Dallas Wins the No. 1 Pick (Again)

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The Dallas Wings won the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery, securing the No. 1 pick for the second straight year. The Lynx follow at No. 2, Storm at No. 3, Mystics at No. 4, and Sky at No. 5. (ESPN)

👉 See the full 2026 WNBA Draft order

WHY IT MATTERS: Back-to-back No. 1 picks gives Dallas a massive opportunity to climb out of the trenches after last seasons’ rough 10–34 finish. With new head coach Jose Fernandez promising major change, this pick becomes a centerpiece of a badly-needed rebuild.

ESPN immediately updated its mock draft to project Azzi Fudd joining UConn teammate Paige Bueckers in Dallas, a pairing with major marketing potential. But the Wings could also look for size and target Lauren Betts (UCLA) or Awa Fam (Spain).

The New York Liberty are hiring longtime Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco as their next head coach. (NBC Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: It’s a bold, potentially risky move after the Liberty parted ways with Sandy Brondello, who delivered a championship just a season ago. New York was the final team without a head coach, and once again, an NBA assistant got the nod. DeMarco worked his way up at Golden State from video coordinator to assistant and built a reputation as a defensive mind. Now he steps into one of the highest-pressure jobs in the league, and he’s doing it without prior women’s basketball coaching experience.

Less than a month after approving it, the NCAA has rescinded a rule that would have allowed student-athletes and athletics staff to legally bet on professional sports. (CBS Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: The rapid reversal comes after a wave of recent gambling scandals. Just last week, the NCAA found that former Temple guard Hysier Miller bet on and against his own team. Six men’s college players were recently ruled ineligible for betting violations, and an NBA coach and player were arrested in October for illegal gambling operations.