Sept. 24 is the final day of the WNBA regular season. Ballots for WNBA awards are due on the 25th, and the playoffs pick up right after that. Of course, popularity of the league is at an all-time high, predominantly because the league is stuffed with star power. Who will win the top awards, though, including MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year?
MVP prediction
A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Another WNBA season in the books, and likely another MVP win for A'ja Wilson. This would make Wilson a five-time WNBA MVP, which is two more than anyone else in league history. It would also be her third straight win, too. With three championships also to her name, if Wilson wasn't considered the WNBA G.O.A.T. before, another MVP would likely do it.
Wilson led the league in scoring (26 points per game) and blocks (2.0 blocks per game), which gives her a case as both the best offensive and the best defensive player in the league. Wilson is one of just three players ever to surpass the 1,000 points mark in a year. Back issues nor voter fatigue can stop Wilson from winning yet another MVP.
Defensive Player of the Year prediction
Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
Angel Reese catches a lot of flak for her somewhat inefficient offensive game and occasionally wild misses. What she does well, though, she does really, really well. Her specialities are rebounding and defense. The former she leads the WNBA in with 12.1 boards per game, as she set the single-season rebounds record this year.
Defensively, she can hold her own in the paint against any post presence and makes getting shots up near the rim tough. Plus, Reese possesses the athletic abilities to step outside and defend on the perimeter when need be. The LSU product thrives at breaking up passes, and her Atlanta Dream are second in defensive rating (104.5). The Dream's on/off numbers with Reese's defense are jaw-dropping.
Rookie of the Year prediction
Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx
There has been a lot of young talent to enter the WNBA in recent years. After a record-setting collegiate career, Caitlin Clark helped take the league's popularity to the next level. She was succeeded as the number one pick by Paige Bueckers, a fellow highly entertaining, talented, and popular player. Bueckers' ex-collegiate teammate, Azzi Fudd, was drafted number one this year.
None of them played better right away than Olivia Miles, though. The Minnesota Lynx rookie who was drafted second overall has averages of 19.8 points, six assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. If it were not for Wilson's sustained dominance, Miles could even win the MVP in her first year in the big leagues. She is the best player on the team with the best record, and her rookie scoring record proves that she just may be the best first-year player ever.
6th Player of the Year prediction
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Janelle Salaun, Golden State Valkyries
As a rookie, Janelle Sanaun averaged 11.3 points per game as a starter for the Golden State Valkyries. She was moved to a bench role this year, and the freedom of running with the twos has even further allowed her to thrive. Salaun averaged 12.9 points per game as one of the premier knockdown shooters in the WNBA. The second-year player made 39.4% of her 6.1 long bombs per game.
Most Improved Player prediction
Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings
Since turning pro, Jessica Shepard has a missed season because of an ACL injury to her name, and a year out of the WNBA where she was playing over in Italy. Every other season of her career was spent as a role player, predominantly coming off the bench. This year, though, Shepard nearly doubled her career highs across the board.
In her first season with the Dallas Wings, Shepard averaged 15.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. That ability to stuff the stat sheet is truly unprecedented, making Shepard a worthy winner of the Most Improved Player title.
Coach of the Year prediction
Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
The Lynx are the number-one seed in all of the WNBA. Regular season success is nothing new for the team, but nobody expected Cheryl Reeve's squad to find so much success with Napheesa Collier sidelined for the majority of the year. Collier is one of the best players in the WNBA but has been limited to just 15 games played.
The Lynx were a brand new team with tons of roster turnover heading into the season, but Reeve again coached the team up to become contenders. Perhaps this will be the year she wins her fifth championship in Minnesota.