2026 WNBA Draft: Trio of Ohio players selected

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NEW YORK CITY, NY — The 2026 WNBA Draft featured 45 total selections across three rounds, featuring 15 teams. It also included two new franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo.

Among the 45 selections, three originated from Ohio: Chance Gray (Winton Woods High School), Cotie McMahon (Centerville High School), and Grace VanSlooten (Notre Dame Academy, IMG Academy).

Cotie McMahon was the highest selected in the draft, going 11th (Round 1, 11th selection) to the Washington Mystics.

McMahon graduated from Centerville High School, located in Centerville, OH, about 20 minutes outside of Dayton, OH. She committed to the Ohio State University, where she played during her freshman, sophomore, and junior years, then transferred to Ole Miss for her final year of college.

She averaged 16.4 points a game, 5.4 total rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 133 games over her college career. Additionally, she has a sister, Kaylah Thornton, who recently won an OHSAA state championship with Fairmont Kettering and is committed to the University of Akron.

Cotie McMahon is heading to Washington D.C. as the No. 11 pick in the 2026 #WNBADraft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY pic.twitter.com/1YBUkQJidm

— WNBA (@WNBA) April 14, 2026

Chance Gray was selected with the 24th pick (Round 2, 9th selection) by the Los Angeles Sparks. After graduating from Winton Woods in Cincinnati, she committed to Oregon, playing her freshman and sophomore years, then finishing up her collegiate career at the Ohio State University.

She played in 134 games over her college career with averages of 12.7 points, 2.3 total rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Also shooting 85% from the free throw line.

Gray's father, Carlton Gray, is a graduate and the head varsity girls' basketball coach at Winton Woods.

With the 24th pick in the @WNBA Draft, the Sparks select: @chancegrayy from @OhioStateWBB. @albertapp pic.twitter.com/6MZiCVg7Ov

— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) April 14, 2026

Grace VanSlooten started he high school career at Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, OH, a private, Catholic, all-girls college preparatory school, but played her final season of high school at IMG Academy in Florida. She was selected with the 39th pick (Round 3, 9th selection) by the Seattle Storm.

Upon completing her high school education, she enrolled at Michigan State University, participating in 126 games throughout five seasons.

"I am just going to take every opportunity I get and just make the most of it," said VanSlooten to WTOL 11.

Her averages over her collegiate career were 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

The 39th pick of the WNBA Draft: Toledo native Grace VanSlooten!!! pic.twitter.com/PaEwuzppT0

— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) April 14, 2026

Currently, these three players will attend WNBA training camps starting on April 19, aiming to secure a roster position as the season kicks off on May 8.