The 2026 WNBA MVP race is off and running.
Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces has emerged as the favorite to win MVP, which should shock no one. However, Olivia Miles‘ dominant arrival on the scene has taken some by surprise as she’s positioned the Minnesota Lynx atop of the WNBA standings despite Napheesa Collier being out because of ankle injuries sustained in last season’s playoffs.
Advertisement
The Lynx and Aces are tied atop the WNBA standings with a 15-6 record, but which team tops our power rankings? Also, who is the MVP of each franchise at the halfway point of the season? We break it all down in this week’s WNBA power rankings, released every Tuesday this season:
More: Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson among 2026 WNBA All-Star starters
1. Minnesota Lynx (15-6)
Previous rank: 1 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Olivia Miles
Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles is off to a historic start. She became the first player in WNBA history to record 45-plus points and 20-plus assists through her first three games and hasn’t slowed down. Miles leads the Lynx in scoring (18.5 points per game) and assists (5.7), which also tops all rookies. Miles hit eight 3-pointers in the Lynx’s 87-84 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on June 5 to break Caitlin Clark‘s rookie record for 3s in a game. She was awarded a WNBA starter nod for her efforts. Something to monitor — Miles was out on July 6 with a right calf injury.
Advertisement
Previous rank: 3 (⬆1)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? F Gabby Williams
Gabby Williams recorded 19 points and three steals in the Valkyries’ win over the Atlanta Dream on July 3 to extend Golden State’s win streak to five games, the longest across the league. Williams leads Golden State in scoring with a career-high 15.8 points and 1.5 steals per game in her first season in the Bay Area, one year after leading the WNBA in steals and picking up a first-team All-Defense nod.
3. Las Vegas Aces (15-6)
Previous rank: 2 (⬇1)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? C A’ja Wilson
Advertisement
Wilson’s the frontrunner for league MVP, again. Wilson leads the league in scoring (25.7 points per game) and blocks (2.0), all while averaging 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 19 games. Wilson has recorded double-digit points in every game this season, including a 45-point performance vs. the Connecticut Sun on May 15. Wilson has been out for three games due to an ankle injury, but it likely won’t slow her momentum. Wilson is the first four-time WNBA MVP and is well on her way winning again.
Previous rank: 4 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? F Breanna Stewart
Advertisement
The 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup MVP is leading the Liberty in points (20.0), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.4) in her 10th season in the league, while ranking second in rebounds (8.5). Stewart has scored 30 or more points in three games this season, including a 36-point, seven-rebound performance against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on July 3. Stewart’s seven double-doubles is tied for the sixth-most in the league.
Previous rank: 7 (⬆2)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Paige Bueckers
The Wings finished the 2025 season at the bottom of the leaderboard with a 10-34 record. Dallas has already surpassed that total at the halfway point, thank, in part, to Bueckers. The 2025 reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year is averaging career-highs in points (20.3), assists (6.1), field-goal percentage (52.2%) and 3-point percentage (39.1%). She leads the Wings in points and assists through 20 games. Bueckers became the fastest player in WNBA history to hit 1,000 points and 250 assists last month.
Advertisement
Previous rank: 6 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Caitlin Clark
The Indiana Fever’s Big 3 of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell were all named 2026 WNBA All-Star starters and could be team’s MVP at the halfway mark. But we are giving the honor to Caitlin Clark, who is averaging career-highs in points (21.2), field-goal percentage (43.0%) and 3-point percentage (34.4). The 6-foot guard’s 8.2 assists per game is second only to Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. Clark has scored double-digits in all but one game this season and she’s doing so efficiently. Her 4.6 turnovers per game are the lowest average of her career. Clark tweaked her back last month and has missed two games.
Advertisement
7. Atlanta Dream (12-9)
Previous rank: 5 (⬇2)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Rhyne Howard
The 6-foot-2 guard is one of the best two-way players in the league. Howard is averaging career highs in points (18.9), field-goal percentage (41.6%) and 3-point percentage (36.8%), all while leading the league in steals with 2.5 per game. Her 67 made 3-pointers are tied Marina Mabrey for the most in the league.
Previous rank: 8 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Sonia Citron
The 6-foot-1 guard is second in the league in minutes played this season with 34.6 and has also emerged as one of the best free-throw shooters in the WNBA. Citron was an All-Star as a rookie last season and picked up her second consecutive nod after averaging 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season. The Mystics are 5-2 on the season when she scores at least 20 points. She has missed the last two games with knee soreness.
Advertisement
Previous rank: 9 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Marina Mabrey
The 6-foot-1 guard earned her first All-Star nod in eight seasons after unlocking another level in Toronto. Mabrey is averaging career highs in points (21.1) and field-goal percentage (45.5%) and her 3.5 3-pointers per game leads the league. Mabrey tied the single-game scoring record with 53 points, joining A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage.
10. Phoenix Mercury (8-13)
Previous rank: 10 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Kahleah Copper
The Mercury stumbled out of the starting gate, but Copper has helped Phoenix win four of its last five. The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging 20.6 points, which ranks sixth in the league. She scored a career-high 41 points in June and has been on a heater recently, recording at least 20 points in four consecutive games.
Advertisement
Previous rank: 11 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Kelsey Plum
The 5-foot-8 guard is averaging a career-high 23.9 points per game, which ranks second in the league. The two-time WNBA champion is not only a top scorer, but a reliable facilitator with 6.4 assists per contest. Plum would likely have been named an All-Star starter, if not for a lower leg injury that’s limited her to 12 games this season. Los Angeles has dropped two straight and await the return of Plum, who will provide a much-needed spark if they want to redeem this season.
Previous rank: 12 (⬌)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? G Carla Leite
Advertisement
After starting six games for the Golden State Valkyries during her rookie season last year, Leite has slid into the starting lineup in Portland and made the most of her opportunity. The 5-foot-9 guard leads the Fire in scoring (15.4) and assist (5.6).
Previous rank: 14 (⬆1)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? C Kamilla Cardoso
Rickea Jackson was having a career-best year before suffering an ACL injury in her left knee. The Sky have fallen down the standings since, dropping eight of their last 10. Kamilla Cardoso has been a bright spot as the South Carolina product continues to develop. She leads the Sky in points (14.6), rebounds (8.6) and blocks (1.6) per game. However, her stat line hasn’t translated into many wins.
Advertisement
14. Connecticut Sun (5-16)
Previous rank: 15 (⬇2)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? C Brittney Griner
The Sun picked up their biggest win of the season, defeating the Olivia Miles-less Minnesota Lynx 90-89 on July 6. Don’t look now, but the Sun have won three of their last four. Leila Lacan and Anessah Morrow have been solid for Connecticut, but Brittney Griner’s veteran leadership is much needed. Griner finished with a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Lynx. Griner has started 12 games this season and ranks second on the team in points (12.2) and rebounds (5.4). Griner leads the team in blocks (1.8 per game) and became the WNBA’s all-time blocks leader, besting Margo Dydek last month.
Advertisement
Previous rank: 13 (⬇2)
Who is the team MVP at the midway point? C Dominique Malonga
After coming off the bench in her rookie season, Malonga shifted into the starting lineup and is having a career-year. The 6-foot-6 center leads the Storm in points (16.9), rebounds (7.3) per game and steals (1.3) per game.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA power rankings: Who is the team MVP at the midway point?
