2026 WNBA Awards Odds Watch & Rankings: Marina Mabrey Leads Most Improved Race

The WNBA is approaching its All-Star break with several awards races tightening, but Rookie of the Year is not one of them. Olivia Miles has separated decisively from the rest of the rookie class, averaging 19.4 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the field for the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. With no other rookie close to matching her combination of production, efficiency and team success, this awards watch will replace Rookie of the Year with Most Improved Player beginning this week.

Meanwhile, winning streaks by the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings have strengthened several other candidates ahead of the All-Star Game. Chennedy Carter is no longer part of the Sixth Player race after the Las Vegas Aces waived her July 7.

This is the eighth 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 recent power rankings from the WNBA and ESPN.

2026 WNBA MVP Power Rankings & Odds

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson stays at No. 1 after returning from her leg injury and immediately reestablishing her dominance. She had 32 points and 10 rebounds in her first game back, an 88-80 victory over Portland, and followed that with 21 points and 15 rebounds against Phoenix.

Wilson leads the WNBA with 25.5 points per game while averaging 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals and a league-leading 2.0 blocks. She is also shooting 51.5% from the field. Las Vegas’ recent lopsided loss to Indiana prevented Wilson  from widening the gap, but the Aces are tied for second in the league standings and their star center’s two-way statistical profile is still unmatched.

2. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Bueckers moves up one spot as Dallas continues to strengthen its position among the WNBA’s top teams. The Wings have won five consecutive games to reach 16-8, and Bueckers remains the driving force behind one of the league’s strongest offenses.

She is averaging 20.7 points, 6.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 51.6% from the field and 38.1% from three. That combination of efficient scoring, playmaking and winning gives Bueckers the most complete MVP case behind Wilson at this point.

3. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Mitchell replaces Breanna Stewart after powering Indiana through a strong western road trip. She has scored at least 25 points in six consecutive games and is averaging 22.7 points, second only to Wilson. Mitchell is shooting career-best rates of 48.8% from the field and 40.9% from three.

The Fever have climbed to 14-9 and entered the week fourth in ESPN’s power rankings after beating Phoenix and Las Vegas. Stewart remains close statistically, but the Liberty’s three-game losing streak and 13-11 record weaken her team-context advantage.

2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings & Odds

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson remains the Defensive Player of the Year leader, no contest. She leads the league at 2.0 blocks per game and ranks third in rebounding at 9.8 while also producing 1.5 steals. The time Wilson missed with her injury narrowed the race temporarily, but her return and continued defensive production keep her in first place.  

2. Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries

Williams stays second as Golden State’s defense continues to separate itself from the rest of the league. The Valkyries have won seven straight games and lead the WNBA by holding opponents to 76.2 points per game. Golden State is tied with the Aces for second in the league’s standings.

Williams is averaging 1.6 steals to go with 15.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Her versatility and role on the league’s best statistical defensive squad give her the strongest challenge to Wilson.

3. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Howard stays third because she continues to set the league’s standard for perimeter disruption. She leads the WNBA with 2.6 steals per game and adds 0.7 blocks while handling a major offensive workload for Atlanta.

The Dream also lead the league with 9.5 steals per game. Atlanta’s 14-10 record and recent inconsistency keep Howard behind Williams, but her individual defensive production remains too strong to leave off the board.

2026 WNBA Most Improved Player Power Rankings & Odds

1. Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo

Mabrey opens as the Most Improved Player leader after making the largest scoring and efficiency jump among the league’s established veterans. She has raised her scoring average from 14.4 points last season to 21.6 currently, putting in third place behind Wilson and Mitchell.

The improvement is not simply the result of taking more shots. Mabrey is shooting 45.5% from the field and 40.4% from three after shooting 36.7% and 27.0%, respectively, in 2025. She also leads the league with 3.5 made three-pointers per game.

2. Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings

Shepard’s move to Dallas has produced career highs across nearly every major category. She is averaging 15.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists after posting 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season. Shepard ranks second in the league in rebounding and is shooting 60.2% from the field.  Her all-around improvement has been instrumental in Dallas’ five-game winning streak and 16-8 record.

3. Carla Leite, Portland Fire

Second-year player Leite has transformed into Portland’s primary playmaker. During her rookie season with the Valkyries, she averaged 7.2 points, 2.0 assists and 17.2 minutes. This season she is producing 15.1 points and 5.8 assists in 25.2 minutes. She has started 20 of her 21 appearances with the Fire. Leite has increased her field-goal percentage from 38.7% to 42.9% and her three-point percentage from 17.3% to 39.5%.

2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Power Rankings & Odds

Last week’s No. 2 Rae Burrell (Los Angeles Sparks) drops out because she has started 14 of her 22 games and no longer fits a reserve-based ranking. Carter is also out of consideration following her release by Las Vegas.

1. Janelle Salaün, Golden State Valkyries

Salaün stays first after continuing to provide high-volume shooting without starting a game. She is averaging 13.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in 22.8 minutes while making 2.6 three-pointers per game at a 39.7% rate. Her production has also risen during Golden State’s seven-game winning streak. Salaün scored 42 points and collected 13 rebounds across Golden State’s last two games, victories over Toronto and Connecticut, shooting 57.1% (12-of-21) from the field and 69.2% from three. Her combination of scoring, confirmed bench role and elite team context keeps her comfortably in front.

2. Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever

Cunningham moves up one spot as an efficient reserve for a surging Indiana team. She has started only three of 22 games while averaging 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Cunningham is shooting 49.3% overall and 43.5% from three, giving the Fever reliable spacing and scoring off the bench. Indiana’s rise to 14-9 strengthens her case, although her volume remains well below Salaün’s.

3. Kaitlyn Chen, Golden State Valkyries

Chen enters the rankings after confirming her place as a full-time reserve on the league’s hottest team. She has appeared in 24 games without making a start and is averaging 7.2 points and 1.7 assists in 14.8 minutes. Her efficiency stands out despite the smaller role. Chen is shooting 56.3% from the field and 41.9% from three. Her lower scoring volume keeps her behind Salaün and Cunningham, but her production and role make her a legitimate candidate as Golden State continues to win.

Photo Credit: REUTERS