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Best WNBA players to ever be drafted at each lottery spot

Best WNBA players to ever be drafted at each lottery spot

With the WNBA Draft Lottery coming up tomorrow — Sunday, Nov. 23 — teams will be finding out where they will be drafting in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Dallas has the best odds to secure the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row, and if this happens, it would be a repeat of Indiana picking No. 1 back to back in the two years before 2025, when they drafted Aliyah Boston in 2023 and Caitlin Clark in 2024.

While everyone wants their team to get the No. 1 pick, there have been significant players drafted in the top five throughout WNBA history. So, for fans who want to know who the best possible players they might be able to get are — depending on where they land in the lottery here are the best players ever chosen in the top five spots:

A’ja Wilson — No. 1 pick in 2018

Honorable mentions: Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird

Obviously, there have been a ton of incredible players to be picked first overall in the draft. Bird has 4 WNBA championships, and Taurasi got 3 (to go with 6 Olympic Gold Medals). Candace Parker set basically every record in WNBA history, some of which are only being broken by the No. 1 of No. 1’s — A’ja Wilson.

When the Las Vegas Aces selected A’ja Wilson out of South Carolina in 2018, it was their first year in Vegas after moving the franchise from San Antonio. This pick not only signified the start of a new era, it was also the beginning of one of the best runs the WNBA will ever see.

Since being drafted, Wilson has won 3 WNBA championships, 4 WNBA MVP Awards, 2 WNBA Finals MVP Awards, 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards, and been to 7 All-Star games — all as a member of the Las Vegas Aces. She holds the record for most points scored in a season, reaching that in 2024 when she scored 1021 points. She also holds the record for the highest points per game average in a season, averaging 26.87 points per contest in 2024.

At just 29 years old, Wilson is still in the prime of her career and will continue to dominate the league for years to come. Even now, while still playing, she will go down in history as one of the most highly accomplished basketball players in the world and is a guaranteed future Hall of Famer.

Sylvia Fowles — No. 2 pick in 2008

Honorable mentions: Elena Delle Donne, Kelsey Mitchell

The No. 2 spot has produced some incredible players over the years — more recently with someone like Dominique Malonga, or historically like Elena Delle Donne. Sylvia Fowles was drafted No. 2 in 2008, going to the Chicago Sky. Why was she not drafted No. 1? Well, the LA Sparks drafted Candace Parker that year.

Fowles went on to win 2 WNBA Championships, 2 Finals MVP awards, 1 WNBA MVP award, make 8 All-Star Game appearances, and win 4 Defensive Player of the Year Awards before she retired after the 2022 season.

Fowles was one of the most dominant post players we’ve ever seen in the WNBA. At 6-feet 6-inches in height, few players could truly match up with her defensively. She was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.

Skylar Diggins — No. 3 pick in 2013

Honorable mention: Courtney Vandersloot

Skylar Diggins was chosen third overall by the Tulsa Shock (now Dallas Wings) in 2013, and continues to be an excellent player to this day. Her speed, strength, agility, efficiency and gorgeous rainbow-arching shot are all components of a game that is hard to replicate.

She is a 7x WNBA All-Star, Olympic Gold medalist, and has 4 All-WNBA First Team nods. She’s played for Tulsa, moved to Dallas with the franchise, Phoenix, and now Seattle. Still on the hunt for her first WNBA championship, the closest she got was in 2021 in Phoenix when she went to the Finals.

Allisha Gray — No. 4 pick in 2017

Honorable mention: Gabby Williams

Another player drafted to the Dallas Wings, Allisha Gray has grown a lot in her time in the WNBA. Now playing for the Atlanta Dream, her stats during the 2025 season were the best of her career. In a career-high 34.5 minutes per game, Gray scored a career-high 18.4 points on 45.1% shooting and 38.4% shooting from three-point range.

Gray is a 3x WNBA All-Star, made her first All-WNBA first team in 2025, and won both the Skills Challenge and the Three-Point contest at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

Arike Ogunbowale — No. 5 pick in 2019

Honorable mentions: Natasha Howard, DeWanna Bonner

Another pick to the Dallas Wings, who chose Arike Ogunbowale No. 5 overall out of Notre Dame in 2019. Known for her ability to shoot in big moments, winning her a National Championship in college, Arike has translated that ability to the WNBA.

