The 2026 WNBA draft would be one of the loaded classes ever. With the NCAA’s talent pool, players outside the US are already making noise. Awa Fam proved 2026 WNBA Draft No. 1 Pick potential following her EuroLeague heroics. While the center is controlling the paint region, another playmaker has the potential to break into the lottery draft – Kiki Rice.
The UCLA talent proved her capabilities, leading the side to the final four last season, and now will take the college floor for the last time, looking to push for a championship. The guard could also be one of the top picks on the WNBA 2026 Draft night.
Kiki Rice: Top Guard Prospect For Upcoming Draft
UCLA is one of the top contenders for the NCAA title this season behind its top forward-guard pairing of Lauren Betts and Rice. While the UCLA forward had been leading the 2026 draft class since the conclusion of the 2025 WNBA draft, Betts is now a possible teammate for Paige Bueckers, and the UCLA guard will be playing against her in ‘W’. The playmaker earned huge praise from coaches, putting her among the top guards from the draft class.
“Kiki is incredibly hard-working in a way that has been contagious in building the character of our program. People comment all the time when they come and watch us from the WNBA, that our preparation and work ethic is maybe unmatched in what they’ve seen. That’s because Kiki Rice set a new standard in our program, and I’ll be forever grateful for that,” UCLA head coach Cori Close said on Media Day.
The guard showed constant improvement in her stats ever since she joined the program as the number 2 prospect out of high school. More importantly, her shooting accuracy skyrocketed to 53% for two-pointers and above 35% for three-pointers.
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Many scouts also found her ‘point guard qualities’ important, calling her “poised game manager” and “confident floor leader,”. Along with it, Rice boasted both the intangibles and the physical tools to be a star. Cori Close lauded her guard for her winning mentality and aggressive game that separates her from the rest of the class.
While the player has intense competition in the WCBB and subsequently in the 2026 draft, there are still many top teams that would be looking to offer her a rookie contract.
Teams Benefitting With Kiki Rice’s Addition
There are multiple teams in the WNBA looking to add a gifted floor general to their ranks, but keeping the expansion teams aside, top sides that could benefit from the 21-year-old star’s addition are the Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks.
There is no doubt that the Windy City franchise is looking for a guard who could help them at the offensive end. Even though they would prioritize an experienced guard, passing on a player like Iriafen would be a big mistake. Considering their rebuilding plan. Similar is the case for the Seattle Storm. The Storm added Sonia Raman as its head coach, and with her analytical teaching and player development techniques, Rice would develop into an elite guard at the pro level.
The Sparks, on the other hand, already have a mentor for Rice on their roster – Kelsey Plum. HC ran the game through Plum in the lineup loaded with forwards. Adding Rice will provide a perfect backup and even a secondary scoring-playmaker for the Sparks.
While Kiki Rice is one of the top guards in the 2026 draft class, her realistic landing spot could be a late first-round or early second-round pick.