UConn star Azzi Fudd scanning the floor while dribbling up the court, highlighting the high-fidelity detail of her Nike basketball sneakers and the intensity of a top-tier collegiate matchup.
THE FEED

The Signal: How to Watch the 2026 WNBA Draft: Live Stream & Logistics

  • The Event: 2026 WNBA Draft presented by State Street.
  • The Frequency: Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The Uplink: ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPN App.
  • The Primary Node: The Shed at Hudson Yards, NYC.
  • The Stakes: 3 rounds, 45 total picks, and the arrival of the first Canadian franchise.

The WNBA is currently operating at peak bandwidth. Coming off a record-breaking collegiate season and a high-stakes expansion draft that saw Bridget Carleton become the face of a new era in Portland and Toronto, tonight’s rookie draft is the final “Installation” before the May 8 season tip-off.

Whether you’re watching to see if Azzi Fudd joins her UConn teammate Paige Bueckers in Dallas or to see how the Toronto Tempo builds their inaugural rookie class, here is how to tune in.

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Phase One: The Orange Carpet Special

The draft festivities begin with the iconic Orange Carpet. This is more than a walk-in; it’s a high-fidelity showcase of the league’s fashion and sneaker culture.

  • When: 5:30 PM ET.
  • Channel: ESPN2.
  • The Vibe: Pre-draft interviews, fit checks and a lighting ceremony live from the Empire State Building.

Phase Two: WNBA Countdown (The Pre-Show)

  • When: 6:30 PM ET.
  • Channel: ESPN.
  • Analysis: The final mocks and prospect breakdowns before the Commissioner takes the stage.

Phase Three: The Main Event

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the picks live. For the first time, we have 15 picks in the first round to accommodate the expansion of the league’s “User Base.”

  • When: 7:00 PM ET.
  • Channel: ESPN.
  • Stream: ESPN App, Fubo and Sling TV.

The First Round Architecture

The draft order was finalized following a chaotic lottery and the expansion draft earlier this month:

  1. Dallas Wings (Projected: Awa Fam or Azzi Fudd)
  2. Minnesota Lynx (via Chicago)
  3. Seattle Storm (via LA)
  4. Washington Mystics
  5. Chicago Sky (via Connecticut)
  6. Toronto Tempo (Expansion Debut)
  7. Portland Fire (Expansion Debut)
  8. Golden State Valkyries

The ‘Decked Out’ Second-Screen Pro-Tip

For those who want the raw data as it happens, the WNBA App and WNBA.com will run an interactive Draft Board. This is the fastest way to track the “Patch Notes”—every trade, pick and roster movement—before they hit the TV broadcast.

Let the fun begin.

Featured Image: Katie Dugan; Wikimedia Commons

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Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.

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