The 2026 WNBA draft class is an exciting one with plenty of top prospects with tremendous upside.
While other seasons have clear Rookie of the Year frontrunners, this year features several young stars with the skill and potential to have a ROY-winning season.
Who actually reaches that potential the fastest will likely come down to the players who get those kinds of opportunities. For example, a player on an expansion team like the Toronto Tempo or Portland Fire might put up better numbers than No.
1 pick Azzi Fudd, since they have less of a hierarchy to deal with on a first-year team than Fudd has on a Dallas roster with a jam-packed backcourt.
With that context in mind, here are three players to keep an eye on for Rookie of the Year consideration.
Flau’jae Johnson (Seattle Storm)
At LSU, Flau’jae Johnson was one of the most electrifying players in college basketball. Her handle is unmatched, that offensive burst she has on her first step is tough to neutralize and when she is knocking down her 3s, it’s hard to slow her down.
As the Seattle Storm not only traded for Johnson on draft night, but also are building around other young players like rookie Awa Fam and sophomore Dominque Malonga, it’s clear there is a youth movement happening in the Pacific Northwest. In that environment, Johnson should thrive.
The early returns indicate that will be the case. In her first WNBA game, she played 30 minutes and scored 16 points. Those kinds of numbers will be hard for most rookies to reach.
Olivia Miles (Minnesota Lynx)
Olivia Miles is another guard who can score at will. She might not have the speed Johnson has, but she’s a crafty on-ball player who has the strength to get physical in the paint and finish near the rim, as well as the ability to rise above most defenders and get her shot off.
The Lynx will be looking for her to help lead the offense, and with Napheesa Collier out for the start of the season, she’ll have plenty of chances to establish herself as a No. 1 option. If she takes advantage of those opportunities, she’ll not only be one of the best rookies in the league, but one of the best guards in the WNBA. Her opening game performance—21 points and eight assists—certainly suggested as much.
Kiki Rice (Toronto Tempo)
Playing for the Toronto Tempo, Kiki Rice is exactly the kind of guard who can put up numbers in a more relaxed environment. No one outside of Canada expects a ton of winning from the Tempo, so that should allow Rice the opportunity and grace to adjust to the WNBA while simultaneously making her mark.
Her first WNBA game didn’t show this potential as much, as she scored zero points on 0-for-3 shooting, but that’s a very early, small sample size. In college, she improved every season, and it’s much more likely that she’ll find a groove and begin producing soon enough at this level of basketball, just as she has at every step of her journey.
While Johnson, Miles and Rice could lead the pack, plenty of rookies can join this race as the season progresses.
Fudd will get plenty of attention, especially as she starts to earn impactful minutes on a winning team. Lauren Betts could quickly become a double-digit scorer for the Washington Mystics. Gabriela Jaquez should have the chance to prove she can be an elite guard for the Chicago Sky.
Who else could join the conversation? Let us know your early rookie impressions, who you think will emerge as the ROY favorite and any other first-year thoughts in the comments.
