The WNBA season will start back up on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Each team has four regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The top eight teams - the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings - are already locked in to the playoffs. Seeding, on the other hand, is still up for grabs. So, there's lots at stake over the next 10 days.
That includes the last push for WNBA awards. The MVP race is probably locked up, with Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson primed for her record fifth win, but some of the other races are not as cut and dry. Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved are among the more debated.
USA TODAY's
Studio IX has made picks for all the major awards, here are the results:
Most Valuable Player: Las Vegas Aces C A’ja Wilson
Because of voter fatigue and people wanting something new, there’s a tendency to judge most MVP candidates against the rest of the field while prior winners are judged against their past season. In the case of A’ja Wilson, who has a WNBA-record four MVPs and is the betting favorite to win a third straight, she’s on par with her previous bests despite dealing with a back issue that led her to pull out of the FIBA Women’s World Cup. The 30-year-old is the WNBA’s leading scorer this season with 26 points per game. She also tops the league with two blocks per contest as for the Aces, who sit at No. 3 in the league standings. Wilson has been so dominant, she's been the sole winner of every WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month honor this season, becoming the only player to sweep the award other than herself in 2020 − when she won her first MVP). Others receiving votes: Olivia Miles, G, Minnesota; Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana
Defensive Player of the Year: Atlanta Dream F Angel Reese
Angel Reese is one of only two players averaging a double-double, with a career-high 16.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a career-high 1.8 steals through 39 games. The 6-foot-4 forward leads the league in rebounds (12.4), offensive rebounds per game (5.1), total rebounds (485) and double-doubles (29), which is a WNBA single-season record. Her steals per game mark (1.9) is third in the league.
Reese set a WNBA record for the most double-doubles (57) through a player's first 75 career games on June 9. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds in 79 games on June 20, outpacing Tina Charles (89 games). On Aug. 24, Reese set a WNBA single-game record with 26 total rebounds (18 defensive, 8 offensive) and set a single-season record with 458 total rebounds. She surpassed the previous mark of 451 rebounds set by Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson in 2024. Others receiving votes: Rhyne Howard, G, Atlanta; Angel Reese, F, Atlanta; Gabby Williams, F, Golden State
Rookie of the Year: Minnesota Lynx G Olivia Miles
Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, hit the ground running in her WNBA debut, scoring 21 points with eight assists while adding two steals and two block, and never looked back. Miles, who is currently averaging 19.7 points, 6.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals a game, is already one of the top players in the league. She ranks eighth in points per game, seventh in assists per game and top 25 in steals per matchup. Her rookie records are also impressive. She's already second all-time in assists (228) and points (749) in a single season. Miles is also tied for first with Lynx legend Seimone Augustus for the most 20-point games by a rookie in a single season (20).
Others receiving votes: Awa Fam, C, Seattle; Sydney Taylor, G, Chicago; Flau'jae Johnson, G, Seattle; Pauline Astier, G, New York
Most Improved Player: Dallas Wings F Jessica Shepard
After spending five seasons in Minnesota, Shepard signed with the Wings in free agency. She not only found a new home but got an expanded role. Shepard is averaging a double-double with a career-best 14.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. She's also set career highs in assists (4.9) and minutes (31.9) per game. Shepard has four triple-doubles and had her career-best year rewarded by starting in her first All-Star Game. The Most Improved Player honor is likely next.Others receiving votes: Marina Mabrey, G, Toronto; Carla Leite, G, Portland; Emily Engstler, F, Portland; Shakira Austin, C, Washington Mystics
Sixth Player of the Year: Golden State Valkyries F Janelle Salaün
Salaün has been explosive off the bench for Golden State, averaging a career-high 12.9 points for the Valkyries. Golden State has the highest scoring bench in the league (36 points per game) and Salaün's 492 points off the bench are a WNBA single-season record. Salaün is shooting 41.6% from the field and 38.4% from 3-point line, both career highs. Salaün could become the first player in WNBA history to make 100 3-pointers in a season off the bench, she is at 92 with four games to go.Others receiving votes: Sophie Cunningham, G, Indiana; Cameron Brink, F, Los Angeles; Makayla Timpson, C, Indiana
WNBA Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
With Napheesa Collier sidelined for the first three months of the season, some thought the Lynx might take a step back. Then, top draft pick Olivia Miles stepped in and Cheryl Reeve coached the Lynx back to the top of the WNBA standings. Minnesota was the first team to clinch a playoff spot and it's in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 overall seed. The Lynx have a winning percentage of .775 this season, the fifth-best in franchise history. Minnesota also ranks second in scoring and third in points allowed. With Collier back in the fold, Miles playing at an MVP level as a rookie and others like Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams stepping up, the Lynx look like the team to beat in the postseason.Others receiving votes: Jose Fernandez, Dallas; Natalie Nakase, Golden State; Sydney Johnson, Washington Mystics
All-WNBA
- A'ja Wilson, F, Las Vegas Aces
- Breanna Stewart, F, New York Liberty
- Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana Fever
- Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Fever
- Olivia Miles, G, Minnesota Lynx
All-Rookie
- Olivia Miles, G, Minnesota Lynx
- Azzi Fudd, G, Dallas Wings
- Sydney Taylor, G, Chicago Sky
- Awa Fam, C, Seattle Storm
- Fla'jae Johnson, G, Seattle Storm
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA awards predictions include Aces' A'ja Wilson setting another record