She has a career average of 19.9 points per game, shooting 34.6% from three-point range in seven WNBA seasons. Arike has spent her entire career with the Wings so far, making 4 WNBA All-Star appearances and getting an All-WNBA First Team nod.

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Deadspin | Kimi Antonelli wins fourth straight race at Canadian Grand Prix  May 24, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton (44) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (3) on the podium during the Lenovo Grand Prix Du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.Antonelli  won.  Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images   Kimi Antonelli recorded his fourth consecutive victory Sunday by taking first in the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  Antonelli, 19, and Mercedes teammate George Russell were wheel to wheel much of the afternoon, trading leads multiple times on Lap 13, before a power unit failure ended Russell’s day on the 30th of the race’s 68 laps.  Antonelli is the first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1952 to win four straight races and the first F1 driver to win his first four consecutively.  “Not the way I wanted to win. It was meant to be a good fight with George but we will take it,” said Antonelli, who finished in 1:28:15 to beat runner-up Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari by nearly 11 seconds.  Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third.   After five grand prix, all won by Mercedes, and three Saturday sprints, Antonelli leads all drivers with 131 points. Russell is second with 88.  “Just everything turned off all of a sudden,” Russell said of Sunday’s power failure. “Just went into the corner, engine stopped, no electronics, no proper braking.  “I’m pretty damned frustrated with what’s happened but what more can I do?”  Mercedes (219) leads Ferrari (147) by 72 points in the constructors’ standings. McLaren, which didn’t have a driver score Sunday, is third with 106 points.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Kimi #Antonelli #wins #fourth #straight #race #Canadian #Grand #PrixMay 24, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton (44) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (3) on the podium during the Lenovo Grand Prix Du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.Antonelli won. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Kimi Antonelli recorded his fourth consecutive victory Sunday by taking first in the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Antonelli, 19, and Mercedes teammate George Russell were wheel to wheel much of the afternoon, trading leads multiple times on Lap 13, before a power unit failure ended Russell’s day on the 30th of the race’s 68 laps.

Antonelli is the first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1952 to win four straight races and the first F1 driver to win his first four consecutively.

“Not the way I wanted to win. It was meant to be a good fight with George but we will take it,” said Antonelli, who finished in 1:28:15 to beat runner-up Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari by nearly 11 seconds.


Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third.

After five grand prix, all won by Mercedes, and three Saturday sprints, Antonelli leads all drivers with 131 points. Russell is second with 88.

“Just everything turned off all of a sudden,” Russell said of Sunday’s power failure. “Just went into the corner, engine stopped, no electronics, no proper braking.

“I’m pretty damned frustrated with what’s happened but what more can I do?”

Mercedes (219) leads Ferrari (147) by 72 points in the constructors’ standings. McLaren, which didn’t have a driver score Sunday, is third with 106 points.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Kimi #Antonelli #wins #fourth #straight #race #Canadian #Grand #Prix">Deadspin | Kimi Antonelli wins fourth straight race at Canadian Grand Prix  May 24, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton (44) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (3) on the podium during the Lenovo Grand Prix Du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.Antonelli  won.  Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images   Kimi Antonelli recorded his fourth consecutive victory Sunday by taking first in the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  Antonelli, 19, and Mercedes teammate George Russell were wheel to wheel much of the afternoon, trading leads multiple times on Lap 13, before a power unit failure ended Russell’s day on the 30th of the race’s 68 laps.  Antonelli is the first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1952 to win four straight races and the first F1 driver to win his first four consecutively.  “Not the way I wanted to win. It was meant to be a good fight with George but we will take it,” said Antonelli, who finished in 1:28:15 to beat runner-up Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari by nearly 11 seconds.  Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third.   After five grand prix, all won by Mercedes, and three Saturday sprints, Antonelli leads all drivers with 131 points. Russell is second with 88.  “Just everything turned off all of a sudden,” Russell said of Sunday’s power failure. “Just went into the corner, engine stopped, no electronics, no proper braking.  “I’m pretty damned frustrated with what’s happened but what more can I do?”  Mercedes (219) leads Ferrari (147) by 72 points in the constructors’ standings. McLaren, which didn’t have a driver score Sunday, is third with 106 points.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Kimi #Antonelli #wins #fourth #straight #race #Canadian #Grand #Prix

This was supposed to be the summer of George.

Despite arriving at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix 20 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship race, George Russell was on track for a weekend in Montreal that would put him right back in the fight. Russell captured pole position for the F1 Sprint race on Friday, held off Lando Norris and Antonelli after a hard fight with his teammate to take the win in that race on Saturday, and then took pole position for Sunday’s main event with a strong performance in qualifying.

