WNBA mock draft: Sunday's lottery to determine which team will win JuJu sweepstakes

• Michael VoepelNov 13, 2026, 07:26 AM ET

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  Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women's college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women's basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.

The college and pro women's basketball worlds align Sunday as two of the country's best teams face off, followed by the WNBA draft lottery.

No. 1 South Carolina and No. 3 USC meet in Greenville, South Carolina (ABC, 1 p.m. ET), a game that features multiple players in ESPN's second WNBA mock draft, led by the Trojans' JuJu Watkins.

She sat out last season because of a knee injury, so this is only her third college season. But age-wise, Watkins is eligible for the draft. Though we don't know yet if she will turn pro or return for another college season, for the mock draft purposes we continue to include her.

For that matter, there is also uncertainty about the seniors who have already completed three seasons. Under the NCAA's new age-based eligibility model -- the five-seasons-in-five-years rule -- they could return for the 2027-28 season. All of it means not only are the mock draft pick projections speculative, so is the draft pool.

For now, three Gamecocks also continue to be projected first-round picks, though Tessa Johnson, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins moved up at least one spot.

We will find out the lottery results Sunday night (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and who has the coveted No. 1 pick. For now, we have the Houston Comets (formerly the Connecticut Sun) and the Toronto Tempo at 1-2.

1. Houston Comets: JuJu Watkins

USC | guard | 6-foot-2 | senior

Watkins and the Trojans are already off to a fast start. The March 2025 knee injury that forced her to sit out last season doesn't seem to have slowed her down. Watkins is averaging 24.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.7 steals heading into Sunday's matchup with South Carolina. Again, though we don't know for sure if she will declare for the draft, if she does, she is a franchise-changer.

2. Toronto Tempo: Madison Booker

Texas | forward | 6-foot-1 | senior

Like several teams, Texas has not been tested yet. But Booker has displayed why she's a lottery pick in the Longhorns' three victories so far, including a 30-point, six-assist game against Northern Colorado. Booker's size, strength and confidence on offense and her versatility on defense all should translate to the pro game.

3. Washington Mystics: Hannah Hidalgo

Notre Dame | guard | 5-foot-6 | senior

Hidalgo has carried a heavy load in her college career, and that continues in her senior season. In three blowout wins, she has averaged 27.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 5.0 steals while shooting 58% from the field. Hidalgo is a huge threat on offense and defense, and could really add to a young core already there if she goes to the Mystics.

4. Seattle Storm: Kymora Johnson

Virginia | guard | 5-foot-7 | senior

The unranked Cavaliers are 4-0, and we will know more about them once they play their tougher nonconference foes, such as Oklahoma on Nov. 23. But so far, Johnson has looked very good, averaging 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 62.2% from the field and 61.1% from beyond the arc (11 of 18). Johnson has the most to prove among potential lottery picks, but she is off to a great start.

5. Portland Fire: Mikaylah Williams

LSU | guard | 6-foot | senior

The Tigers have cruised through three blowouts, so Williams' averages -- 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 58.8% from the field -- don't tell us anything we didn't expect. She's a very good, pro-ready player on the offensive end who will need to improve defensively in the WNBA -- and has the ability to do that.

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6. Los Angeles Sparks: S'Mya Nichols

Kansas | guard | 6-foot | senior

Nichols is off to a slower start than expected, averaging 12.7 points and 3.7 assists (she averaged 17.4 and 4.6 last season). But to be fair, that has also been strategic for Nichols and the Jayhawks, who haven't needed that much from her in three comfortable wins. Look for her to be more her usual self as KU next faces ranked Nebraska and Minnesota.

7. Los Angeles Sparks: Sarah Cissé

France | forward | 6-foot-2

There's so much we don't know now about the Sparks -- including who their coach will be -- as they move on after Nneka Ogwumike's retirement. But Cissé could be another talented player out of France to make an impact on the WNBA. The MVP of the U20 European Championships this summer, she turns 20 in January.

8. New York Liberty: Tessa Johnson

South Carolina | guard | 6-foot-1 | senior

Johnson's 3-point shooting is an impressive tool that will translate to the pro game and could help her move up the draft board. She was the top power-conference player in the country last season in 3-point percentage (44.8%, 90 of 201). So far this season, she has made 6 of 14 (42.9%) from beyond the arc and is averaging 13.3 points.

9. Dallas Wings: Chloe Kitts

South Carolina | forward | 6-foot-2 | senior

Kitts sat out last season because of a knee injury but has looked very good so far. Like Johnson, she's another player who could move up the draft board. A starter as a junior in 2024-25, she averaged a career-best 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds. Through three games this season, she has two double-doubles and is averaging 12.3 points and 9.7 rebounds.

10. Indiana Fever: Ashlyn Watkins

South Carolina | forward | 6-foot-3 | senior

Watkins' career numbers don't stand out. But she is a pro prospect because of her ability to defend multiple positions, her rebounding and her strength. Watkins was limited to 14 games by a knee injury in 2024-25, then didn't play last season as she recovered. This season, she hasn't gotten on track yet offensively, but is averaging 7.7 rebounds.

11. Chicago Sky: Ainhoa Risacher

France | forward | 6-foot-1

If you recognize the last name, Risacher is the younger sister of Zaccharie Risacher, the NBA's No. 1 draft pick in 2024. A good-sized wing player, Risacher competed alongside Cissé on France's winning U20 European Championships team this past summer. She will turn 20 in July.

12. Chicago Sky: MiLaysia Fulwiley

LSU | guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Fulwiley is averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.7 steals for the Tigers, who have clobbered three overmatched opponents so far. Fulwiley, who can change games with her offense and defense, has a chance to move up the draft board if she shows more consistency now that she is a starter.

13. Dallas Wings: Talaysia Cooper

Ole Miss | guard | 6-foot-0 | senior

Cooper, playing for her third SEC program, is averaging 14.3 points and shooting 42.9% (9-of-21) from 3-point range. She showed progress from beyond the arc last season, and if that continues this season it will help her draft prospects. Cooper had her best defensive season as a sophomore at Tennessee, and a return to that level with Ole Miss will boost her.

14. Golden State Valkyries: Oluchi Okananwa

Maryland | guard | 5-foot-10 | senior

Okananwa is averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, but the Terrapins have played only two games. She was first team all-Big Ten and all-defense last season -- we know the Valkyries love defense -- but she probably will need to show improvement as a 3-point shooter to ensure being a first-round pick.

15. Minnesota Lynx: Clara Strack

Kentucky | center | 6-foot-5 | senior

It's not easy for traditional centers to find their way in the WNBA, so having shooting range matters. Strack has shown that, making 42 3-pointers over the past two seasons, but she will need to keep improving. Strack, who was the SEC's defensive player of the year in 2025, is averaging 15.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks for the 4-0 Wildcats.