Between the Sun and the wildcard franchise that is the Chicago Sky, this was a hard choice. Connecticut has done little to improve its roster's talent level this offseason, while Chicago seems to be building some form of identity. Aneesah Morrow and Aaliyah Edwards may need another year before they can change the trajectory of this team.
Stephanie: Connecticut Sun
The Sun are preparing to move to Houston after this season and, apart from Brittney Griner, is still a pretty young team. Their draft picks were strong but haven't been tested against WNBA-level opponents, and it won't be a surprise if their 2026 season is a lot like last year's.
Most interesting team after the draft
Elaine: Toronto Tempo
Toronto got star-level players in Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes as well as a championship coach and a group of just solid veterans, like Julie Allemand, Kia Nurse, and Maria Kliundikova. They also added Kiki Rice in the draft and can give Nyara Sabally the platform to shine. On paper, the team looks ready to play fun, winning basketball right away.
Nathan: Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky is an organisation that plays fast and loose with the word competent. However, this year, they have placed all their chips on Kamilla Cardoso and are creating a blueprint. There are many what-ifs on this roster. What is the potential of Hailey Van Lith? Can Cardoso cut it as a number one option? Does Skylar Diggins change expectations? Chaos is always a whisper away in Chicago.
Stephanie: Toronto Tempo
The Tempo has been pretty interesting more or less since the team was announced, but their draft picks definitely give them an edge as we move closer to the beginning of the season. The team will be led by Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes — and Sandy Brondello will be more than capable of finding a way to tie everything together nicely.
Team that won the draft
Elaine: Seattle Storm
The Storm got Awa Fam and Flau’jae Johnson, bringing in a fan magnet and a ton of upside. Between Fam, Johnson, Jordan Horston, Dominique Malonga, and Ezi Magbegor, the Storm put together a group with a fun mix of athleticism, defense, and offensive versatility. Plus, Fam’s and Malonga’s ceilings are so high that pairing them seems almost unfair.
Nathan: Seattle Storm
Not only did the Seattle Storm pair two of the WNBA’s most exciting European talents in Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam, but they also somehow landed another potential superstar in Flau’jae Johnson. The Storm appear to have struck a balance between youth and versatility -- a formula that should keep this emerging roster competitive throughout the 2026 season.
Stephanie: Seattle Storm
The Storm ended up surprising a lot of people with their selections during the draft, and it will likely pay off big for the team. The combination of Awa Fam Thiam and Dominique Malonga is going to feed families, and Flau'jae Johnson will bring a star power that will keep the Storm on people's radars no matter how they perform. Jordan Horston is back, and Ezi Magbegor is still on the team (for now). The Storm have a lot of potential in 2026.
Team that had the worst draft
Elaine: New York Liberty/ Golden State Valkyries
New York has to be on here because the Liberty only had one third-round pick and got essentially nothing out of the draft. The Valkyries earned the spot because drafting Flau’jae Johnson eighth overall and then trading her for two second-round picks (Marta Suarez and a 2028 pick) just isn’t a good look for a franchise short on star power.
Nathan: Golden State Valkyries
This was a perfect opportunity for the Golden State Valkyries to ride the momentum from their 2025 campaign by acquiring a young player with star power to create a stir amongst. In fact, they took this opportunity -- they selected Flau'jae Johnson with the eighth overall pick. Nevertheless, Golden State decided she was surplus to requirements and opted for Marta Suarez instead.
Stephanie: Golden State Valkyries
If you take the Liberty out of the mix (which is fair because the team only had one late pick in the first place), it didn't seem like the Valkyries accomplished as much as they might have hoped in this year's draft. The team is in an interesting spot, and will hopefully still find a way to build on what was an enormously successful first season for an expansion team.
Rookie who will contribute the most
Elaine: Olivia Miles
Miles is ready for the next level and she knows it, too. She is also the only lottery pick going to a team with a winning culture in place. She should quickly thrive under Cheryl Reeve’s guidance and with veteran stars around her.
Nathan: Kiki Rice
Coming off a national championship with UCLA, Kiki Rice's confidence levels will be on another planet. This is a player who can contribute to both sides of the ball and has the potential to become an elite-level ball facilitator. If utilised correctly, Rice has the potential to steal the Rookie of the Year accolade out of the hands of Olivia Miles and Azzi Fudd.
Stephanie: Olivia Miles and Raven Johnson
I'm going with two players because they're both poised to have a big season. Miles is going to do well with the Lynx – the fit is good, and the team knows how to win. But I'm a little more curious about Raven Johnson and how the fit goes with the Fever. The team will be hungry to have a stronger season than last year, and Raven knows what it takes to win. Whether that translates to the next level remains to be seen.
Unexpected breakout player
Elaine: Lexi Held
The Tempo have a deep guard rotation, but Lexi Held is still someone to watch here. She is a tough defender and a talented scorer who could blossom in a bigger, more consistent role than the one she played with the Mercury last season much like Veronica Burton did with the Valkyries last season.
Nathan: Justine Pissott
Of all the selections in the WNBA draft, few feel as natural a fit as Justin Pissott with the Indiana Fever. Landing the SEC’s top three-point shooter (42.2%) is a win for any franchise, but for the Indiana Fever, whose system thrives on spacing, it couldn’t be a better match. With all the attention Caitlin Clark and Aaliyah Boston will draw, Pissott will have acres of space to wreak havoc on opponents.
Stephanie: Carla Leite
Leite already made a name for herself with the Golden State Valkyries, and being traded to the Portland Fire gives her a chance to truly become the face of a franchise.
Most Impactful offseason move
Elaine: Satou Sabally to the Liberty
New York already had a super team. Adding Sabally to the core of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu only makes the Liberty more dangerous. If they win it all, having four All-Star-level players will be a big reason why.
Nathan: Temi Fagbenle to the Tempo
This may seem out of left field, but the impact Temi Fagbenle had on the Golden State Valkyries last season was incredible. With Temi as a defensive anchor, the Valkyries were able to build on an incredibly stable foundation to make a historic postseason run. With Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes dictating the offense, Fagbenle will play a crucial role in the direction the franchise takes in its debut year.
Stephanie: Everything the Sky did — maybe
The Sky traded Angel Reese to Atlanta, news that kicked off free agency with a bang — and then proceeded to put together a roster that is either going to excel or is going to crash and burn. The team's front office may have a genius masterplan in the works, or they might just be throwing money at the wall and seeing what sticks. Either way, the Sky's free agency moves will have a major impact on how the team performs.
Player with the most to prove in 2026
Elaine: Angel Reese
Reese finally has the winning team she’s been asking for. Now, it’s her turn to prove that she is ready for the next level and that she can help Atlanta get past the first round of the playoffs.
Nathan: Caitlin Clark
There is no denying the generational talent that Caitlin Clark is. A sensational rookie year for Clark saw the Fever accelerate their roster construction to give the star an early chance at a championship. Injuries saw her second season in the league fizzle out, while the players around her fought their way to the semifinals of the playoffs. Clark must prove she can stay healthy and carry her teammates to the next level.
Stephanie: Angel Reese
Reese's first two seasons were impressive, but there was a constant question mark over her head: could she win if she were on a different team? Now she has the opportunity to prove that she can. In addition to her own skills, Reese should benefit from being on the Dream — the team is a powerhouse.
Add us as a preferred source on Google