And after yet another hard fight with Antonelli in the early stages of Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, with several changes between the two Mercedes drivers, Russell was leading the race.

Then, on Lap 30, his car stopped on the track. His race was over.

His frustration seemed to boil over as he exited his challenger:

And with Antonelli going on to take his fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory, Russell is left to wonder if his championship hopes have been brought to a halt as well.

“Disbelief,” said Russell to the official F1 channel when asked how he felt following his retirement, which the team attributed to a power unit failure. “It feels like somebody doesn’t want me to fight or compete for this championship.

“Three out of the last five races there’s just been something really going against us. [I’m] just a bit lost for words right now.”

Russell managed to find a silver lining after the race, pointing at how he responded to the “doubters” and the “chat” following the Miami Grand Prix, where he missed out on a podium for the second consecutive Grand Prix.

“Yeah, I loved the battle,” he said to the F1 channel. “I was happy with how I handled it, how I drove and I’m just pleased with the weekend in terms of my own personal performance.

“There were a lot of doubters maybe after Miami and a lot of chat, but I know what I can do. Pole in the Sprint, win the Sprint, pole in Qualifying, leading the race.

“Hard battles, I really loved the battle and I wanted to continue for 30 more laps. I would have loved to see how it would have panned out but here we are.”

When Russell announced his new contract with Mercedes prior to last season’s United States Grand Prix, he outlined how staying with the Silver Arrows gives him the best chance to win a championship. “Well for me I’m really happy to be continuing [with Mercedes] because the truth is if every single seat was available for next year and I could choose any single team to race for, I believe Mercedes is my best chance of winning the championship next year, and for me winning is is more about winning than it is about money or sponsor days or anything,” said Russell to the media, including SB Nation, during the media day in Austin last October.

“I want to win, and this is what I’m fighting for.”

There is certainly a long way to go this season, but at the moment Russell trails Antonelli by 43 points in the standings, with his teammate set to bring a four-race winning streak to the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.

Perhaps the summer of George can begin then.

#George #Russell #lost #words #Canadian #Grand #Prix">George Russell ‘lost for words’ after Canadian Grand Prix  This was supposed to be the summer of George.Despite arriving at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix 20 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship race, George Russell was on track for a weekend in Montreal that would put him right back in the fight. Russell captured pole position for the F1 Sprint race on Friday, held off Lando Norris and Antonelli after a hard fight with his teammate to take the win in that race on Saturday, and then took pole position for Sunday’s main event with a strong performance in qualifying.And after yet another hard fight with Antonelli in the early stages of Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, with several changes between the two Mercedes drivers, Russell was leading the race.Then, on Lap 30, his car stopped on the track. His race was over.His frustration seemed to boil over as he exited his challenger:And with Antonelli going on to take his fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory, Russell is left to wonder if his championship hopes have been brought to a halt as well.“Disbelief,” said Russell to the official F1 channel when asked how he felt following his retirement, which the team attributed to a power unit failure. “It feels like somebody doesn’t want me to fight or compete for this championship.“Three out of the last five races there’s just been something really going against us. [I’m] just a bit lost for words right now.”Russell managed to find a silver lining after the race, pointing at how he responded to the “doubters” and the “chat” following the Miami Grand Prix, where he missed out on a podium for the second consecutive Grand Prix.“Yeah, I loved the battle,” he said to the F1 channel. “I was happy with how I handled it, how I drove and I’m just pleased with the weekend in terms of my own personal performance.“There were a lot of doubters maybe after Miami and a lot of chat, but I know what I can do. Pole in the Sprint, win the Sprint, pole in Qualifying, leading the race.“Hard battles, I really loved the battle and I wanted to continue for 30 more laps. I would have loved to see how it would have panned out but here we are.”When Russell announced his new contract with Mercedes prior to last season’s United States Grand Prix, he outlined how staying with the Silver Arrows gives him the best chance to win a championship. “Well for me I’m really happy to be continuing [with Mercedes] because the truth is if every single seat was available for next year and I could choose any single team to race for, I believe Mercedes is my best chance of winning the championship next year, and for me winning is is more about winning than it is about money or sponsor days or anything,” said Russell to the media, including SB Nation, during the media day in Austin last October.“I want to win, and this is what I’m fighting for.”There is certainly a long way to go this season, but at the moment Russell trails Antonelli by 43 points in the standings, with his teammate set to bring a four-race winning streak to the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.Perhaps the summer of George can begin then.  #George #Russell #lost #words #Canadian #Grand #Prix

official F1 channel when asked how he felt following his retirement, which the team attributed to a power unit failure. “It feels like somebody doesn’t want me to fight or compete for this championship.

