“I’m feeling great, so I’m just excited to be back and ready to get after it,” JuJu Watkins’ return to the court could be one of the biggest storylines in women’s basketball, especially with a promising new generation of talent waiting to make its mark. With players like Madison Booker and Hannah Hidalgo also attracting attention, the WNBA Draft Lottery 2027 carries plenty of intrigue. Which franchise will get the opportunity to land a potential game-changer, and whose rebuilding plans could receive a major boost? The stakes are high, and the results could shape the league’s future.

When Is the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery? Date, Time & Where to Watch

The wait for the next generation of WNBA stars begins well before draft night, and the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery is where the excitement starts. Scheduled for November 15, 2026, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, the lottery will air live on ESPN, giving fans a chance to follow the draw and see which teams land the top selections. Viewers can tune in to ESPN’s television broadcast or stream the coverage on ESPN’s digital platforms with a valid subscription.

The lottery will set the order for the top picks in the 2027 WNBA Draft, adding another layer of anticipation for teams looking to strengthen their rosters. Once the lottery results are settled, attention will turn to draft night on April 12, 2027, when the next crop of talent will take its first major step toward a WNBA career.

How Does the WNBA Draft Lottery Work?

The WNBA Draft Lottery determines which eligible teams receive the top selections in the upcoming draft, giving franchises with weaker regular-season records a chance to secure the most promising prospects. The process uses 14 ping-pong balls, numbered 1 through 14, placed inside a lottery machine. Four balls are randomly drawn to create a four-digit combination, with each team assigned specific combinations based on its lottery odds. 

The team holding the winning combination earns the No. 1 overall pick. The process is then repeated to determine the No. 2 selection among the remaining eligible teams. Once the top two picks are decided, the remaining lottery teams are assigned picks No. 3 through No. 7 in reverse order of their regular-season records, with the team holding the worst record receiving the highest remaining selection. This system balances opportunity and fairness while rewarding teams that struggled during the season.

Which Teams Are in the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery?

Six teams will participate in the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery: Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, Portland Fire, Seattle Storm, Toronto Tempo, and Washington Mystics. However, seven first-round lottery positions are up for grabs because the Sparks hold two selections. Los Angeles has its own first-round pick as well as the Phoenix Mercury’s pick, acquired in the Kelsey Plum trade. Meanwhile, Washington holds Chicago’s first-round selection following the Ariel Atkins trade. The lottery will determine the first two picks, while the remaining positions will be assigned based on the teams’ records.

What Are the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery Odds?

The Houston Comets and Toronto Tempo enter the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery with the best chances of securing the No. 1 overall pick, each holding 32.9% odds (329 out of 1,000 combinations). The Washington Mystics, through Chicago’s traded pick, follow with 16.1%, while Seattle has 9.3%. Portland Fire hold a 5.2% chance, and the Los Angeles Sparks have two selections, carrying 2.4% and 1.2% odds, respectively. The lottery odds are determined by teams’ combined 2025 and 2026 records, except for expansion teams Portland and Toronto, whose 2026 records alone are considered. 

How Is the No. 1 Pick Determined in the 2027 WNBA Draft?

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft will be decided by a lottery drawing using 14 ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14. The balls are mixed in a lottery machine, and four are drawn to form a unique four-digit combination. Each participating team has a predetermined number of combinations based on its lottery odds. The team assigned the winning combination earns the first overall selection. Once the winner is identified, all four balls are returned to the machine, and the drawing process is repeated to determine the No. 2 pick. 

Heading into the lottery, Houston and Toronto have the strongest chances of securing the No. 1 overall pick, with both teams holding 32.9% odds. Washington follows with a 16.1% chance, while Seattle has 9.3%. However, the lottery will ultimately determine which team earns the first selection, with the drawing scheduled for November 15.

Who Are the Top Prospects for the 2027 WNBA Draft?

The 2027 WNBA Draft class already has several exciting names to watch. USC guard JuJu Watkins is an early favorite for the No. 1 overall selection, provided she declares for the draft. After missing the previous season with an ACL injury, her return will be one of the biggest storylines in women’s college basketball. Other standout prospects include Texas forward Madison Booker, Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, and Kansas guard S’Mya Nichols. LSU’s Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley, along with Kentucky center Clara Strack, are also generating first-round buzz. International prospects Sarah Cissé and Aïnhoa Risacher add further depth to an intriguing draft class.

With the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery approaching, the race for a potentially franchise-changing selection is heating up. JuJu Watkins stands out as an early favorite for the top pick, but Madison Booker and Hannah Hidalgo could also make strong cases. For Houston, Toronto, and the other lottery teams, the outcome could shape their future for years to come. Will Watkins become the next No. 1 pick, or will another rising star steal the spotlight? The lottery may provide the first clue.