UCLA makes WNBA draft history with record number of selections
· Yahoo Sports
UCLA women's basketball hasn't stopped dancing since claiming the program's first-ever NCAA championship in the Big Dance last week. The 2026 WNBA Draft provided even more reason for the Bruins to celebrate.
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Entering Monday night, UCLA had produced six total first-round selections since the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997. The program nearly matched that total on Monday alone and made history in the process.
A little more than a week after six seniors led UCLA to an NCAA title, five Bruins from the championship roster heard their names called by WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert during the first round on Monday at the WNBA draft in New York. UCLA's five first-rounders set a record for the most WNBA Round 1 selections produced by a school in a single draft.
"How fun is it to go through it with all of your teammates?... This is, like, a dream come true for all of us," Betts said. "Once I see (my UCLA teammates) in their W jerseys, I'm probably gonna cry after the game just because I'm so proud of them, but I feel like that's gonna be a really surreal experience seeing everyone in there on their different teams."
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UCLA center Lauren Betts was the first Bruin off the draft board when she was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics. Guard Gabriela Jaquez was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky, followed by guard Kiki Rice going sixth overall by the Toronto Tempo. It marked only the second time in WNBA history that three straight picks were selected from the same school after UConn first accomplished the feat in 2016.
Forward Angela Dugalić was drafted ninth overall by the Mystics, teaming up with Betts yet again. Guard Gianna Kneepkens was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the 15th overall pick.
UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker wasn't officially invited to the WNBA draft by the league, but she still attended the event and sat in the studio audience before she was eventually drafted out of the stands. She was selected No. 18 overall in the second round by the Connecticut Sun. Leger-Walker's selection makes more history for UCLA — they are the first program to have six draftees in a single draft.
Leger-Walker, the first New Zealand player to ever be drafted in the WNBA, will reunite with Kneepkens on the Sun.
UConn previously held the record for the most first-round picks produced in a single draft when four Huskies were selected in the first round of the 2002 WNBA Draft. Sue Bird was drafted by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by Swin Cash (No. 2, Detroit), Asjha Jones (No. 4, Washington) and Tamika Williams (No. 6, Minnesota).
Seven schools — South Carolina (2017, 2023), Oregon (2020), Notre Dame (2019), UConn (2018, 2016) Tennessee (2012), Oklahoma (2002) and Georgia (2001) — and one country (Australia, 2001) have had three players selected in the first round of a single WNBA Draft.
Notre Dame had five players drafted in the top 20 in 2019. The 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks and 2008 Tennessee Volunteers also had five players drafted in a single year, but not in the first round.
UCLA had 15 total players drafted into the WNBA in league history entering Monday night. UCLA’s highest draft selection came at third overall when Natalie Williams was selected by the Utah Starzz (now the Las Vegas Aces) in 1999, followed by Noelle Quinn being the No. 4 overall pick by the Minnesota Lynx in 2007.
UCLA's first-round draft picks are rounded out by Maylana Martin (2000, No. 10, Minnesota), Lisa Willis (2006, No. 5, Los Angeles), Jordin Canada (2018, No. 5, Seattle) and Michaela Onyenwere (2021, No. 6, New York).
UCLA's record-breaking showing at the WNBA draft came as no surprise to head coach Cori Close, who said the group of experienced seniors "know what it takes to be a pro."
“I've been doing this for 33 years. This is the most intentionally hardworking group of people in terms of being prepared for the pro level," Close added. "They're ready."
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA makes WNBA draft history with record number of players picked