WNBA Draft Prospects Shine in Final Four

Analyzing how top prospects like Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, and Raven Johnson performed in the NCAA tournament

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:41pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a women's basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors like blue, yellow, and red, capturing the dynamic nature of the sport and the rising stars about to enter the professional ranks.The NCAA women's basketball tournament showcased the skills and potential of top WNBA draft prospects, with their performances influencing where they will be selected next week.Baton Rouge Today

The 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament provided a final showcase for some of the top prospects ahead of next week's WNBA draft. UCLA's run to the national title highlighted the skills of players like Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, while South Carolina's Raven Johnson and UConn's Azzi Fudd had mixed performances in the Final Four. Other prospects like Olivia Miles of TCU and Flau'jae Johnson of LSU also made their cases to be high draft picks.

Why it matters

The NCAA tournament is a crucial evaluation period for WNBA teams to assess the skills and potential of top draft prospects. Strong performances can boost a player's draft stock, while struggles in the spotlight can raise questions. How these prospects fared in the tournament will heavily influence where they are selected in next week's WNBA draft.

The details

Lauren Betts of UCLA capped off her outstanding senior season by being named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after leading the Bruins to the national championship. Betts, a 6'7" center, averaged nearly a double-double on the season and showed her ability to impact the game beyond just scoring and rebounding. Teammate Kiki Rice also impressed with her playmaking skills, getting the ball to Betts and other bigs in scoring position. South Carolina's Raven Johnson struggled in the national title game against UCLA, but earlier in the tournament she was a defensive standout, disrupting UConn's offense. UConn's Azzi Fudd, a projected top-5 pick, had an uncharacteristically poor performance in the Final Four loss to South Carolina. However, her body of work over her career in Storrs should keep her draft stock high. Other prospects like Olivia Miles of TCU and Flau'jae Johnson of LSU also made their cases to be early draft selections with strong tournament showings.

  • The 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament took place in March and April 2026.
  • The WNBA draft is scheduled for next week, shortly after the conclusion of the NCAA tournament.

The players

Lauren Betts

A 6'7" senior center for UCLA who was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after leading the Bruins to the national championship. She averaged nearly a double-double on the season and showed her ability to impact the game beyond just scoring and rebounding.

Kiki Rice

A UCLA teammate of Betts who impressed with her playmaking skills, getting the ball to Betts and other bigs in scoring position.

Raven Johnson

A South Carolina guard who struggled in the national title game against UCLA, but earlier in the tournament was a defensive standout, disrupting UConn's offense.

Azzi Fudd

A UConn guard who is a projected top-5 pick in the WNBA draft, despite having an uncharacteristically poor performance in the Final Four loss to South Carolina.

Olivia Miles

A TCU guard who made a mark in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, scoring 28 points in a win over Virginia and 18 points against South Carolina, and is expected to be a high draft pick.

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What they’re saying

“She's 6-7. She has improved from last year. She's patient. I mean, she got, what, four seniors around her. She's a senior herself. Experience goes a long way.”

— Raven Johnson, South Carolina player

“We got whupped.”

— Dawn Staley, South Carolina head coach

What’s next

The WNBA draft is scheduled for next week, where these top prospects will find out which teams will select them.

The takeaway

The 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament provided a final showcase for some of the top WNBA draft prospects, with players like Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, and Olivia Miles boosting their draft stock with strong performances, while others like Azzi Fudd had mixed results. How these players fared in the tournament will be a key factor in where they are selected in next week's WNBA draft.