The 2009 WNBA draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2009. The first round was shown on ESPN2 (in HD for the first time ever) at 3:00pm ET, while the second and third rounds were shown on ESPNU and NBA TV at 4:00pm.
Additionally, on December 8, 2008, the WNBA held a dispersal draft to re-assign players from the Houston Comets who folded at the end of 2008 WNBA season.
Some of the top draftees were Angel McCoughtry, Marissa Coleman, Kristi Toliver, Renee Montgomery, and DeWanna Bonner. As of 2026, Bonner is the only remaining active WNBA player in this draft, as well as the last remaining WNBA player drafted in the 2000s.
Draft lottery
A lottery was held on December 9, 2008. The Atlanta Dream received the first overall selection of upcoming 2009 draft. The Washington Mystics received the number two selection. The Chicago Sky came up with the third overall selection, followed by the Minnesota Lynx at four, the Phoenix Mercury at number five. For the first time in WNBA history, the lottery balls were chosen exactly according to odds.
Transactions
- The Washington Mystics received the first-round pick from the Los Angeles Sparks.
- The Atlanta Dream received the first-round pick from the San Antonio Silver Stars.
- The San Antonio Silver Stars received the second-round pick from the Atlanta Dream.
- The Connecticut Sun and the Minnesota Lynx had rights to swap second-round picks.
- The Washington Mystics received the second-round pick from the Detroit Shock.
- The Atlanta Dream received the second-round pick from the Seattle Storm.
- The Phoenix Mercury received the third-round pick from the New York Liberty.
- The Minnesota Lynx received the first-round and second-round pick from the Washington Mystics
- The Detroit Shock received the second-round pick from the Atlanta Dream.