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After a few months off following the Finals, it's time for the WNBA to start ramping up again. Already this month we've had multiple coaching changes and the release of the 2022 regular season schedule. Now, the first major event of the offseason, the 2022 WNBA Draft Lottery, is only days away.

This year's event will be held on Sunday afternoon in between an NCAA doubleheader featuring Baylor vs. Michigan and Louisville vs. UConn. Once the first game is over, there will be a special studio show on ESPN featuring the results of the lottery, which will determine which team gets the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. 

A number of highly-rated prospects will be in action that day, including potential lottery picks like NaLyssa Smith of Baylor and Naz Hillmon of Michigan. The four teams in the lottery -- the Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings -- will surely be watching closely, especially considering this class is considered much stronger than last year's. 

As lottery day approaches, here's everything you need to know:

2022 WNBA Draft Lottery

Date: Sunday, Dec. 19 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Bristol, Connecticut
TV: ESPN | Stream: WatchESPN

Lottery odds

TeamCombined 2020 and 2021 recordOdds of getting 1st pick

Indiana Fever

12-42

44.20%

Atlanta Dream

15-39

27.60%

Washington Mystics

21-33

17.80%

Dallas Wings (via Sparks)

27-27

10.40%

Top prospects

Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard has long been considered the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in this draft, and probably would have went first last year if she had been eligible. An elite three-level scorer, Howard is the reigning back-to-back SEC Player of the Year, and has the skills and size to make an immediate impact in the league on both ends of the floor. 

But after a strong start to the season, including a 30-point, 15-rebound game against Maryland, NaLyssa Smith is making her case to be the first pick. She plays extremely hard, and thanks to her athleticism and versatility, the Baylor forward is establishing herself as the best frontcourt player in the class. 

Here, in alphabetical order, is a list of some of the top prospects to keep an eye on:

  • Shakira Austin -- C, Ole Miss
  • Rae Burrell -- G/F, Tennessee
  • Elissa Cunane -- C, NC State
  • Destanni Henderson -- G, South Carolina
  • Naz Hillmon -- F, Michigan
  • Rhyne Howard -- G, Kentucky
  • Ashley Joens -- G/F, Iowa State
  • NaLyssa Smith -- F, Baylor
  • Evina Westbrook -- G, UConn
  • Christyn Williams -- G, UConn

(Note: this does not include draft-eligible juniors, such as Florida Gulf Coast guard Kierstan Bell)