2026 WNBA Awards Odds Watch & Rankings: Injuries And Team Momentum Impact Races

The midpoint of the WNBA season is approaching with the All-Star stretch on the horizon. Player health, team momentum and the Commissioner’s Cup are reshaping the postseason awards race. Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson remains the MVP frontrunner, but her right ankle injury is a concern after the New York Liberty beat the Aces 93-85 in the Commissioner’s Cup final without her last week.

The Liberty’s Breanna Stewart’s Cup MVP performance, the Golden State Valkyries’ five-game winning streak and Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles’ All-Star starter nod all matter as the regular season moves toward the July 25 All-Star Game in Chicago.

This is the seventh 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 injury updates and power rankings from the league and ESPN.

2026 WNBA MVP Odds & Power Rankings

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson keeps the top spot because no player matches her all-around statistical production. She leads the WNBA at 25.7 points per game while adding 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.0 blocks. She shoots 52.4% from the field and 40.9%. However, she has missed three straight games since rolling her right ankle late in the June 28 win over Chicago, and the Aces have looked vulnerable without her, especially as they lost the Commissioner’s Cup final to New York and later fell 84-68 to Indiana.

With the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart surging, Paige Bueckers keeping Dallas in the upper tier and the All-Star break approaching, Wilson no longer has a wide cushion. If she returns quickly, she remains the MVP leader. If the absence stretches further, the race tightens.

2. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Stewart replaces Caitlin Clark in the top three this week because the Liberty’s team context has changed dramatically. New York beat Las Vegas to win the Commissioner’s Cup, then defeated Minnesota 99-86 with Stewart contributing 36 points. She was named Cup MVP after finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Her regular-season profile also supports her move into second place. She is averaging 20.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks. The Liberty are 13-8, second in this week’s ESPN Power rankings, and Stewart is a force on one of the WNBA’s strongest two-way teams.

3. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Bueckers stays in the top three because of her efficiency and Dallas’ winning context. She is averaging 20.3 points, 6.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 52.2% from the field and 39.1% from three. That remains one of the most impressive statistical profiles in the league.

Dallas is 13-8 and has bounced back from a brief slide. Bueckers’ combination of scoring efficiency, playmaking and team success keeps her ahead of Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, last week’s No. 2. Clark remains close but her back injury and recent missed time push her just outside this week’s top three.

2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds & Power Rankings

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson remains the Defensive Player of the Year leader, but the gap is shrinking because of her missed time. Her production still checks every box: 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. Las Vegas also remains one of the league’s top shot-blocking teams, and Wilson’s rim protection is central to that identity. Her injury situation keeps her from having a comfortable lead.

2. Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries

Williams moves into the top three because Golden State’s defensive case has become too strong to ignore. The Valkyries are 15-7 and are 8-2 over their last 10 games. ESPN moved Golden State to No. 1 in its power rankings after the Valkyries held Washington to 49 points, the lowest total by any WNBA team this season. Williams’ role on the league’s hottest defensive team matters in the rankings. She is averaging 15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals in 25.9 minutes.

3. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Howard drops one spot because Atlanta’s team context has slipped, but she stays on the board because her defensive production is still elite as she leads the league in steals. She is averaging 18.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks. Atlanta also leads the league in steals at 9.3 per game. The Dream’s five-game losing streak keeps Howard from holding the No. 2 spot this week. Teammate Angel Reese remains close because of her league-leading rebounding and defensive activity, but Golden State’s surge gives Williams the stronger team-context case right now.

2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds & Power Rankings

1. Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

Miles remains the clear Rookie of the Year leader. She is averaging 18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 50.6% from the field. She leads this rookie class in both scoring and playmaking, and her production has come for a Minnesota team that is tied for the best record in the league at 15-6. She is the Rookie of the Month for the second time and is the only rookie named as a starter for the All-Star Game. She missed playing in Monday’s loss to Connecticut with a right calf issue. However, according to ESPN, her estimated return date is July 8.

2. Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings

Fudd stays at No. 2 because her current two-way numbers remain strong. She is averaging 13.3 points while shooting 47.2% from the field and 38.4% from three. She also adds 1.8 steals per game, which gives her case more depth. Dallas’ team context helps. The Wings are 13-8 and remain in the upper half of the league standings at No. 4. Fudd is not close enough to Miles yet, but she has built a clear No. 2 case.

3. Flau’jae Johnson, Seattle Storm

Johnson stays third because of her all-around production despite Seattle’s difficult season. She is averaging 12.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, still one of the most complete rookie stat lines behind Miles and Fudd. At No. 14 in the league’s standings and with a dismal 6-17 record, Seattle’s status limits how high Johnson can climb, but her all-around profile keeps her ahead of the rest of the rookie field.

2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Odds & Power Rankings

1. Janelle Salaün, Golden State Valkyries

Salaün keeps the top spot because her individual production and team context still line up best. She is averaging 12.3 points in 22.6 minutes while making 2.4 threes per game and shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc. That gives Golden State a high-volume bench shooter on a second-year team that has surged to 15-7. The Valkyries’ rise makes her case stronger than it was last week as Golden State has moved into the top tier of the league. Salaün’s scoring and floor spacing are part of that climb.

2. Rae Burrell, Los Angeles Sparks

Burrell moves up one spot, averaging 11.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.5 minutes. Her scoring role helps the Sparks. However, Los Angeles is 8-11 and has lost three straight, which keeps Burrell from seriously challenging Salaün. Still, her current production keeps her in the race.

3. Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever

Cunningham moves onto the board because of her current production. She is averaging 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 42.9% from three. Indiana’s team context also helps, with the Fever at 12-8 and 7-3 over their last 10 games.

This remains the race that needs the closest role check each week. Last week’s No. 2, Aces guard Chennedy Carter, is still worth watching after her Commissioner’s Cup impact (18 points), but that performance does not count toward regular-season averages.

Photo Credit: REUTERS