Wilson aces 2026 WNBA awards

The best season in WNBA history was full of superlatives. The Indiana Fever’s offense. Golden State’s defense. The most skilled players of all time.

My All-WNBA picks …

First team >> Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson is the league’s top player again. A true offensive and defensive anchor. Indiana Fever guards Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were an electric highlight reel, powering the most efficient offense in league history. Clark was third in scoring and second in assists, while Mitchell was second in scoring, first in 3-point shooting. Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles is smart and smooth, the best player on the league’s best team. Wings guard Paige Bueckers, a mature decision maker, can score from anywhere.

                               pts    reb    ast    shooting
A’ja Wilson, Aces             26.2    9.4    3.2    55-40-86
Kelsey Mitchell, Fever        24.7    1.7    2.8    55-45-85
Caitlin Clark, Fever          22.3    4.0    8.3    53-36-85
Olivia Miles, Lynx            19.8    4.7    6.0    54-39-87
Paige Bueckers, Wings         20.9    4.1    5.9    56-41-87

Second team >> Aces guard Jackie Young, an excellent two-way player, had a career season. Lynx guard Kayla McBride was the league’s best shooter: 51% on 2-pointers, 41% on 3-pointers, 92% from the line. Dream teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray belong here, too. Howard was everywhere, leading the league in 3-pointers and steals. Gray is another two-way All-Star. Liberty forward Breanna Stewart is still dominant inside. A traditional post player in a new wave guard league.
— Kevin Brewer

                               pts    reb    ast    shooting
Jackie Young, Aces            18.9    4.4    6.8    57-38-93
Kayla McBride, Lynx           17.6    4.0    2.2    51-41-92    
Allisha Gray, Dream           19.0    3.5    2.7    54-34-81
Rhyne Howard, Dream           17.7    3.8    3.7    48-36-86
Breanna Stewart, Liberty      20.8    8.3    3.3    53-25-84

AWARDS and SUPERLATIVES

Player of the Year >> Aja Wilson, Aces

Coach of the Year >> Natalie Nakase, Valkyries

Rookie of the Year >> Olivia Miles, Lynx

Best offensive players >> Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, Fever

Best defensive players >> Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton, Valkyries

Best scorer >> Kelsey Mitchell, Fever

Best shooter >> Kayla McBride, Lynx

Best 3-point shooter >> Kelsey Mitchell, Fever

Best free throw shooter >> Aja Wilson, Aces

Best bench player >> Janelle Salaun, Valkyries

2. Tiffany Hayes, Valkyries
3. Han Xu, Liberty
4. Lauren Betts, Mystics
5. Sophie Cunningham, Fever

TEAMS

Best record >> Minnesota Lynx, 33-11

>> Best point differential >> Minnesota Lynx, +7.2
>> Best net rating >> Golden State Valkyries, +9.4

Worst record >> Seattle Storm, 8-36

>> Worst point differential >> Connecticut Sun, -9.1
>> Worst net rating >> Connecticut Sun, -11.5

Home team >> Chicago Sky

Road team >> Minnesota Lynx

Best offense >> Indiana Fever

Best defense >> Golden State Valkyries

Fastest pace >> Chicago Sky

Slowest pace >> Golden State Valkyries

NBA / It’s about Dame time

Point guards are in transition this season. The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Damian Lillard, pairing him with perfect pick-and-roll partner Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Celtics picked up Jrue Holiday, giving them the strongest starting lineup in the league. James Harden, who called Daryl Morey a liar, is a conscientious objector. In the West, the Warriors traded for Chris Paul, giving them two pantheon lead guards. The Rockets added the savvy Fred VanVleet to their young team. The Grizzlies found Marcus Smart to spell the suspended Ja Morant. The Trail Blazers cleared the floor for rookie Scoot Henderson.

The games played projections are based on last season, the previous two seasons, and the idea that players gravitate toward 72 games played. A player’s recent history is the leading indicator of how many games he will play. There is little chance that that LeBron James, Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard play 65 games. The charts include each player’s age, games played last season and projected games played this season.

The NBA’s new player participation policy (PPP) and end-of-season awards requirements won’t make a significant difference. But in some notable cases, like Damian Lillard or Jimmy Butler, I rounded up to 65 games — the minimum for receiving All-NBA recognition.
— Kevin Brewer

Age [38] All-Star team

LeBron James, who received All-NBA honors for the 19th consecutive season on Wednesday, is the best 38-year-old player of all time. He averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists, shooting 58.0% on 2-pointers. He also broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record with a fadeaway jumper over Kenrich Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder in February. The Lakers (43-39) were 30-25 with James in the lineup. He is the third 38-year-old to make an All-NBA team. Abdul-Jabbar made the first team in 1986, Tim Duncan the third team in 2015 and James the third team this season.
— Kevin Brewer

Age 38 >> Starting lineup

Forward >> LeBron James, Lakers, 2022-23
 >>  28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists (55 games)

Center >> Tim Duncan, Spurs, 2014-15
 >>  13.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks

Center >> Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lakers, 1985-86
 >>  23.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 56.5% 2-point shooting

Guard >> John Stockton, Jazz, 2000-01
 >>  11.5 points, 8.7 assists, 51.4% 2-point shooting

Guard >> Reggie Miller, Pacers, 2003-04
 >>  10.0 points, 3.1 assists, 40.1% 3-point shooting

Age 38 >> Bench

Forward >> Karl Malone, Jazz, 2001-02
 >>  22.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists

Forward >> Michael Jordan, Wizards (!), 2001-02
 >>  22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists (60 games)

Guard >> Manu Ginobili, Spurs, 2015-16
 >>  9.6 points, 39.1% 3-point shooting (58 games)

Center >> Robert Parish, Celtics, 1991-92
 >>  14.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 53.5% 2-point shooting

Center >> Hakeem Olajuwon, Rockets, 2000-01
 >>  11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, (58 games)