Before a single name is called, before Commissioner Cathy Engelbert steps to the podium, before 45 futures change forever — the Orange Carpet sets the tone. Monday night’s 2026 WNBA Draft is not just a basketball event. It is a fashion moment, a cultural statement, and the opening act of a new era in women’s basketball. Here is everything you need to know.
What Is the Orange Carpet?
As the league’s popularity continues to skyrocket, the Orange Carpet has become a premier fashion event. Think of it as the women’s basketball equivalent of a major awards show red carpet — the moment where the sport’s incoming class steps into their professional identity for the first time, wearing something that reflects who they are before the basketball world decides what they become.
The official tip-off of draft night festivities begins when invited draft prospects arrive on the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet presented by Coach. It is the first thing fans see, the first images that will define the night, and for these players, it is their professional debut to the world — on their own terms.
When and Where
The WNBA Draft Orange Carpet Show will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, bringing fans to the arrivals at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. The location itself carries significance. The draft returns to The Shed in Manhattan for the third year in a row, in the heart of the world’s fashion and media capital. There is no more appropriate backdrop in America for a night where basketball and style collide.
How to Watch
The WNBA Draft Orange Carpet Special is available on ESPN2, whereas the main draft broadcast will be shown on ESPN. Fans can also stream all coverage on the ESPN App. For those without cable, streaming is available on ESPN+, Sling, and Fubo.
If fans want to delve into exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage from the draft, they can tune into Disney+ Vibe Check and ESPN Digital.
Who Is Hosting the Orange Carpet Show?
The Orange Carpet Show is also hosted by Autumn Johnson, Jordan Robinson, and Malika Andrews alongside analysts Chiney Ogwumike, Monica McNutt, and Andraya Carter. The show spotlights player fashion, personality, and storylines, with ESPN’s 360-degree camera capturing dynamic views of Orange Carpet arrivals.
This is a loaded broadcast team. Andrews is one of ESPN’s most versatile and recognizable sports anchors. Ogwumike brings WNBA credibility as a former player and seasoned analyst. McNutt is one of the sharpest voices in women’s basketball coverage. And Carter, who has appeared across NBA Today, NBA Countdown, and multiple ESPN platforms, adds the kind of energy and cultural fluency this moment demands.
Production Upgrades — Bigger Than Ever
ESPN has invested significantly in making this year’s Orange Carpet presentation match the scale of the WNBA’s growing moment. Production enhancements include upgraded camera technology with full-frame and HDR capabilities to enhance visual quality, a technocrane providing sweeping views of the venue and atmosphere, and an extended Orange Carpet to accommodate increased fan and media engagement.The 360-degree camera will specifically be used to highlight Orange Carpet arrivals and fashion.
ESPN is also collaborating with Lily Shimbashi of Sportsish at the draft, who will produce social-first content from the event — including red carpet-style interviews with draft prospects and behind-the-scenes access for the Sportsish and ESPNW social handles. This speaks to a broader strategy: the 2026 draft is not just a television event, it is a content ecosystem designed to meet fans wherever they consume media.
Who to Watch on the Orange Carpet
The 15 invited prospects will tip off the draft-night festivities by showcasing their personalities and unique fashion styles on the WNBA’s iconic Orange Carpet presented by Coach.
The three South Carolina Gamecocks — Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, and Madina Okot — have already made clear they are ready for this moment, with Johnson promising to “give grown women” energy, Latson describing a timeless classic look with red bottoms, and Okot keeping her outfit a complete mystery while promising “it’s gonna be tea.”
Beyond the Gamecocks, the Orange Carpet will feature some of the most decorated college basketball names of this era. Lauren Betts, the UCLA center and national championship Most Outstanding Player, brings a 6-foot-7 presence that will command attention. Azzi Fudd, the UConn guard projected as a potential No. 1 pick, arrives as one of the most recognizable faces in women’s college basketball. The WNBA Draft Orange Carpet has a track record of iconic fashion moments — and this class has every incentive to raise the bar.
Flau’jae Johnson of LSU, Kiki Rice and Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA, Olivia Miles of TCU, Cotie McMahon of Ole Miss, and international stars Awa Fam Thiam of Spain and Nell Angloma of France will all make their entrances on the carpet, each bringing their own style identity to New York City.
Before the Carpet — The Empire State Building
The Orange Carpet does not mark the start of the day’s festivities. Earlier in the day, draft prospects will visit the iconic Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony to celebrate the 2026 WNBA Draft. The Empire State Building will be lit up in WNBA colors earlier in the day, setting the tone for what should be a strong night for the league.
It is a stunning visual — one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks illuminated in honor of women’s basketball, in the city where so much of global culture is made. That image, arriving before the players even step on the carpet, announces the night’s intent.
What Follows the Orange Carpet
Once the fashion is on display and the personalities have been introduced, the schedule transitions smoothly into draft coverage. WNBA Countdown Presented by Google Pixel begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, hosted by Malika Andrews with analysts Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter. The show will feature live interviews with top prospects and special guests, along with analysis of key storylines and fashion moments leading into the draft.
Then, at 7 p.m. ET, the main event begins. Ryan Ruocco returns as host for ESPN’s draft presentation, joined by analysts Rebecca Lobo and Andraya Carter and reporter Holly Rowe. WNBA legend Tina Thompson, the league’s first-ever No. 1 pick in 1997, will provide voiceovers for special features throughout the broadcast as the WNBA marks its historic 30th season.
The Orange Carpet is the beginning. The draft is the destiny. On Monday night at The Shed in New York City, the two come together in what promises to be one of the great evenings in the history of women’s basketball.
