The Lynx could wind up drafting near the top of a loaded 2026 WNBA Draft

Originally posted on Bring Me The News | By Tony Liebert | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 2:37 PM ET

The Lynx gave up their No. 11 selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft, which became Hailey Van Lith, in exchange for the Chicago Sky's 2026 first-round pick, which could wind up being one of the top picks in the draft.

The Sky are currently 2-5 and they own the third-worst record in the league. The team announced on Monday that starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot has torn her right ACL and will miss the rest of the season. That is 10.6 points, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game that Chicago will have to replace.

Breaking: Courtney Vandersloot has torn her right ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season, the Chicago Sky announced. pic.twitter.com/ga1yNZWnLp
— espnW (@espnW) June 8, 2025

Oddly enough, Van Lith will now likely see an expanded role, but Chicago's ultra-young roster will be without one of its top veteran players for the rest of the season. The WNBA does not have a draft lottery, and it's fair to assume that the Sky will finish near the bottom of the league, which means the undefeated Lynx could be picking quite high in next year's draft.

The 2026 WNBA Draft will be highlighted by UCLA star Lauren Betts, UConn's Azzi Fudd, LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson and recent TCU transfer Olivia Miles, among other potential stars.

The Lynx are currently 9-0 atop the league's standings, so they don't have any pressing need to add young talent, but a relatively minor trade in last spring's draft could wind up being an incredibly valuable asset heading into 2026.

Adding a post player like 6-foot-7 Betts alongside 28-year-old Napheesa Collier is a tantalizing proposition for the Lynx's future, so it will be worth monitoring how Chicago finishes the 2025 season.

This article first appeared on Bring Me The News and was syndicated with permission.

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