WNBA 2026 predictions: will anyone stop the Aces in the league’s 30th season?

What I’m most looking forward to …

A summer of basketball without the specter of CBA uncertainty. There’s no doubt last season had highs – the Aces’ third title, the Liberty’s star power, breakout rookies and the emergence of the Golden State Valkyries – but the possibility of a shortened, delayed or even cancelled 2026 season loomed over so much of 2025. After 17 months of negotiations and hard-earned, deserved wins by the players, here we are. My second answer: getting Jordan Robinson’s WNBA 30 newsletter in my inbox every Tuesday! EB

As a Canadian, I can’t not say the Toronto Tempo. The expansion team have aggressively built a competitive roster by securing major assets: Marina Mabrey and Nyara Sabally via the expansion draft; Brittney Sykes, Temi Fágbénlé, and Canada’s Kia Nurse in free agency; and the NCAA champion Kiki Rice with the sixth overall pick. Plus the two-time WNBA champion coach Sandy Brondello, who has a perfect playoff record, brings immediate credibility and a winning culture to the optimistic new franchise. YE

How the expansion teams do this season. The Tempo and Fire represent new life and energy in the W and are such different teams – it’s pretty special that we get to enjoy them together. SK

The pre-game catwalks. The men have dominated this space since the institution of the NBA dress code. But now that their WNBA counterparts have stepped up, with some making millions on the court for the first time in their careers, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before women’s basketball players really start voguing it up off the court, and fashion’s top stylists and designers rush in to be part of the show. AL

A major upset, especially if it’s lands on the Aces. The Aces winning is a bit predictable at the point, and they’ve clearly built a power team. I’m rooting for the underdog. TR

Biggest offseason development

The league and players agreeing to a historic CBA. The US professional sports world has never seen this kind of dramatic pay leap; the salary cap is up 364%, and minimum salaries quadrupled. And, importantly, these pay boosts don’t just affect the top 1%. The impact of the new CBA is being felt across the board, from those big stars – hello, A’ja Wilson’s league-record contract – to the middle-class, self-described “heartbeat” – hello, Courtney Williams’s plan to buy her mom a house – to under-the-radar youngsters, who now have a chance to make squads as “development players” without counting against the cap. EB

Have Phoenix done enough to keep pace? Unlikely. Losing All-Star Satou Sabally after the finals loss to Las Vegas suggests not. They drafted two 19-year-olds and are relying on veterans DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb, plus Valériane Ayayi, who hasn’t played in the league for over a decade. However, Phoenix’s decisions were doubted last year, too. Maybe they can surprise us again. YE

Everything the Sky did during free agency is worth paying attention to. The Angel Reese trade was huge, signing such a strong group of veterans is compelling, and the team’s openness to so readily discuss those decisions during training camp makes it seem like the gloves are off – they aren’t hiding anything. SK

Something about a new deal? Not FDR’s … AL

Natasha Cloud not signing a max contract, and briefly remaining unsigned during the preseason. It was one of the most interesting offseason storylines. Whether it stemmed from her outspoken stance on international conflict, league politics and the CBA or not, it sparked conversation about what the WNBA truly supports. Either way, it feels like added motivation for her. TR

The surprise team will be …

The Washington Mystics. Sure, they have the youngest roster in the league. Sure, they fired their GM days before this year’s draft and stayed quiet during free agency. Just two of the 12 players on their roster have more than one year of WNBA experience, but their young players are some of the league’s most exciting talents. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were an All-Star duo; point guard Georgia Amoore will debut after missing last year to injury; draftees Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalić are fresh off UCLA’s championship run. The focus is probably more than winning games, but the pieces are compelling enough to produce at least some moments of keeping the league’s heavy-hitters on their toes. EB

After five straight playoff misses, the Los Angeles Sparks finally have a versatile roster. Ta’Niya Latson, the 20th pick, could be a draft steal and Nneka Ogwumike, back in LA after two seasons in Seattle, is expected to build on her MVP-calibre play last season. YE

The Dallas Wings. I know you can’t go by preseason games alone, but the Wings are almost an entirely new team. I’m not saying they’re going to win it all, but they’ll definitely surprise quite a few people. Coach Jose Fernandez seems is a natural fit with the roster, and the entire organization seems completely aligned. SK

The Sparks? I’m seeing a lot of power rankings that have them pegged as a top five team, but I honestly think they could be better with Ogwumike back on side and Cameron Brink healthy. Even the luxury of a lineup that made consistent use of Brink – who has averaged 13 minutes across the 34 games she’s played since going second in the 2024 draft – would be major boost for a team who don’t lack for complementary pieces in Kelsey Plum, Rickea Jackson and the somehow still underappreciated Dearica Hamby. AL

The Wings, of course. Last season, they finished near the bottom of the league, even with Paige Bueckers’s court IQ and star power. But now, they have Azzi Fudd, a new coach, and suddenly look dangerous. Many people will be surprised if they become a legitimate playoff team. TR

One bold prediction

Veronica Burton will be an All-Star. Maybe I’m biased, having covered Burton for her entire college career at Northwestern, but she was one of the most exciting players to watch last season, setting career-highs across categories, earning Most Improved Player honors and powering the expansion Valkyries to a historic playoff appearance. Burton is their engine and could take another leap in year two in Ballhalla. A pair of teammates could join her: Kayla Thornton and new addition Gabby Williams were both first-time All-Stars in 2025. EB

