WNBA to Hold 2027 Draft Lottery on November 15

Six teams will compete for the top draft pick in a televised event hosted on ESPN.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a basketball mid-air, with motion blur and warm, vibrant orange and gold strokes. — The WNBA has scheduled its 2027 draft lottery for November 15, with six teams competing for the top draft pick. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The WNBA has scheduled its 2027 draft lottery for November 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Six teams, including expansion franchises Houston and Toronto, will participate in the event to determine the draft order.

Why it matters

The lottery results will shape the roster building for several franchises heading into the 2027 season. Top prospects including JuJu Watkins, Madison Booker, and Hannah Hidalgo are eligible for the selection process.

Houston and Toronto both hold a 32.9% chance for the first pick, followed by Washington at 16.1%, Seattle at 9.3%, Portland at 5.2%, and Los Angeles with a combined 3.6% stake from two different picks. Toronto is guaranteed to receive no lower than the fourth overall selection.

The players

WNBA

The professional women's basketball league in the United States that oversees team operations, player drafts, and seasonal scheduling.

Houston Comets

A professional basketball team that entered the WNBA as an expansion franchise in 2026.

Toronto Tempo

A professional basketball team that joined the league as an expansion franchise alongside Houston in 2026.

The details

Lottery odds were determined using the cumulative two-year records of competing teams, with the exception of Portland and Toronto, whose chances were based solely on their 2026 performance. Houston currently holds the primary tiebreaker over Toronto regarding their positioning.

The WNBA draft lottery will be broadcast on November 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The 2027 WNBA draft is scheduled to take place on April 12, 2027.

Season Trajectory

This lottery determines the cornerstone talent additions for teams looking to reset their competitive standing in the upcoming year. The outcome will fundamentally alter the draft board and dictate the rebuilding strategies of the six participating franchises.

The lottery results will finalize the draft positioning for the six participating teams, significantly impacting their ability to acquire elite talent. Fans should monitor the draft order to understand which teams are best positioned to secure top prospects in the April draft.

The takeaway

The draft lottery represents a critical pivot point for rebuilding franchises to secure transformative talent. Teams with multiple draft assets, such as Los Angeles, face heightened stakes as they look to maximize their odds for high-impact player selections.