WNBA Draft 2026: UCLA Makes History with Six Players Selected, Five in First Round
Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; 2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Fresh off their first-ever NCAA national championship, UCLA Women’s Basketball continued their historic run by rewriting the WNBA draft record books Monday night in New York City. The Bruins became the first team to have five first-round selections and the first with six players selected in one draft, cementing their place among the greatest college basketball teams of all time.
The celebration began early as Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, and Kiki Rice were selected consecutively with picks 4-6. The 6-foot-7 Betts was chosen by the Washington Mystics at No. 4, followed by Jaquez heading to the Chicago Sky. Rice made history as the expansion Toronto Tempo‘s first-ever draft pick with the No. 6 selection.
A Night of Unprecedented Success
« It’s really hard to sum up because there’s so much, » Jaquez said. « I think that we’re just on a high right now. We just won the national championship. A lot of us have also graduated college, which is a huge step and something to be super proud of, especially at UCLA. »
The historic night continued with Angela Dugalić joining Betts in Washington as the ninth overall pick, while Gianna Kneepkens capped the first-round surge as the Connecticut Sun‘s 15th selection. Charlisse Leger-Walker rounded out UCLA’s draft class, going to Connecticut in the second round at 18th overall.
UCLA’s achievement surpassed UConn’s previous record of four first-round selections in 2002, when Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, and Tamika Williams were all taken in the first six picks from their 39-0 championship team. While Tennessee, Notre Dame, and South Carolina had previously placed five players in drafts, none accomplished the feat entirely within the first round.
« These are like my sisters, and getting to watch your family do something like that is amazing, » Betts said. « But I mean, this team is just so special. We knew the type of players that we had on the team, and to really just have this night really showcase all of the things that we’ve worked on all season is just amazing. »
Coach Cori Close, who watched from the front row as her players celebrated each selection, acknowledged the significance of the achievement. « Well, I mean, I sort of do care about this one, actually because No. 1, it helps us in recruiting, » she said. « Just to be a part of a historic night and for them to be so excited for each other, that’s sort of representative of how they’ve been all year long. »
The Bruins’ 37-1 season culminated with a dominant victory over South Carolina in the championship game, and their draft success validates their selfless approach throughout the campaign. « I think it definitely demonstrates that being a selfless team, that maybe giving up individual stats for team success, that you can win with that formula, » Rice explained.
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