2026 WNBA Awards Odds Watch & Rankings: Wilson’s Eyeing Two Possible Awards

The 2026 WNBA regular season has entered its final third act, and the standings are beginning to separate into distinct groups. The league’s latest power rankings for teams place Minnesota alone in the top tier, while seven teams are packed into the second tier and competing for playoff position and home-court advantage.

Rookie of the Year is excluded again this week. Olivia Miles is the undisputed leader, and no other rookie is close enough to make the race competitive. Miles remains part of the MVP rankings, where her production and Minnesota’s league-best record continue to strengthen her case.

The Aug. 2 trade deadline did not alter any of this week’s award rankings. Kelsey Plum, who appeared among the early-season MVP contenders, was traded from the Los Angeles Sparks to the Phoenix Mercury. Plum had already fallen out of the top three before the deal.

This is the 11th installment of a weekly awards watch that will run through the regular season. The rankings are based on current player production, team performance, league context, current standings and the latest power rankings from the league and ESPN. Statistics and records include games played through Aug. 3.

2026 WNBA MVP Power Rankings & Odds

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson enters Week 11 leading both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year rankings. The four-time MVP and three-time DPOY was also named Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 32.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Winning both awards this season would give Wilson her third MVP-DPOY double.

She continues to have the league’s strongest individual statistical profile with 26.6 points and 2.0 blocks per game while averaging 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals. Wilson is shooting 53.7% from the field and 44.6% from three. Las Vegas is 21-9 and third in ESPN’s power rankings after winning three of its first four games following the All-Star break. Wilson’s production on both ends keeps her comfortably ahead of the field.

2. Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

Rookie sensation Miles remains second after helping Minnesota extend its winning streak to 10 games. She finished with 28 points and six assists in Sunday’s 108-100 victory over Indiana, a matchup between the league’s top two offenses. Miles is averaging 22.3 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 50% from three during the winning streak. Her full-season numbers stand at 19.7 points, 5.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals on 50.2% shooting. Minnesota is 25-6 and first in both the standings and the latest power rankings from the league and ESPN.

3. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Mitchell stays third after scoring a season-high 37 points against Minnesota. She has scored at least 20 points in 14 consecutive games, the second-longest such streak in WNBA history.

Mitchell ranks second in the league with 24.0 points per game and is shooting 50.2% from the field and 43.8% from three. Indiana is 19-11, second in ESPN’s power rankings and leads the WNBA with 96.5 points per game. Miles’ all-around numbers and Minnesota’s advantage in the standings keep her second, but Mitchell continues to build the strongest scoring case behind Wilson.

Caitlin Clark remains just outside the top three after being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. She averaged 25.7 points, 9.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds last week, and is averaging 21.5 points and 8.0 assists over the season.

2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings & Odds

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

With a fourth DPOY award in view, Wilson remains first after maintaining her league-leading 2.0 blocks per game. She also ranks third in the league with 9.6 rebounds while contributing 1.5 steals. Her team paces the WNBA with 5.1 blocks per game and ranks sixth in scoring defense at 86.6 points allowed. Wilson’s ability to protect the rim, rebound and defend away from the basket is unmatched.

2. Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries

Williams stays second as the leading perimeter defender for the WNBA’s top-scoring defense. Golden State allows 77.0 points per game, nearly six fewer than second-ranked Washington. Williams averages 1.6 steals while taking on difficult perimeter assignments for a Valkyries team that is 20-9. Golden State also ranks fifth with 7.6 steals per game and third in scoring differential at +5.6.

3. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Howard retains the third spot as the WNBA leader with 2.4 steals per game. She also averages 0.9 blocks, giving her superior defensive production for a guard. Atlanta leads the league with 9.5 steals per game and is fifth in scoring defense at 86.1 points allowed. Williams has the advantage because Golden State remains far ahead of the league in points allowed, but Howard’s individual disruption keeps her firmly in the top three.

2026 WNBA Most Improved Player Power Rankings & Odds

1. Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings

Shepard keeps the lead after developing into one of the league’s most productive all-around frontcourt players. She is tied for first with 11.8 rebounds per game while averaging 14.7 points and 5.4 assists on 58.2% shooting. Shepard averaged 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season. She has more than doubled her assist average while making 30 starts after starting 12 games in 2025. Shepard has also recorded 19 double-doubles and a league-high four triple-doubles. Dallas has slipped to seventh in ESPN’s power rankings, but its 19-11 record still gives Shepard the strongest combination of improvement and team success.

2. Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo

Mabrey remains second after increasing her scoring average from 14.4 points last season to 20.9. She leads the WNBA with 3.2 made three-pointers per game and is shooting 44.2% from the field and 38.7% from three. Last season, she shot 36.7% overall and 27.0% from beyond the arc. Toronto has lost six consecutive games and 10 of its past 11, which continues to separate Mabrey’s case from Shepard’s.

3. Carla Leite, Portland Fire

Leite stays third after becoming the youngest player in WNBA history to record multiple games with at least 20 points and 10 assists. Her second came Friday against Indiana. The 22-year-old is averaging 15.5 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 44.6% from the field and 36.7% from three. She averaged 7.2 points and 2.0 assists while shooting 38.7% overall and 17.3% from three last season. Leite has also started 27 of her 28 appearances after making just six starts in 2025 with Golden State. Portland’s 11-19 record and five-game losing streak limit her case, but the French phenom’s individual growth keeps her in the top three.

2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Power Rankings & Odds

1. Janelle Salaün, Golden State Valkyries

Salaün remains first with the strongest production among the three ranked reserves. She has appeared in all 29 of Golden State’s games without making a start, averaging 13.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22.7 minutes. Salaün makes 2.5 three-pointers per game while shooting 42.1% from the field and 39.7% from three. Her scoring, clearly defined bench role and contribution to a 20-9 team keep her at the top of the rankings.

2. Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever

Cunningham remains second after coming off the bench in 26 of her 29 appearances. She averages 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.1 minutes. Cunningham is shooting 48.2% from the field and 45.2% from three, giving Indiana an efficient perimeter scorer off the bench. Salaün has the advantage in scoring volume, but Cunningham’s shooting and role for the league’s highest-scoring team keep her comfortably in second.

3. Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas Aces

Loyd replaces Golden State’s Kaitlyn Chen in the third spot. The Aces guard has appeared in 28 games with two starts, averaging 8.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 27.2 minutes. Chen has been the more efficient scorer, but Loyd plays a larger role for a 21-9 Las Vegas team. Her minutes, scoring and defensive production give her the stronger overall case for the final spot.