With the NBA in playoff mode and the NCAA campaigns finished, champions LSU and UConn crowned with their jewels, that could only mean one thing: the WNBA is back.
And better than ever, honestly, with a heavily stacked draft class and some of the best players in the country looking to punch their ticket into the pros. Names like Aliyah Boston and her “Freshies” – the five women who came to South Carolina in the same year – are all putting their names in the hat, as well as national champion Alexis Morris.
This year’s WNBA Draft will play out the same way as last year’s. Select draftees will be invited out to the Big Apple, getting the chance to look and feel like royalty on the orange carpet before the ultimate unveiling event.
Training camp begins 20 days later, where roster cuts will be made and finalized before the preseason tipoffs on Friday, May 5. The regular season will follow suit exactly two weeks later on Friday, May 19.
The Sporting News has a complete guide to watching the biggest college names in the women’s game achieve their dreams in the annual WNBA Draft, including start time and ways to watch.
MORE: Ultimate guide to the WNBA Draft
2023 WNBA Draft start time
- Date: Monday, April 10
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
This year’s WNBA Draft will start at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 10. It will be airing live from Spring Studios in New York City for the second year in a row. There will be a special “Orange Carpet” ceremony before hand, similar to an award show.
MORE: Key dates for the 2023 WNBA season
What channel is the WNBA Draft on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
This year’s WNBA Draft will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
ESPN’s lead team was released Wednesday and fans can expect to see Ryan Ruocco (host), alongside Rebecca Lobo and LaChina Robinson (analysts) and Holly Rowe (reporter) on the call.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will be announcing the 36 selections on-site.
The Draft will have a preview special air on Saturday, April 8, at 11:30 a.m. ET with hosts Robinson and Lobo in the chair. It will re-air on ESPN2 that evening at 6 p.m.
From ESPN’s press release:
Together, [Robinson and Lobo] will breakdown the top draft prospects, discuss team needs and whose stock is on the rise following an unprecedented and unparalleled NCAA Tournament.
The pair also participated in the pre-draft national media call on Thursday, April 6.
The WNBA and ESPN’s new partnership is truly going all out this year as the number of intrigued and watchful eyes for women’s basketball grows more and more every day.
A new animation package will be sidelining this year’s draft, with plans to fully roll it out leading up to the Monday golden hour (7 p.m. ET). Included will be virtual graphics and the four broadcasters will pull the viewers in through important offseason storylines such as the thankful return and potentially difficult readjustment of Mercury star Brittney Griner, a look into opening weekend matchups on the broadcast giant’s platforms and the creation of “superteams” in franchises like the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces.
There will also be cameras inside seven of the teams’ draft rooms, all of whom have a first-round pick, including:
- Indiana
- Minnesota
- Dallas
- Atlanta
- Washington
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
The Fever and Lynx will also have content shared from their respective watch parties.
2023 WNBA Draft live streams
This year’s WNBA Draft will be available for live stream on the ESPN app and Sling TV. Sling TV is currently offering half off the first month of a subscription.
The Orange and Orange + Blue bundles provide access to ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3, as well as dozens of other channels.
MORE: Watch the WNBA Draft with Sling TV
2023 WNBA Draft order
The Indiana Fever has the No. 1 overall pick for the first time in franchise history after pulling the winning ticket in the Draft Lottery last fall.
Here’s the full order of picks, one through 36:
First-round
| Number | Team |
|---|---|
| 1. | Indiana Fever |
| 2. | Minnesota Lynx |
| 3. | Dallas Wings |
| 4. | Washington Mystics |
| 5. | Dallas Wings |
| 6. | Atlanta Dream |
| 7. | Indiana Fever |
| 8. | Atlanta Dream |
| 9. | Seattle Storm |
| 10. | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 11. | Dallas Wings |
| 12. | Minnesota Lynx |
Second-round
| Number | Team |
|---|---|
| 13. | Indiana Fever |
| 14. | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 15. | Atlanta Dream |
| 16. | Minnesota Lynx |
| 17. | Indiana Fever |
| 18. | Seattle Storm |
| 19. | Dallas Wings |
| 20. | Washington Mystics |
| 21. | Seattle Storm |
| 22. | Connecticut Sun |
| 23. | Chicago Sky |
| 24. | Minnesota Lynx |
Third-round
| Number | Team |
|---|---|
| 25. | Indiana Fever |
| 26. | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 27. | Phoenix Mercury |
| 28. | Minnesota Lynx |
| 29. | Phoenix Mercury |
| 30. | New York Liberty |
| 31. | Dallas Wings |
| 32. | Washington Mystics |
| 33. | Seattle Storm |
| 34. | Connecticut Sun |
| 35. | Chicago Sky |
| 36. | Las Vegas Aces |