Chennedy Carter will win Sixth Woman of the Year. The explosive scorer was unsigned in 2025 despite averaging 17.5 points for Chicago the year before. Now with the Aces, Carter could lead the second unit’s offence. She has averaged over 14.2 points in all but one of her four WNBA seasons, but has also been out of the league twice. YE

The Tempo will make the playoffs this year. Sandy Brondello has never missed the playoffs. I’m not counting her out this season either. SK

Another WNBA team is put up on the market. Who wouldn’t be tempted now that valuations are through the roof – and the Valkyries’ net worth said to be around $1bn despite having just entered the league. AL

The Lynx either won’t make the playoffs or won’t advance far in the postseason. A lot has shifted in the team dynamic, and not necessarily for the better. Napheesa Collier is still injured, the Stud Budz broke up, and a lot of their core players re-signed elsewhere. Between roster movement, chemistry concerns, lingering controversy from last season, and the pressure of rebuilding around a smaller core, I think they could struggle. TR

The rookie of the year will be …

Olivia Miles. Will this be the first year since 2021 in which the No 1 pick doesn’t win rookie of the year? Miles should slot into the starting lineup as the Lynx’s point guard and will have plenty of opportunities to show off the passing game that saw her average 6.5 assists in college. Coach Cheryl Reeve has praised her ability to get to the rim and score, and if Miles consistently has the ball in her hands, she can rack up the stats. EB

Olivia Miles. A dark horse given the last four winners were No 1 picks, but unlike Fudd, whose role may be limited at Dallas, Miles is expected to get significant minutes running offence for the Minnesota Lynx, potentially even starting. As the class’s best passer and primary ball-handler, Miles’ strong all-around production and playmaking will immediately impact her team. YE

Flau’jae Johnson. So many rookies – Miles, Fudd, and Lauren Betts among them – are likely to have really strong seasons, but Johnson has that extra magnetism that we’ve seen in recent winners of this award. Her preseason game was strong and Seattle seems like such a good fit. SK

After being touted as the top pick and sliding to third, I could see Awa Fam having something to prove – and first-year head coach Sonia Raman, who has been making footstools of adversity all her life, pushing her to make a statement at the Seattle Storm. AL

Azzi Fudd is great at many things: shooting, creating open space for her teammates, and sneakily gets to the basket past her opponent. She has a lot of learning to do on defense, her shooting ability will outweigh her misses on the court. TR

The MVP will be …

A’ja Wilson makes it five. There’s no player like her in the league because there’s no player who can exert the kind of control across the floor that she does. Offensively, defensively, on-ball, off-ball, she does it all. The list of players in the major American team sports to win five MVP awards is short: Peyton Manning (NFL); Barry Bonds (MLB); Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Bill Russell and Michael Jordan (NBA); Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe (NHL). Wilson joins that crew. EB

Is it boring to say A’ja Wilson? Probably. But how do you look past the best two-way player in the WNBA and possibly the greatest to ever play in the league? She averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game last season and in addition to winning her fourth MVP, she claimed the third Defensive Player of the Year award of her career. She is inevitable. YE

I’m going with A’ja Wilson again because I can’t think of a single player who can actually catch her, let alone top her. Wilson is truly one of a kind and she doesn’t seem like she’s anywhere near her ceiling. SK

A’ja Wilson has had to put up with her boyfriend talking about scoring 83 points in an NBA game since March. Her response could be one for the books. AL

Chelsea Gray. In the preseason people paid attention to her hustle and the work that’s been paying off in the offseason. She’s always been a super dominant force, but she unfortunately lived in the shadows of players such as Wilson and Jonquel Jones. But now more than ever, it’s her time. TR

Playoff semi-finalists

Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks. EB

Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever. YE

Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks. SK

Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever. AL

Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever. TR

The champion will be …

As exciting as it would be to see the Fever or Sparks win their first titles in a decade-plus, or watch the Liberty make up for last year’s disappointing first-round exit, it’s hard to bet against the Aces. They’re the most complete team in the league, and they only got stronger by holding on to playoff spark plug Dana Evans and bringing Carter to Sin City. Becky Hammon makes it four. EB

It is going to be difficult but the Aces. The feat would solidify their status as one of the WNBA’s greatest dynasties. Their star-studded roster includes Wilson, along with three other six-time All-Stars: Chelsea Gray (four-time champion, 2022 Finals MVP), Jewell Loyd (2023 scoring champion), and Jackie Young (two-time All-WNBA). How do you stop them? YE

The Aces. I’m always rooting for an underdog and love to see new names in the mix, but can appreciate a dynasty in formation when I see it. What Hammon is doing in Las Vegas will be studied one day, and this season will be yet another notch on the team’s belt. SK

Hard to bet against the Aces. They have the best player, the best coach and much stronger second unit with Evans and Carter on board. All that’s standing in their way is history. Only the old Houston Comets have won four championships in five years. Right now, the Aces look a strong bet to repeat the feat. AL

The Liberty. Right now, because of the CBA-induced musical chairs that took place over the offseason, it’s hard to feel like any team has a resistant and strong formation in place, even the Liberty. But the loss of last year’s playoff series must have hurt. They also have the acquisition of Sabally, a defensive menace, along with Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jones. It’s sure to be a performance worth watching. TR

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