Eight Big Ten Women’s Basketball Players Selected in Record-Setting 2026 WNBA Draft

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference had eight student-athletes chosen in the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY that took place Monday night at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. It was the third year in a row that at least seven players were drafted and most since 2002.

UCLA concluded the event as the first program to have six players taken in a single draft. The Big Ten has now had multiple student-athletes from current member schools chosen in the WNBA Draft in every one of the league’s 30 seasons of existence.

UCLA’s Lauren Betts was the first Big Ten player selected this year as the No. 4 overall pick in the first round by the Washington Mystics. Betts was the third lottery pick in Bruin history, joining Lisa Willis (2006) and Noelle Quinn (2007).

UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez heard her name called next as the fifth pick by the Chicago Sky in the first round. Jaquez was the first Big Ten player drafted to the Chicago Sky since 2020. She joined Betts as the first collegiate teammates since 2020 to be taken in the top five in the same draft.

The Toronto Tempo, an expansion team set to embark on its inaugural season, used its first-ever WNBA Draft pick to select UCLA’s Kiki Rice in the first round at No. 6. With her selection, it was the second time in WNBA history that three straight draftees came from the same school (UConn – 2016).

The next Bruin off the board in the first round was Angela Dugalić to the Washington Mystics at No. 9. Her selection tied the Big Ten Conference record for the most players drafted in the top 10 of a single draft (2017).

UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens wrapped up the first round by going to the Connecticut Sun as the No. 15 pick. With a total of five first-rounders, the Bruins set a WNBA Draft record for the most players selected from a single school in the first round.

The second round continued with another UCLA representative in Charlisse Leger-Walker, who was drafted to the Connecticut Sun with the 18th pick. Leger-Walker was the first New Zealander ever drafted into the WNBA and joined Kneepkens as the first Bruins selected by the Sun franchise.

Ohio State’s Chance Gray was the next Big Ten player drafted as the No. 24 pick by the Los Angeles Sparks. Gray extended Ohio State’s streak to four straight years with a draftee and was the first Buckeye to be selected by the Sparks since 2011 (Jantel Lavender).

Michigan State’s Grace VanSlooten kept things going as the 39th pick in the third round by the Seattle Storm. VanSlooten was the first-ever Spartan taken by the Storm and seventh Big Ten player overall.

2026 WNBA Draft – Big Ten Selections
Round 1
No. 4      Lauren Betts (UCLA) – Washington Mystics
No. 5      Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA) – Chicago Sky
No. 6      Kiki Rice (UCLA) – Toronto Tempo
No. 9      Angela Dugalić (UCLA) – Washington Mystics
No. 15   Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA) – Connecticut Sun

Round 2
No. 18   Charlisse Leger-Walker (UCLA) – Connecticut Sun
No. 24   Chance Gray (Ohio State) – Los Angeles Sparks 

Round 3
No. 39   Grace VanSlooten (Michigan State) – Seattle Storm