Houston and Toronto Share 50/50 Odds for 2027 WNBA First Pick

The Houston Comets and the Toronto Tempo possess equal chances to secure the first overall selection in the 2027 WNBA Draft. The league announced on Wednesday that the lottery will take place on Sunday, November 15. The event is scheduled to air on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. This broadcast will follow the UConn vs. Louisville women's basketball game.

Lottery probabilities are typically calculated using two-season aggregate records. However, expansion teams are judged solely on their 2026 performance. The Comets, previously the Connecticut Sun, posted a 22-66 record over the last two years. The Tempo finished 11-33 in their inaugural season. Because both clubs ended with identical 11-33 marks and .250 winning percentages, the league pooled their lottery combinations. The total number of combinations was even, allowing the teams to split the odds evenly. Had the total been odd, Houston would have received the extra combination due to losing the season tiebreaker.

The Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, and Los Angeles Sparks also hold lottery spots. The Sky owe a first-round pick swap to the Washington Mystics. The Mercury traded their first-round pick to the Sparks, who will therefore hold two lottery selections. Odds are assigned based on the team that originally owned the pick. Four balls numbered 1 through 14 determine the top selection. A representative from Ernst & Young will oversee the drawing process.

Houston defeated Toronto in two of three regular season meetings in 2026. This result served as the primary tiebreaker. Consequently, Houston cannot fall below the third pick. Toronto is guaranteed at least the fourth selection. The remaining three picks are distributed in order of cumulative winning percentage among the unselected teams.

USC wing JuJu Watkins is the projected favorite for the first pick. The 6-foot-2 player returns after missing the 2025 season with a torn ACL. She remains eligible for a fifth year in 2027-2028 due to a medical redshirt. Texas forward Madison Booker and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo are also likely top selections. Other candidates include Kansas guard S'Mya Nichols, LSU guards Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley, and Kentucky center Clara Strack. International prospects include French teenagers Sarah Cissé and Aïnhoa Risacher.