2026 WNBA Awards Predictions: MVP, Rookie of the Year and More

Season 30 hasn’t just been another lap around the calendar—it’s a complete takeover of the league's best fighting for the top spot. With an expanded 44-game slate, new expansion teams raising the stakes, and a talent pool deeper than it’s ever been, the margin for error in this year’s hardware race is razor-thin. From MVP caliber legends continuing to rewrite the record books to a ferocious wave of young stars forcing their way into the conversation, every single trophy is a dogfight. With the regular season just past it's halfway point, I think the time has come to sort through the chaos and determine which players have built the strongest cases for the league’s top hardware. Here are our predictions for who will snag the WNBA’s biggest awards when the season comes to an end.

1. Most Valuable Player (MVP) — A'ja Wilson

2026 Stats:

26.2 PPG · 9.7 RPG · 3.0 APG · 53.7% FG

This shouldn't be too big of a surprise. At this point, A’ja Wilson’s greatness has become almost predictable. We expect to go out and get buckets each and every night. The four-time MVP remains firmly in position to capture a fifth, averaging 26.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting an exceptional 53.7 percent from the field. Wilson continues to combine overwhelming scoring production with elite efficiency, utter dominance defensively (leads the league in blocks) and a consistent presence on the glass. Even as defenses build their entire game plans around slowing her down, she remains nearly impossible to contain. There may be several worthy candidates in the race, but no player has matched Wilson’s combination of scoring volume, efficiency and dominance game after game. Unless her production drops dramatically down the stretch, she appears well on her way to adding yet another MVP trophy to an already historic portfolio.

2. Rookie of the Year (ROY) — Olivia Miles

2026 Stats:

19.5 PPG · 4.8 RPG · 6.0 APG · 49.6% FG

Olivia Miles was a problem child at TCU and drew praise for her ability to do multiple things extremely well—facilitate, defend, score. But rather than struggle to capitalize on all her skills at the professional level as a twenty-three year old rookie, she immediately weaponized them. Miles hasn't just been the WNBA’s most impressive rookie—she's already established herself as one of the league’s most productive guards on the best team in the WNBA. Miles is averaging 19, 6 and 4 and was named to the All-Star team in her inaugural season. Her combination of scoring, playmaking and efficiency separates her from not just the rest of the rookie class, but the rest of the league. Plenty of young guards can generate points with a high volume of shots, but Miles gets buckets without chucking up shots and sacrificing efficiency, while simultaneously creating opportunities for both herself and her teammates. Producing 20 points and 6 assists per game would be impressive for any player, let alone a rookie navigating her first year.

3. Most Improved Player (MIP) — Jessica Shepard

2026 Stats:

14.9 PPG · 12.1 RPG · 5.4 APG · 58.8% FG

This is a tough call between Shepard and Marina Mabrey, but I'm leaning towards Shepard here. Few players have rewritten the trajectory of their careers as dramatically as her this season. After averaging roughly six points per game across her first seven years in the WNBA, Shepard has erupted for 15 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest while shooting an absurd 58.8 percent from the field. She's more than doubled her career scoring average while developing into one of the league’s most productive and versatile frontcourt players. Formerly known as a big body who could simply crash the glass for rebounds—she's now defending at a higher level, facilitating offense and scoring with an elite level of efficiency. Her breakout has been both unexpected and undeniable, making her the clearest embodiment of what the Most Improved Player award is really supposed to represent. Notching her first All-Star award to boot, Shepard's a pure dark horse. After years of mediocre production, it looks like Shepard has finally found her Wings in Dallas—pun fully intended.

4. Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) — Gabby Williams

2026 Stats:

14.8 PPG · 3.3 RPG · 2.2 APG · 41.5% FG

Don't let the stat line fool you. Williams' impact goes way beyond the box score. It's one thing to be a defensive stud who only applies pressure on one side of the floor. It's entirely different to be the point-of-attack forward that can not only score, but score against players much bigger. At 5'11 playing the power forward position, Gabby fears no one. Williams isn't just taking on the toughest defensive assignment every single night; she is doing it while as a two-way player for a fairly new expansion franchise. Swiping 1.7 steals per night, she blows up offensive game plans with force as the team's best disruptor. Williams is a defensive cheat code, point blank. he possesses the lateral quickness to stay attached to elite guards on the perimeter and the core strength to hold her ground against bigger forwards in the paint. You don't measure her DPOY case by looking at her assists or rebounds—you measure it by looking at the shooting percentages of the opponents she hounds for 40 minutes a night.

5. Sixth Player of the Year — Janelle Salaün

2026 Stats:

12.8 PPG · 3.9 RPG · 1.1 APG · 41.1% FG

The Valkyries have a SERIOUS squad this year. Janelle Salaün has emerged as one of the WNBA’s most dangerous weapons off the bench, averaging 12.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Her ability to enter the game at any given time and immediately provide a scoring spark has made her an invaluable piece of her team’s rotation. Salaün plays with a chip on her shoulder, athleticism and relentless energy. A 6'2" forward initially made noise in France as solely an interior scorer, Salaün has to be respected from deep now. While her 41.1 percent shooting leaves some room for improvement, few reserves have matched her overall scoring production or ability to shift the momentum of a game. If she continues supplying consistent offense in a sixth-woman role, Salaün should remain firmly at the front of the award race in my opinion. The league historically isn't above giving multiple awards to the same team. Janelle may not have entered the season as the most recognizable Salaün sibling, but right now, she's making considerably more noise than her brother.

6. Coach of the Year — Cheryl Reeve

Regular Season Record: 23-6

There are some coaches that simply exude winning, and newest Hall of Fame inductee Cheryl Reeve continues to prove why she's regarded as one of the greatest coaches in WNBA history. Despite losing several important star-caliber players during the offseason and navigating most of the year without injured superstar Napheesa Collier, Reeve has kept Minnesota firmly atop the league standings. She has seamlessly incorporated rookie point guard Olivia Miles, elevated the production of her veteran core and maintained the stoic, disciplined identity that has resulted in four WNBA championship rings. Minnesota has remained one of the league’s strongest teams on both ends of the floor, regardless of which players have been available. Reeve also became the winningest regular-season coach in WNBA history this season, adding another milestone to her legendary resume. With the Lynx exceeding expectations and continuing to win through some pretty considerable adversity, Reeve has constructed a compelling case to capture yet another Coach of the Year award.

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With the season expected to rear on until October, there is still plenty of basketball left to be played, and these award races are far from over. A dominant stretch of games, an unexpected slump or a late-season surge could reshape the hierarchy. Which of these players will remain at the top these rankings all season long? Who are you rooting for to suprise EVERYONE? Let us know down below!

We could be witnessing one of the greatest basketball summers to date 🚨 Can't keep up with the drama? Be sure to stay tuned into Sportz Nation for your sports updates on all things basketball.

Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)