The 2027 WNBA Draft lottery is nearly here. Let the anticipation begin.
The draft lottery is one of the league's most important offseason events. It helps determine the initial order of the 2027 WNBA Draft, setting the stage for next year's class to enter the league and potentially impacting the future of multiple franchises.
For example, the Las Vegas Aces turned three consecutive lottery picks into Kelsey Plum (2017), A'ja Wilson (2018) and Jackie Young (2019) — the core that helped them win two of their three titles. The Indiana Fever also benefited from the draft lottery, selecting Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark with their No. 1 picks in 2023 and 2024. The Dallas Wings also made two No. 1 selections back-to-back, selecting Paige Bueckers
in 2025 and Azzi Fudd in 2026.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming WNBA draft lottery:
When is the 2027 WNBA Draft lottery?
The 2027 WNBA Draft lottery is Sunday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. ET, after the UConn vs. Louisville women’s basketball game. It will be broadcast on ESPN. For Canadian viewers, TSN will air coverage of the event.
Which teams will participate in the WNBA draft lottery?
The Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, Portland Fire, Seattle Storm, Toronto Tempo and Washington Mystics will take part in the 26th annual WNBA draft lottery. Except the Mystics, all of the aforementioned teams missed the 2026 WNBA playoffs. Washington is in the running for the No. 1 pick thanks to savvy moves by its front office over the last several seasons.
Former general manager Jamila Wideman helped lead the charge on many of the decisions that helped Washington secure a spot in the draft lottery. However, Wideman left the team in April after reported "strategic differences" arose in free agency. Mystics coach Sydney Johnson assumed control of basketball operations with support from the team's staff after Wideman’s exit.
What determines the WNBA draft lottery odds?
The WNBA draft lottery determines the first two overall picks using a ping-pong ball machine.
In the drawing, 14 balls numbered 1-14 will be placed in a lottery machine and mixed. Four balls will be drawn to determine a four-digit combination. The team assigned that four-ball combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The four balls will then be placed back into the machine, and the process will be repeated to determine the second pick.
The remaining lottery teams are slotted in order of their two-year cumulative records.
Since the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are expansion teams who will enter their second year in 2027, their records from the 2026 season will be used.
The Connecticut Sun, who will become the Houston Comets next season, have an identical winning percentage with the Tempo (.250), so each will receive 329 combinations — the most of any of the teams. Houston was 1-2 against Toronto in the 2026 regular season (the first tiebreaker) and, therefore, cannot fall further than the third pick. Toronto is guaranteed at least the fourth pick.
The Mystics (via the Chicago Sky) will have the third-most chances (161) to win the top pick. The Seattle Storm (31-57) has the fourth-most chances with 93, and Portland (17-27) has the fifth-most with 52.
The Los Angeles Sparks will have 24 chances due to their own 37-51 cumulative record paired with the extra opportunities from their trade with the Mercury.
What trades will impact the 2027 WNBA Draft?
The Washington Mystics possess the first-round pick of the Chicago Sky, who went 16-28 this season and 26-62 over the last two seasons. Washington secured the Sky’s pick after a trade that sent two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins to the Sky for the 2025 No. 3 pick (Sonia Citron), the rights to swap 2027 first-round picks with Chicago, as well as the Sky's 2027 second-round pick.
The Phoenix Mercury traded their first-round pick to the Los Angeles Sparks in August as part of the deal that landed Kelsey Plum. In return, Monique Akoa Makani and a 2028 second-round draft pick went to the Sparks.
Who is the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft?
If she declares for the WNBA draft, USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins is widely expected to be the favorite for the 2027 class. Texas forward Madison Booker and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo are also projected lottery picks.
Who will announce the WNBA draft lottery results?
During the 30-minute WNBA draft lottery special, Bethany Donaphin, the WNBA's Head of League Operations, will reveal the results of the lottery. Donaphin has announced the results since 2018.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is the 2027 WNBA Draft lottery? Event date, odds, teams revealed
