The 2027 WNBA Draft lottery has put several franchises in position to compete for the opportunity to select USC star JuJu Watkins. The drawing will determine the first two selections and could shape the future of teams rebuilding after difficult seasons.
Watkins missed the entire 2025-26 college season after tearing her ACL in March 2025. She is expected to return to USC for the current campaign, giving scouts another opportunity to assess her before the next draft. However, her professional future remains uncertain because she has the option to use another year of college eligibility.
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The lottery will feature six franchises but seven selections, with two teams entering through previously traded first-round picks. Houston and Toronto hold the strongest chances of landing the top selection, putting them at the centre of the conversation surrounding Watkins.
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Houston Comets and Toronto Tempo lead WNBA lottery odds for JuJu Watkins
USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Houston Comets and Toronto Tempo each have a 32.9% chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft. Both franchises received 329 combinations out of 1,000 after finishing with identical .250 winning percentages under the league’s lottery formula.
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Houston’s odds come from its combined 22-66 record across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, when the franchise competed as the Connecticut Sun before relocating. Toronto’s chances reflect its 11-33 record during its inaugural 2026 campaign.
The Comets hold an advantage in the tiebreaker because they finished 1-2 against Toronto during the 2026 regular season. Consequently, Houston cannot fall below the third selection, while Toronto is guaranteed at least the fourth pick.
The Washington Mystics have the third-best odds at 16.1% through Chicago’s traded first-round selection. Seattle follows with 9.3%, while the Portland Fire have a 5.2% chance of winning the top pick.
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Los Angeles Sparks hold two WNBA lottery selections
The Los Angeles Sparks enter the lottery with two selections through their own pick and the first-round pick acquired from Phoenix in the Kelsey Plum trade. Their original selection carries a 2.4% chance of becoming No. 1, while the Mercury’s pick adds another 1.2%.
The lottery will take place on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, with ESPN broadcasting the event. The drawing will determine the first two picks, while the remaining five selections will follow the applicable records.
While Watkins is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft, she still has a decision to make. Her medical redshirt gives her the option to return to USC for the 2027-28 season.
Houston or Toronto could win the lottery, but Watkins still has to decide whether she is ready to turn pro.
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