– League’s 26^th Annual Draft to be Exclusively Televised by ESPN from 7-9 p.m. ET –

– Draft and Iconic WNBA “Orange Carpet” Return to an In-Person Event for First Time Since 2019 at New York’s Acclaimed Spring Studios –

– Washington Owns No.1 Overall Selection; Indiana has Two of Top Four Picks –

NEW YORK, March 10, 2022 – The WNBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm® will be held on Monday, April 11. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The draft will also be available live on the ESPN App.

Top prospects will take part live as the WNBA Draft presented by State Farm returns to an in-person event for the first time since 2019, with the acclaimed Spring Studios, located in the Tribeca section of New York and the home to such iconic events as Fashion Week and The Tribeca Film Festival, serving as the venue for the evening’s events.

“With the continued support of ESPN, our draft presenting partner State Farm and associate partners, Beats by Dre, SAP, and U.S. Bank, we look forward to what will be a truly memorable evening for WNBA teams and fans and, of course, for the elite athletes for whom this night will mark the realization of a dream come true and the launch of the next phase of their basketball journey,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Coming off of an incredibly successful 2021 season and in the wake of our recent announcement regarding the largest-ever capital raise for a women’s sports property, the WNBA continues to build momentum for the future of the league. And what better way to ramp up the momentum for the tip-off of our 26^th season, than with WNBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm on April 11^th.”

Launching later this month, “Draft Central” on wnba.com, will enable fans to access multiple offerings in the days leading up to the draft. Elements will include an interactive Draft Board; Prospect profiles with insights powered by SAP; In-depth features on the top draft prospects; Coverage of all draft events; And more. Fans will also be able to access an array of content across @WNBA channels that will include the unique stories and personalities of the prospects via Instagram and Tik Tok; a Twitter Spaces Mock Draft Debate; cross platform live coverage including the “Orange Carpet;” and more.

The formal tip off of the draft night festivities will take place when the invited draft prospects take their turn on the WNBA’s iconic “Orange Carpet” where they will showcase their personalities and their unique fashion styles while preparing for this life-changing moment.

The Washington Mystics own the top pick in the WNBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm. The last six No. 1 overall draft picks were:

2016:  Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
2017:  Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces (formerly San Antonio Stars)
2018:  A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
2019:  Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
2020:  Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
2021:  Charli Collier, Dallas Wings

Additional information regarding the broadcast of WNBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm will be announced in the near future. The league is conducting ongoing planning for its 26th season, including the start of training camp in April and the tip-off of the WNBA regular season on May 6.

About State Farm^®

For 100 years, the mission of State Farm has and continues to be to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its 19,300 agents and nearly 55,000 employees serve approximately 86 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

About the WNBA

Having concluded its historic 25^th season in 2021, the WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women.  Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility.  Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete.  Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers, with AT&T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and NIKE, Inc, and subsequent additions Google and US Bank. During the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues.

For more information, visit WNBA.com.

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