Way-too-early look at 2027 Draft lottery prospects

Even with the 2026 WNBA season still underway, the playoff picture is largely defined, with five games separating the No. 8 Dallas Wings and No. 9 Portland Fire. That gap makes it increasingly likely which teams will miss the postseason and therefore target the 2027 WNBA Draft lottery. The article notes the league is expanding and that seven teams will miss playoffs, widening and complicating the lottery range. While the date of the lottery remains unknown, it highlights early prospects expected to be in contention for top picks. JuJu Watkins (USC) is framed as the “crown jewel,” with 25.5 points per game and recent ACL concerns.