NEW YORK (theACC.com) – A total of four former Atlantic Coast Conference standouts were selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday evening at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.
Becoming the first Duke player drafted in the first round since Lexie Brown in 2018, guard Taina Mair was selected by the Seattle Storm with the 14th overall pick. Mair was one of just two ACC players to record more than 200 assists this season, tying for the league lead with 201. That total matched Duke’s program record set by Chelsea Gray. Mair’s season was highlighted by a 19-point and 12-rebound performance in the title game of the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, where she was named the Tournament MVP, leading the Blue Devils to back-to-back ACC championships.
Notre Dame forward Cassandre Prosper became the fourth Fighting Irish player selected in the WNBA Draft over the last two seasons, as the Montreal, Quebec, Canada, native was taken by the Washington Mystics with the 19th overall pick. Prosper, who was named the ACC’s Most Improved Player at the conclusion of the regular season, averaged 13.6 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. She was named a USBWA National Player of the Week twice this season, joining teammate Hannah Hidalgo as the only ACC players to earn the weekly honor twice.
Duke guard Ashlon Jackson was the second Blue Devil selected, going to the Golden State Valkyries with the 23rd overall pick. Tasked with defending the opponent’s top perimeter player each game, Jackson’s offensive numbers also saw growth, becoming a 1,000-point scorer and ranking second all-time in Duke history with 235 3-pointers. She was named to the All-ACC Second Team and earned All-Tournament Second Team honors following the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
North Carolina’s Indya Nivar was selected by the Atlanta Dream with the 28th overall pick in the second round after recording 20 points, eight rebounds and four steals against top-ranked UConn in her final collegiate game. Nivar averaged 10.6 points per game in 2025-26 and recorded 94 steals, the most by a UNC player since 2012-13. She earned All-ACC Second Team honors and was one of six players named to the All-ACC Defensive Team.
A nation-best six players from current ACC schools competed in the 2025 WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury. Dana Evans (Louisville), Chelsea Gray (Duke), Jewell Loyd (Notre Dame) and Jackie Young (Notre Dame) led the Aces to their third WNBA title in four years.
ACC Players Selected in 2026 WNBA Draft
Round 1, Pick 14: Taina Mair, G, Duke – Seattle Storm
Round 2, Pick 19: Cassandre Prosper, F, Notre Dame – Washington Mystics
Round 2, Pick 23: Ashlon Jackson, G, Duke – Golden State Valkyries
Round 2, Pick 28: Indya Nivar, G, North Carolina – Atlanta Dream