Overview
- The drawing tracked the stated odds, marking just the fifth time the lottery results matched teams’ probabilities.
- The top five are set: Dallas at No. 1, followed by Minnesota, Seattle, Washington and Chicago.
- Expansion clubs Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will pick sixth and seventh, with a coin flip to set the order and expansion-draft rules still to be negotiated.
- There is no consensus No. 1 prospect, with projections frequently listing Lauren Betts, Awa Fam, Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd and Flau’jae Johnson among the top options.
- Dallas pairs last year’s Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers with new coach Jose Fernandez as GM Curt Miller stresses roster optionality, notes trade interest from other teams, and prepares for an April 13 draft pending a new CBA.