2026 WNBA Awards Odds Watch & Rankings: Miles Strengthens Rookie Of The Year Case
As the WNBA season moves into Commissioner’s Cup play, the league’s annual in-season competition, the frontrunners for end of the season awards see some shifts among veteran players.
This is the second installment of a weekly awards watch that will run through the regular season. The rankings are based on current player production, team performance and league context, using WNBA.com and ESPN power rankings, the latest statistical leaders, and current injury reports.
2026 WNBA MVP Power Rankings
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Wilson keeps the top spot because she still has the most complete individual case in the league even though the Aces slipped to No. 4 from No. 1 in the WNBA.com’s Week 3 power rankings. While Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum leads the WNBA in scoring, Wilson is second at 24.8 points per game and remains tied for the league lead in blocks at 2.3 per game and also pulls down 8.1 rebounds per contest.
2. Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks
Plum still has the league’s best scoring case and remains at No. 2. She is averaging 26.8 points per game while also ranking among the assist leaders at 6.3 per game. However, Plum missed the last two games after suffering a sprained ankle in practice and is listed as out with a right ankle injury for a Tuesday home matchup against Las Vegas. The Sparks entered the week at No. 10 in the league’s power rankings and No. 9 in the ESPN rankings.
3. Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings
Wings forward Shepard moves onto the board after posting a jaw-dropping 22 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in Dallas’ win over Las Vegas last Thursday, becoming only the second player in WNBA history with a 20-20-10 game. The performance marked Shepard’s second triple-double of the season and led to her selection as the current WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week. Shepard is also tied with Atlanta’s Angel Reese for the league’s rebounding leader at 11.0 rebounds per game, adding to her strong case. Dallas climbed to No. 3 in WNBA.com’s rankings.
Shepard replaced the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark who had a scoring production dip as her team slid from No. 3 to No. 8 in the league’s power rankings and to No. 11 on ESPN’s list. In tough losses at Golden State and Portland last week, Clark shot just 21% (4-19) from the field.
2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Wilson remains the Defensive Player of the Year leader because of her rim protection and overall two-way threat to opponents. She is tied for the league lead at 2.3 blocks per game, and her defensive value is crucial to Las Vegas. Even though the Aces’ drop in the power rankings keeps this race tighter than it was last week, Wilson’s individual defensive production still gives her the edge.
2. Emily Engstler, Portland Fire
Engstler stays in the top three because she is tied with Wilson for the WNBA lead at 2.3 blocks per game. Portland’s rise to No. 7 in WNBA.com’s rankings also helps her case. The Fire went 3-1 last week and have become one of the league’s stronger early-season stories. Engstler does not have Wilson’s overall threat profile on both ends of the court, but her shot blocking and Portland’s climb make her a serious early candidate.
3. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Howard moves into elite company because of Atlanta’s defensive profile and her individual disruptive skills. She leads the league at 2.7 steals per game, and the Dream rank No. 2 in the power rankings and lead the league in rebounding. Last week’s No. 2 DPOY contender and Howard’s teammate, Jordin Canada, remains close, but Howard’s steals lead and Atlanta’s defensive standing give her the edge this week over Canada who is third this week in steals league-wide
2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year Power Rankings
1. Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx
Miles tightened her grip hold on the Rookie of the Year race. This week, WNBA.com gave her the nod as the early front-runner. She leads all rookies in scoring at 15.8 points per game and assists at 6.2, while ranking third among rookies in rebounds at 5.0. The team context is now even stronger. Minnesota is No. 1 in the WNBA.com rankings, and Miles is producing as a high-caliber guard for the league’s hottest team. That separates her from the rest of the rookie class
2. Flau’jae Johnson, Seattle Storm
Johnson stays at No. 2 because of her two-way profile. She is not only scoring in double figures, but also showing up defensively. She among the league leaders in blocks at 1.5 per game in a tie for fourth with Sparks center Cameron Brink. However, Seattle’s team record (3-6) hurts her case compared with Miles as the Storm are at No. 13 in the league’s and ESPN’s power rankings.
3. Pauline Astier, New York Liberty
Astier remains in third because of her guard production her 16 points and six assists in a Liberty win over the Phoenix Mercury last week which helped New York snap a three-game skid and climb to No. 6 in the league’s power rankings. She was tied in third last week with the Mercury’s Jovana Nogic. Unfortunately for Nogic, the Mercury are in last place in ESPN’s power rankings and No. 14 on the league’s list.
2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Power Rankings
The early Sixth Woman race still has a rookie-heavy feel. A rookie winning the award would be rare but not unprecedented: Candice Wiggins won it in 2008, and DeWanna Bonner won it as a rookie in 2009 to set off three straight Sixth Woman awards.
1. Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings
Fudd keeps the top spot as she provides instant offense off the bench. Dallas has climbed three spots to No. 3 in WNBA.com’s power rankings. The Wings are looking good heading into Comissioner’s Cup play with four victories out of their last five games
2. Jovana Nogic, Phoenix Mercury
While Phoenix’s losing streak holds her back, Nogic’s individual offensive value is strong enough to keep her near the top. She has a strong three-point shot game, putting her at No. 3 in the league for shots made beyond the arc
3. Awa Fam, Seattle Storm
Seattle center Fam remains on the watch list after her delayed but impressive WNBA debut gave the Storm another young frontcourt option. The 19-year-old Spaniard is averaging 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game
Commissioner’s Cup Can Shake Up Award Races
It will be interesting to see if there are significant changes in awards contention as the Commissioner’s Cup commences with a $500,000 prize pool in the mix. The 49-game tournament runs from June 1-17. The team from each conference with the best record in Cup games advances to the June 30 championship game. The game will be hosted by the team with the best winning percentage in regular-season games through June 17.
Photo Credit: AP/Abbie Parr
