2026 WNBA midseason predictions for big awards, playoff standings

Cory Woodroof, For The WinThu, Jul 9, 2026·4 min read

We're at the halfway point of the 2026 WNBA season, with the title contenders and JuJu Watkins Sweepstakes participants all starting to settle themselves among the league rankings.

Some teams (the Las Vegas Aces) are as good as we expected, while others (the Napheesa Collier-less Minnesota Lynx) have surprised us. All of the league is competitive, but only a few teams look like they could hoist the trophy.

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How are the league's awards shaping out at the halfway mark? Who is the MVP favorite? Who is the league's most improved player? How about a mock playoff standings? We've got all that and more below for you to peruse.

Will our predictions hold? Well, our May predictions have largely aged poorly, so beware the guesses of July?

MVP: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

This should just be called the "A'ja Wilson Is Better At Basketball Than Everyone Else" Award until further notice. Wilson's 2026 season is just as good as the ones where she won MVP, and there's no real competition right now compared to what she's doing every night.

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Coach of the Year: Jose Fernandez, Dallas Wings

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve is like Bill Belichick; she's just been doing this for so long that "Coach of the Year" awards are hard to come by. She's won four times, including 2024, but she should probably go back-and-forth with Aces coach Becky Hammon each and every season for the honor. Fernandez has led the Wings' resurgence with superstar guard Paige Bueckers at the charge; his first season may well net him the prestigious honor.

Defensive Player of the Year: Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries

Wilson may well win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, but Williams is just too good as a two-way superstar to ignore for what she's done with Golden State this season. She's more than deserving here.

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Rookie of the Year: Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

What else can you say? Miles has this award on lock. She's been the best rookie this season by a Minnesota mile.

Sixth Player of the Year: Janelle Salaün, Golden State Valkyries

Salaün's outrageous success shooting beyond the arc this season makes her more than worthy of the Sixth Player of the Year award right now. She's an integral part to a Golden State team more than able to contend for a title.

Most Improved Player: Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo

Mabrey has been the most efficient and prolific she's ever been in the WNBA this season with Toronto. Tying the single-game scoring record with Wilson this season is just icing on the cake for how much she's improved in 2026.

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G Olivia Miles (Minnesota Lynx)

G Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings)

C A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)

F Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries)

Lynx (1) over Mercury (8) (2-0)

Aces (2) over Fever (7) (2-1)

Valkyries (3) over Dream (6) (2-1)

Wings (5) over Liberty (4) (2-1)

Lynx (1) over Wings (5) (3-1)

Aces (2) over Valkyries (3) (3-2)

Finals prediction: Lynx over Aces in 7 games

This year's finals will be years in the making: the Lynx will get superstar forward Napheesa Collier back at the right time, in the second half of the season where they'll add an incredibly dangerous new dimension when other teams are trying to find their second wind. The Aces just always find a way here. We think Wilson and Las Vegas will give the Lynx a strong run for their money, but we think this is the year this era of Lynx basketball finally wins a title. The Miles draft pick and Howard free agent signing cemented the push to the top, as did Reeve's stellar coaching.

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This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 WNBA midseason predictions for big awards, playoff standings

G Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)

F Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)

G Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)

G Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream)

F Natasha Howard (Minnesota Lynx)

F Jessica Shepard (Dallas Wings)