The Washington Mystics hold the third-highest odds for the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery despite making the playoffs, as a direct result of a 2025 trade by the Chicago Sky for player Ariel Atkins, The IX Sports reported.
Class of 2027 Hall of Fame Inductees
Diana Taurasi, Sandy Brondello, Mike Thibault, Dee Kantner, Judith Holland, and Molly Bolin Kazmer comprise the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2027. Bolin Kazmer shaped the sport in Iowa and spent decades advocating for professional women’s basketball leagues.
“Molly has never stopped being an advocate for women’s basketball in all these ways, and I will forever wonder what Molly’s career and indeed her life would have been like if she had come along later in time,” Howard Megdal said.
Megdal said that Bolin Kazmer helped establish the groundwork for modern growth in the sport.
“But the truth is that if she didn’t come along when she did, she couldn’t have helped build the foundation for the growth in women’s basketball we’re seeing today,” Megdal told The IX Sports.
Megdal called the recognition of Bolin Kazmer “hugely significant” during an episode of The IX Sports Podcast Basketball Edition alongside co-host Jackie Powell.
UConn Huskies Open Season with Loss to Michigan
The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team started the season with a 77-66 loss to the University of Michigan, The IX Sports reported. BIG EAST reporter Tee Baker joined the podcast to discuss the early defeat and what it signals for the team.
“I mean it’s interesting because I think the critique last season was that UConn didn’t have as many quality opponents in their regular season, and then kind of cruised through and got their first wake up call in the Final Four,” Baker explained to The IX Sports.
Baker added that the early setback may remove the pressure of maintaining an undefeated record. The team dropped the contest on the road against the Wolverines.
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2027: Diana Taurasi Sandy Brondello Mike Thibault Dee Kantner Molly Bolin Kazmer Dr. Judith Holland pic.twitter.com/uL70HTRPkS
2027 WNBA Draft Lottery Odds and Rules
The Washington Mystics possess the third-highest lottery odds for the 2027 draft despite reaching the postseason, The IX Sports reported. The draft order relies on a 116-team lottery system featuring teams missing the play-in, play-in participants, and playoff results as detailed by Tankathon.
Teams with the three worst overall records face draft relegation and lose one lottery ball, dropping their total from three to two according to Tankathon.
The system grants three balls to non-play-in teams, two balls to 9/10 play-in seeds, and one ball to 7/8 play-in losers noted Tankathon.
Draft-relegated squads are guaranteed a selection no lower than 12th overall Tankathon reported.
Strict pick restrictions prevent franchises from holding the first overall pick in consecutive drafts or a top-five selection in three straight years according to Tankathon data.
Playoff teams and 7/8 play-in winners fill out picks 17 through 30 based on regular-season records Tankathon reported. Second-round selections mirror the inverse order of the initial 16 lottery picks noted Tankathon.
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