WNBA Draft winners, losers: UCLA sets record, stunning Flau'jae Johnson trade shakes up Round 1

Johnson's ability to push the pace would have been a boost for the league's slowest team last season, potentially freeing up Golden State's shooters for better looks from outside. 

Instead, the organization, which hit all the right notes in becoming the first WNBA expansion team to make the playoffs in its first season, questionably traded Johnson to the Storm for the draft rights to guard Marta Suarez, selected at the top of Round 2 (No. 16), and a 2028 second-round pick.

Trading a top-10 pick for two second-rounders is a shockingly poor return, especially when the outgoing player is someone with difference-making potential in Johnson.

Golden State's misfire is a major reward for the Storm, who need an infusion of talent after losing veteran forwards Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike and guards Skylar Diggins and Brittney Sykes in free agency.

"Johnson's chance to shine might be even greater in Seattle," wrote WNBA Draft analyst Charlie Creme in a post-pick analysis. Landing the star is a major coup and the biggest steal of the 2026 draft.

Winner: UCLA Bruins

It was a little over a week ago that UCLA won the national championship with a blowout victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Bruins are still riding high. On Monday, the program set the WNBA records for most players selected in the first round (five) and most player selected overall (six).

Betts got things started and was immediately followed by shooting guard Gabriela Jaquez and point guard Kiki Rice, marking just the second time a university had three teammates were selected consecutively, joining 2016 UConn.

Dugalic and shooting guard Gianna Keepkens rounded out UCLA's first-rounders, while point guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, selected No. 18 overall, gave the Bruins the all-time draft record.

Loser: Portland Fire

The Fire's inaugural draft left plenty to be desired. Reporter Sean Highkin shared his observations from the franchise's draft party at the Moda Center, and it's safe to say fans of the nascent franchise were left unimpressed.

"Air completely came out of the room," Highkin wrote about the instant reactions to Portland selecting Spanish point guard Iyana Martin Carrion at No. 7 in a potential draft-and-stash move.

Portland went international with its second-round pick (No. 17) as well, choosing German power forward Freida Buhner, a choice met with "dead silence from the crowd at the watch party."

With the Fire tipping off their first season in less than a month, excitement should be reaching a fever pitch. Instead, their first two draft picks dulled the thrill.