Dallas Wings lock in top WNBA draft lottery odds
After back-to-back losing seasons, Dallas has a 40% chance of securing the 2026 WNBA Draft's No. 1 pick, plus Liberty finally clinch and more news to know
Dallas Wings lock in top WNBA draft lottery odds
UCLA’s Lauren Betts (L) and UConn’s Azzi Fudd are both projected to go in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft. (JWS)
No. 13 Dallas’s season might be ending soon, but they’re banking on the future as the struggling WNBA team locked in the best odds for next year’s No. 1 draft pick.
After Monday’s loss to Minnesota, the Wings — who drafted UConn’s Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall at the 2025 Draft — now have a 40% chance of winning first dibs via the 2026 lottery, as well as a near-30% chance at getting No. 2 or No. 3.
How it works: In an attempt to avoid rewarding single-season tanking, the lottery uses combined two-year records to determine which teams get a shot at a high pick.
This year’s trades complicate next season’s lottery order, with No. 12 Chicago’s natural first-round pick belonging to No. 1 Minnesota, while No. 11 Connecticut’s pick — heavily weighted due to the team’s 2024 success — will likely go to Chicago by way of a pick swap involving No. 4 Phoenix.
And as the league expands, so must the lottery, now set to feature a five-team lineup for the first time with newcomers Toronto and Portland projected to claim picks No. 5 and No. 6. (See full odds)
Top dogs: After successfully transitioning Bueckers to the pros, Dallas is going all in on NCAA talent as next year’s projected top picks prep for their final college tour.
UCLA center Lauren Betts is expected to go first, followed closely by Bueckers’s former UConn teammate (and current girlfriend) Azzi Fudd and offseason TCU transfer Olivia Miles.
Bottom line: Every lottery is a gamble by definition, but back-to-back losing records in Dallas could spell a silver lining in 2026.
Liberty clinch WNBA playoff bid despite loss
New York clinched a postseason spot on Tuesday despite losing to Golden State. (Kelley L Cox/Imagn Images)
No. 5 New York finally punched their playoff ticket, as the Liberty secured a postseason berth via No. 8 Indiana’s Tuesday night loss, despite their own 66-58 defeat at the hands of surging No. 6 Golden State.
With star guard Sabrina Ionescu still sidelined with injury, New York became just the second reigning league champions to lose to a first-year expansion team in WNBA history.
“We just lost a game,” New York coach Sandy Brondello said afterwards. “Obviously, we’re in the playoffs, but we still lost a game. Liked the second half, didn’t like the first half that much.”
Big picture: With the Fever falling 85-79 to the No. 4 Mercury, tension in the WNBA standings has hit a new high as four teams battle for the last three playoff spots.
The Valkyries are hot on the Liberty’s heels, shooting to become the first-ever expansion team to make the postseason in their debut year as their magic number dwindles down to two — with just four games left to play.
“We’re in playoff mode right now!” Golden State center Temi Fagbenle, who put up 16 points in Tuesday’s win, told the crowd inside Chase Center.
Up next: Golden State has a chance to close in on history against No. 13 Dallas tomorrow at 10 PM ET (League Pass), while New York looks to regroup against No. 7 Seattle on Friday at 10 PM ET (ION).
Unrivaled 3×3 drops star-studded NCAA merch
14 top NCAA basketball players have signed Unrivaled NIL deals. (Unrivaled Basketball)
Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball is doubling down on NIL, with this week’s Future Is Unrivaled merch drop spotlighting the offseason league’s roster of college talent.
The line features FIU-branded sports apparel and accessories alongside one-offs like pleated skirts, button-ups, and jackets, all backed by a social media campaign starring Lauren Betts (UCLA), Sienna Betts (UCLA), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Azzi Fudd (UConn), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Flau’jae Johnson (LSU), Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), Olivia Miles (TCU), Kiki Rice (UCLA), Sarah Strong (UConn), Syla Swords (Michigan), and JuJu Watkins (USC).
Building the future: After first signing NCAA stars Paige Bueckers and Flau’jae Johnson in late 2024, Unrivaled added more than a dozen of college basketball’s biggest names to the Future is Unrivaled’s Class of 2025 earlier this summer.
While they’re not expected to play in the upstart league before going pro, the NIL signees did participate in July’s Unrivaled Summit, a multi-day Miami-based event focused on skill development, content creation, brand building, social media strategy, and community service.
Bottom line: Unrivaled’s investment in the next generation of superstars underlines the 3×3 venture’s growing influence, as it becomes a wedge issue in the WNBA’s ongoing CBA negotiations while prepping to tip off a second season in January.
Get yours: The latest Future Is Unrivaled collection is available now via Unrivaled.
Bay FC star Oshoala signs with Saudi league
Asisat Oshoala signed with Bay FC ahead of their inaugural 2024 season. (Kelley L Cox/NWSL via Getty Images)
Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala is on the move, finalizing a transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal after making 38 appearances for the 2024 NWSL expansion club.
“Asisat has been an incredibly important part of Bay FC history, not only with her impact on the pitch but also through the energy, professionalism, and kindness she brought every day,” Bay FC sporting director Matt Potter said in Tuesday’s statement.
One of Bay FC’s splashiest signings ahead of their inaugural season, the former FC Barcelona star has since seen her playing time drop with just 12 appearances so far this season.
Big picture: Oshoala isn’t the first high-profile NWSL player to join the 10-team Saudi Women’s Premier League since it debuted in 2022 — the same year the Saudi Arabia women’s national team was founded.
Following the Orlando Pride’s 2024 Shield and Championship-winning season, Brazilian star Adriana joined Saudi side Al Qadsiah FC for a then-club-record $500,000 transfer fee.
Injured Gabby Thomas sits out World Championships
Track star Gabby Thomas has been dealing with a lingering Achilles issue since May. (Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas will miss this month’s World Athletics Championships due to a lingering Achilles issue, the 28-year-old sprinter announced on Tuesday.
Thomas has been dealing with the injury since May, going onto re-aggravate it in July after placing third in her favored 200-meter event at US Nationals.
“I understand that it will be disappointing for some track fans to hear this news, but I’ve finally come to the realization that it’s OK to be human and take care of myself,” she said in a statement. (Read more)
Up next: Thomas plans to return to competition in 2026, as one of Team USA’s top talents in both the 200-meter dash and 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays.
Quote of the day
“hi world.”
USWNT forward Sophia Wilson
announcing the arrival of her firstborn child via social media on Tuesday.
