Overview
- The televised draft on Wednesday finalized two 12‑player All‑Star squads after Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon alternated picks from the 24‑player pool.
- Teresa Weatherspoon used the first overall pick on A'ja Wilson while Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, the top two fan vote‑getters, were assigned to teams by a coin flip.
- Becky Hammon will coach Team Cooper and Cheryl Reeve will coach Team Weatherspoon, and although trades were allowed after selections neither honorary GM made any.
- Four players — Jessica Shepard, Olivia Miles, Marina Mabrey and Dominique Malonga — will make their first All‑Star appearances, highlighting rising talent and giving those players broader exposure at the July 24–25 weekend events.
- The draft reflects the league's 2026 format change that replaced active‑player captains with honorary Hall of Famers and used weighted fan, media, player and coach voting, a process that earlier reporting said showed splits in voting totals and limited player ballot participation.