2026 WNBA Awards Odds Watch & Rankings: Wilson Sets The Pace

With the WNBA season still in its opening stretch, awards conversations are fluid. But through the first two weeks clear leaders are beginning to emerge across the league’s major individual races.

This is the first 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 opens as the Player of the Year leader because she has the most complete case in the league. Kelsey Plum has the scoring lead, but Wilson is close enough offensively as she is averaging 24.8 points per game while providing a level of defensive impact Plum cannot match. She pulls down 7.2 rebounds per contest and is tied in first place for blocks at 2.3 per game, giving her a two-way profile that separates her from the rest of the field. Las Vegas’ team standing strengthens the case. The Aces sit at the top of WNBA.com’s Week 2 power rankings, making Wilson the centerpiece of the league’s strongest early team profile.

2. Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks

Plum leads the league in scoring producing 26.8 points per game, is among the assist leaders and has been one of the WNBA’s most dangerous 3-point shooters. Her 38-point performance against her old team Las Vegas gave her an early signature early moment. But the main issue is team context. Los Angeles has not matched the Aces’ standing in the power rankings, which leaves Plum behind Wilson in the overall race. In addition, ESPN’s most recent injury report lists Plum as day-to-day with an estimated return date of May 29 due to a  right lower leg injury.

3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Clark is firmly in the early race because of her combination of scoring, playmaking and team momentum. She is averaging 23.8 points and a league-best 9.0 assists per game, giving Indiana one of the most productive offensive engines in the league. The Fever’s rise in the power rankings matters also matter. WNBA.com moved Indiana to No. 3 after a strong opening stretch, noting that Clark and Kelsey Mitchell have helped fuel the league’s highest-scoring team. 

2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

 Wilson’s defensive case is as strong as her overall Player of the Year case. With her blocking and rebounding prowess, she remains among the WNBA’s elite interior defenders. Her presence changes how teams attack Las Vegas, and her defensive production comes while scoring in double digits. That combination makes her the early Defensive Player of the Year leader.

2. Jordin Canada, Atlanta Dream

Canada leads the league in steals at 2.8 per game and her defensive pressure has been central to Atlanta’s strong start. She also ranks third among assist leaders dishing out 7.2 per game, giving the Dream high-level guard play on both ends. With Atlanta near the top of the early power rankings, Canada’s candidacy has both individual production and team success behind it. WNBA.com has the Dream at No. 2 after a 4-1 start, while ESPN’s latest power rankings had Atlanta at No. 1.

3. Emily Engstler, Portland Fire

Engstler is tied with Wilson for the league lead in blocks at 2.3 per game, putting her squarely in the defensive conversation. The challenge for Engstler is team context. Portland does not yet have the same overall profile as Las Vegas or Atlanta, at No. 9 in the league’s current power rankings, but her individual defensive production is strong enough to earn a spot in the top three.

2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year Power Rankings

1. Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

Miles remains the clear Rookie of the Year leader. She leads all rookies at 15.0 points per game while also averaging 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. That is the most complete rookie profile on the board: scoring, creation, rebounding and defensive activity. Her case is also strengthened by Minnesota’s strong team context. She is contributing across the box score for a team already positioned well in the power rankings: No. 2 on ESPN’s list and No. 5 on WNBA.com.

2. Flau’jae Johnson, Seattle Storm

Johnson moves into the No. 2 spot because of her two-way impact. She is averaging 12.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, giving her one of the best defensive profiles among rookies while still ranking near the top of the class in scoring. Her edge is balance. Johnson is producing as a scorer and rebounder while adding meaningful defensive activity, especially as a shot blocker. That makes her Rookie of the Year case more complete right now than the other challengers behind Miles.

3. Jovana Nogic, Phoenix Mercury ;  Pauline Astier, New York Liberty

Nogic is in the top three because of her scoring production. She is averaging 14.7 points, 1.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists, giving Phoenix one of the most productive rookie guards in the league. Nogic does not have the all-around profile of Miles or Johnson, but you can’t ignore her offensive impact.

Astier remains firmly in the top three because of her efficiency and guard production. She is averaging 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.0 steal, giving New York steady scoring and secondary playmaking.

2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Power Rankings

The early Sixth Player race has a rookie-heavy feel, with all three players on this week’s board in their first WNBA season. Previous rookies who won the season-long honor include Candice Wiggins (2008) and DeWanna Bonner (2009).

1. Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings

Fudd is the early Sixth Woman of the Year leader. Her scoring gives Dallas a high-impact young reserve. She has an impressive 24-point performance against New York under her belt. Overall, she’s averaging 11.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game off the bench.

2. Charlisse Leger-Walker, Connecticut Sun

Leger-Walker’s early bench impact includes averaging 7.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. She had a standout performance in the team’s sole win with 16 points against Seattle. However, Connecticut’s dismal team record may limit her case as the team has only won one game so far and sits at the bottom of the league’s and ESPN’s power rankings.

3. Awa Fam, Seattle Storm

Fam, the No. 3 overall draft pick, made an immediate bench contribution in her debut after joining the Storm late due to overseas commitments in Spain and helping Valencia win the Spanish League title.  She scored 10 points in the Storm’s win over the Washington Mystics on May 24.

Photo Credit: AP/Kyusung Gong