Despite making the playoffs and having a star-studded veteran roster, the Seattle Storm will have a lottery pick for the second year in a row. They got the Sparks’ pick in the 2025 draft in the trade that moved Kelsey Plum and Jewell Loyd and used it to select Dominique Malonga. The French teen has already emerged as one of the most promising and exciting young players in the WNBA. The Storm also own the Sparks’ 2026 lottery pick because of a trade that sent their 2024 pick and Kia Nurse to Los Angeles. They have the third-highest chance of landing the number one pick. 
Seattle doesn’t even need the top pick to land a perfect young prospect, though. With 6’6” Malonga, the Storm already have their center of the future. With Jordan Horston and Nika Mühl, the Storm also have some interesting young guard talent. Both promise to be impactful role players, but not necessarily a co-star for Malonga. The 2026 WNBA Draft offers the perfect opportunity for the Storm to draft a perimeter player with big-time star potential.
The 2026 draft class will feature a bunch of interesting guards
The number one pick in the next WNBA draft may very well come down to Lauren Betts or Awa Fam. Betts has the kind of size and interior scoring talent that is pretty much impossible to teach. Fam, meanwhile, is only 19, but already looks like one of the best international talents and one of the most versatile frontcourt prospects in recent years. However, the other top players in the draft are guards, offering several options for the Storm.
After deciding to go back to college for another year and transfer to TCU in 2025, Olivia Miles will finally be available in the draft. Her playmaking, scoring, and 3-point shooting make her the best point guard prospect in the draft. Landing Miles to pair with Malonga would be a dream come true for the Storm. However, she may not make it past the top two, depending on who ends up with the second pick and what they are looking for. Minnesota has good odds to end up with that pick if the Wings land the first pick. ESPN’s latest mock draft has Miles going to the Lynx, but Minnesota could also use a talented young big.
If Miles isn’t available when Storm GM Talisa Rhea gets to pick a player, she can still get one of the top shooting guards in the college game. Azzi Fudd and Flau’Jae Johnson are both expected to be drafted in the top five. Fudd, when healthy, is one of the best scorers and 3-point shooters in the college game. Johnson is an athletic two-way star, who can create her own shot, defend well, and score at a high level. 
There is no guarantee that any of the Storm’s All-Stars will want to re-sign in free agency. If the Storm land a top guard prospect to pair with Malonga, they will be able to secure the foundation for a bright future nonetheless.