“Three out of the last five races there’s just been something really going against us. [I’m] just a bit lost for words right now.”

Russell managed to find a silver lining after the race, pointing at how he responded to the “doubters” and the “chat” following the Miami Grand Prix, where he missed out on a podium for the second consecutive Grand Prix.

“Yeah, I loved the battle,” he said to the F1 channel. “I was happy with how I handled it, how I drove and I’m just pleased with the weekend in terms of my own personal performance.

“There were a lot of doubters maybe after Miami and a lot of chat, but I know what I can do. Pole in the Sprint, win the Sprint, pole in Qualifying, leading the race.

“Hard battles, I really loved the battle and I wanted to continue for 30 more laps. I would have loved to see how it would have panned out but here we are.”

When Russell announced his new contract with Mercedes prior to last season’s United States Grand Prix, he outlined how staying with the Silver Arrows gives him the best chance to win a championship. “Well for me I’m really happy to be continuing [with Mercedes] because the truth is if every single seat was available for next year and I could choose any single team to race for, I believe Mercedes is my best chance of winning the championship next year, and for me winning is is more about winning than it is about money or sponsor days or anything,” said Russell to the media, including SB Nation, during the media day in Austin last October.

“I want to win, and this is what I’m fighting for.”

There is certainly a long way to go this season, but at the moment Russell trails Antonelli by 43 points in the standings, with his teammate set to bring a four-race winning streak to the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.

Perhaps the summer of George can begin then.

#George #Russell #lost #words #Canadian #Grand #Prix">George Russell ‘lost for words’ after Canadian Grand Prix

This was supposed to be the summer of George.

Despite arriving at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix 20 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship race, George Russell was on track for a weekend in Montreal that would put him right back in the fight. Russell captured pole position for the F1 Sprint race on Friday, held off Lando Norris and Antonelli after a hard fight with his teammate to take the win in that race on Saturday, and then took pole position for Sunday’s main event with a strong performance in qualifying.

And after yet another hard fight with Antonelli in the early stages of Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, with several changes between the two Mercedes drivers, Russell was leading the race.

Then, on Lap 30, his car stopped on the track. His race was over.

His frustration seemed to boil over as he exited his challenger:

And with Antonelli going on to take his fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory, Russell is left to wonder if his championship hopes have been brought to a halt as well.

“Disbelief,” said Russell to the official F1 channel when asked how he felt following his retirement, which the team attributed to a power unit failure. “It feels like somebody doesn’t want me to fight or compete for this championship.

“Three out of the last five races there’s just been something really going against us. [I’m] just a bit lost for words right now.”

Russell managed to find a silver lining after the race, pointing at how he responded to the “doubters” and the “chat” following the Miami Grand Prix, where he missed out on a podium for the second consecutive Grand Prix.

“Yeah, I loved the battle,” he said to the F1 channel. “I was happy with how I handled it, how I drove and I’m just pleased with the weekend in terms of my own personal performance.

“There were a lot of doubters maybe after Miami and a lot of chat, but I know what I can do. Pole in the Sprint, win the Sprint, pole in Qualifying, leading the race.

“Hard battles, I really loved the battle and I wanted to continue for 30 more laps. I would have loved to see how it would have panned out but here we are.”

When Russell announced his new contract with Mercedes prior to last season’s United States Grand Prix, he outlined how staying with the Silver Arrows gives him the best chance to win a championship. “Well for me I’m really happy to be continuing [with Mercedes] because the truth is if every single seat was available for next year and I could choose any single team to race for, I believe Mercedes is my best chance of winning the championship next year, and for me winning is is more about winning than it is about money or sponsor days or anything,” said Russell to the media, including SB Nation, during the media day in Austin last October.

“I want to win, and this is what I’m fighting for.”

There is certainly a long way to go this season, but at the moment Russell trails Antonelli by 43 points in the standings, with his teammate set to bring a four-race winning streak to the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.

Perhaps the summer of George can begin then.

#George #Russell #lost #words #Canadian #Grand #Prix

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