WNBA Draft Lottery Tonight: Dallas Wings Hold Commanding 42% Odds for Top Pick

The 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery is set for tonight. The event airs live on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Dallas Wings are the heavy favorites to secure the No. 1 overall pick.

Dallas enters with a 42% probability of winning the lottery drawing. This marks a pivotal moment for the franchise and the league’s future stars.

How the Lottery Odds Stack Up

The Wings’ odds stem from their league-worst combined record over the past two seasons. According to league data, Dallas posted a 19-65 record in that span. This poor performance grants them the highest number of combinations in the lottery machine.

Other teams have outside chances. The Minnesota Lynx hold the second-best odds at 26.1%. They own this pick due to a prior trade with the Chicago Sky.

The Seattle Storm have a 16.7% chance with a pick acquired from the Los Angeles Sparks. The Washington Mystics sit at 9.7%, and the Chicago Sky round out the field with just 5.5% odds.

The Mechanics of the Draft Drawing

The WNBA uses a classic ping-pong ball system. Fourteen numbered balls are placed into a machine. Four balls are drawn to create a single four-digit combination.

Each lottery team is assigned a set of number combinations beforehand. The team holding the drawn combination wins the first overall selection. The process then repeats to determine the second pick.

The remaining lottery slots, picks three through five, are assigned by inverse order of the teams’ records. This system aims to balance hope for struggling teams with competitive integrity.

Implications for the WNBA Landscape

Landing the top pick is a franchise-altering event. The 2026 draft class is already generating significant buzz among scouts. Securing the first choice provides immense flexibility.

A team can select a generational talent to build around. Alternatively, they could trade the valuable pick for multiple assets. Tonight’s results will shape offseason strategies across the league.

For the Dallas Wings, a win would mean back-to-back No. 1 selections. This is a rare opportunity to accelerate a rebuild dramatically.

The WNBA Draft Lottery promises to reshape team fortunes in mere moments. All eyes are on the ping-pong balls and the future star they will deliver to a lucky franchise.

Thought you’d like to know

What time is the WNBA Draft Lottery?

The lottery airs tonight at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Coverage is on ESPN and is scheduled to last approximately 30 minutes.

Which team has the best chance to win?

The Dallas Wings have the highest probability at 42%. Their odds are based on having the worst combined record from the last two seasons.

How does the WNBA draft lottery work?

It uses a ping-pong ball system with 14 balls. Four balls drawn create a combination that corresponds to one team, awarding them the first pick. The process repeats for the second pick.

What happens after the lottery?

The order for the first two picks is set. Picks three through five go to the remaining lottery teams in order of their regular-season records, from worst to best.

Can lottery picks be traded?

Yes, teams are free to trade their draft selections. The lottery result simply determines which team holds the rights to each pick, which can then be dealt to another franchise.