UCLA Sets Record With Six Bruins Drafted in 2026 WNBA Draft

[ASFN Admin]

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UCLA women’s basketball made more history on Monday night when all six of its graduating players were drafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Five of the six Bruins were first-round picks, while graduate student guard Charlisse Leger-Walker was the No. 18 pick in the second round. Center Lauren Betts, guard Gabriela Jaquez and guard Kiki Rice were consecutive first-round selections at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.

Graduate student forward Angela Dugalić was the No. 9 overall pick, and graduate student guard Gianna Kneepkens was the final pick of the first round at No. 15.

UCLA now holds the record for the most players selected from the same school in a single WNBA Draft. With five first-round picks, the Bruins also set a record for the most players drafted in the first round from the same school.

Which Teams Drafted the Bruins?​

The Bruins will be split across four different teams: Washington Mystics, Chicago Sky, Toronto Tempo and Connecticut Sun.

The Mystics drafted both Betts and Dugalić. The pair of Bruins will also be reuniting with former UCLA assistant coach Michaela Onyenwere, who signed a multi-year deal with the Mystics in free agency on Sunday.

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Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, Kneepkens and Leger-Walker will head to Connecticut together. The Sun will play its final season in Connecticut before relocating to Texas as the Houston Comets in 2027.

Jaquez and Rice will not be joined by any of their national champion teammates in training camp. The Sky drafted Jaquez, and the Tempo drafted Rice with its first pick in franchise history. The Tempo is one of two expansion teams entering the WNBA this season.

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Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

There will be some early matchups between the Bruins with their new teams. Kneepkens and Leger-Walker will go head-to-head with Rice in the first game of preseason on April 29 in Toronto.

In June, Jaquez will have three consecutive games against her former teammates. The Sky plays the Mystics on June 2, then the Sun on June 5 and finally the Tempo on June 7.

Until then, the Bruins will head to their respective teams for training camp to battle for a roster spot ahead of the new season.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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