Cotie McMahon To Realize Her Dream Tonight at 2026 WNBA Draft;
Where Will She End Up?
By Deon Cash
Cotie McMahon, one of the best players in women college basketball over the last two years, will get to realize a dream today as the 2026 WNBA Draft is set for today (7pm ET).
McMahon, who hails from the Centerville area in Dayton, Ohio, has been a force since the middle school days of AAU.
Once McMahon got to high school, she was so dominant that it was obvious she would be going to a Top Tier college, as she racked up All-State honors while leading Centerville HS to a elite level.
The high school matchups between herself and Bree Hall were instant classics, as Hall was a" Can't Miss Prospect" who was heading to South Carolina.
Hall has currently completed her first season in the WNBA right now after being drafted last year.
However, McMahon, who was a year behind Hall, showed then that she wasn't afraid of any big matchups.
McMahon would actually leave Centerville after only 3 years, speeding up her process to get to college by graduating early.
McMahon would eventually commit to Ohio State.
Before McMahon took one shot for the Lady Buckeyes, she would help win the U-18 National Team to a title in the FIBA World Championships in 2022. She dropped 20 points in the game, and it was at that point, that a star was born.
If you haven't seen McMahon play, then its hard not to like her play style, as she combines a little LeBron with the ability to get anywhere on the court.
She has a fierce desire to do whatever she wants, and can go inside with the ability to drive or shoot the mid-range shot. She plays with a fire that her teammates and coaches love. She also has a million dollar smile and her personality is unique.
Last but not least, her 1 on 1 ability is also elite, which the WNBA loves.
After three successful years at Ohio State, McMahon decided a change was needed.
Lorenzo Smith, a S.E.Live 365 Analyst and youth training expert, is one of McMahons' coaches and family figures.
Smith preached to her about one thing.
"You have to be able to shoot the ball consistently, if you want to be successful at the next level." Smith told her.
So McMahon went back into the lab this summer, and worked relentlessly on her jumper and perimeter game.
This year paid dividends as she shot the ball more efficiently from deep and handled it much more consistently than ever before.
McMahon would decide to go to Mississippi to finish her last season, where Coach Yo would add a couple of things to her game to also help take her to another level while she set records and kept Ole Miss in the Top 25 all season long.
McMahon would play point guard this season, and was very successful as the Lady Rebels nearly reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. McMahon would be named a All-American, and the WNBA mock boards had her getting selected as high at #7. A few experts see her landing in Connecticut at #15.
Which brings us to today.
McMahon will hear her name in the first round of the draft. She was invited to New York to be apart of the process, which lets everyone know she will be drafted sooner than later in the 1st round.
The Draft show starts at 6:30, with the official 2026 WNBA Draft launching at 7pm.
Congratulations to McMahon, who took the road lesser traveled to get to her dream. Another girl from Dayton will be drafted, as she joins Hall and the Westbeld sisters playing in the WNBA right now from the Dayton area.
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