WNBA Announces Award Winners for 2026 Season

The WNBA has announced its award winners for the 2026 season, and several teams are already celebrating their successes despite being eliminated from the playoffs.

Among the first awards announced were Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx, who took home the Rookie of the Year honor, and Cheryl Reeve, also of the Lynx, who won Coach of the Year. This is Reeve's third time receiving this award in her career.

The Minnesota Lynx made history by becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 8 seed in the WNBA playoffs' first round. Despite their early exit from competition, some of their players have received recognition for their outstanding performances.

Other notable winners include Jessica Shepard from the Dallas Wings, who was named Most Improved Player, and Angel Reese from the Atlanta Dream, who took home the Defensive Player of the Year award. Janelle Salaün from the Golden State Valkyries was also honored as Sixth Player of the Year.

The latest recognition came with A'ja Wilson's fifth MVP award, which makes her the first player to win this honor in three consecutive seasons.

Miles, the talented rookie guard, had a remarkable season, leading all rookies in scoring and assists while also finishing eighth and seventh in those categories respectively. She broke the record for most points scored by a rookie, previously held by Caitlin Clark with 790 points. Miles' impressive performance helped propel her team to a strong regular season finish, securing the No. 1 seed.

Shepard's signing with the Wings on a two-year deal proved to be an astute move as she immediately made an impact on the court. As a full-time starter for the first time in her career, Shepard averaged impressive numbers across multiple categories, including points, rebounds and assists per game. Her statistics saw significant improvements compared to the previous season, with notable increases in all three areas.

Shepard's outstanding performance earned her recognition among league leaders, finishing second in rebounding and 11th in assists. Her ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game was highlighted by her achievement of a double-double average, a feat she shared with only one other player that season. Shepard also made history with six triple-doubles and recorded a rare 20-20-10 game.

The Wings' coaching staff must have played a significant role in Shepard's success, as well as the team's overall performance. Despite losing several key players from the previous season, including star forward Napheesa Collier who was sidelined for part of the year due to injury, the Lynx managed to finish with the best record in the league.

Shepard's achievement was notable not only because of her impressive statistics but also due to the close competition she faced. Austin and Leite were among those vying for recognition alongside Shepard, while other notable players like Marina Mabrey, Dominique Malonga and Rae Burrell received votes as well.

Cheryl Reeve has solidified her status as one of the most accomplished coaches in WNBA history after winning the Executive of the Year award for the third time in her career.

This latest honor extends Reeve's record as the first coach to receive this award five times, cementing her position among the league's all-time greats. Natalie Nakase and Sydney Johnson were also contenders for the award but ultimately fell short.

Alyssa Reese made a significant impact on the Dream's defense, earning recognition as the Defensive Player of the Year in her first season with the honor. The team finished third in defensive rating (103.5) thanks in large part to Reese's efforts.

Reese's impressive statistics include leading the league in defensive win shares (3.4), while also ranking third in steals per game (1.8) and seventh in stocks (steals plus blocks) per game (2.5). The Dream's performance dropped significantly when Reese was off the floor, with opponents' true shooting percentage 6.4% worse.

Janelle Salaün of the Valkyries has made history by becoming the first player to win the Sixth Player of the Year award unanimously. She set several WNBA records this season, including points (509), 3s (93) and double-digit scoring games (27) by a reserve, contributing significantly to her team's success in the regular season.

The Las Vegas Aces' star player has made history once again by being named the 2026 WNBA MVP. This achievement marks a milestone as she becomes the first five-time MVP in league history and the first player to win the award in three consecutive seasons. Wilson garnered 65 of the 74 first-place votes, outpacing Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles and Indiana Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark.

In addition to her MVP award, Wilson's impressive statistics this season further solidify her position as one of the league's top players. She averaged 26.2 points per game, which is the second-highest single-season scoring average ever, just shy of her own record of 26.9 points in 2024.

Wilson's dominance on the court extends beyond scoring, with impressive numbers across multiple categories. Her shooting splits were an impressive 52.7% from the field, 40.4% from three-point range and 86.4% from the free throw line. She also averaged 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game.

The Minnesota Lynx, who were expected to struggle after losing six rotation players from last season's team, defied expectations by earning the No. 1 seed for a second consecutive year. The team's impressive performance was led by head coach Cheryl Reeve, who won her fifth Coach of the Year honor and also secured Executive of the Year recognition.

Reeve's achievement as Executive of the Year is a testament to her leadership skills and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Despite losing key players, she guided the Lynx to a 33-11 record, showcasing her expertise in team management and player development.

In addition to Reeve's individual honors, the Lynx also made savvy moves during the offseason, drafting rookie standout Olivia Miles with the No. 2 pick and signing veteran forwards Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey. These strategic decisions likely contributed to the team's success this season.

Cheryl Reeve has made history by becoming the first person to win both Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year in the same season twice. Her remarkable achievement is a testament to her exceptional leadership skills and dedication to the sport.

The award for Executive of the Year is determined through a voting process among league executives, who select their top choices from a pool of nominees. Each executive can vote for three individuals, ranking them in order of preference, but they cannot cast a ballot for themselves. This system allows the winner to be chosen based on widespread recognition and respect within the league.