MLBPreview
Game 42: Phillies at Red Sox; Willson Contreras returns to the lineup
Game 42: Phillies at Red Sox; Willson Contreras is back in the lineup!
Yahoo Sports1 min read
SportsFeature
Early favorites + dark horses for 2026 WNBA awards
TL;DR
Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones discuss early favorites and dark horses for the 2026 WNBA awards, including MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidates. Aja Wilson is highlighted as a top MVP contender.
Key points
- Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones discuss WNBA award candidates
- Aja Wilson is a top MVP contender
- Early favorites for Defensive Player of the Year are analyzed
- Dark horse selections may surprise fans
- Guards and wings are significant in award considerations
Subscribe to The Dunker Spot
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
In honor of the WNBA season kicking off, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones give their early WNBA award candidates. The duo breaks down who their undisputed number one MVP candidates are. Will Aja Wilson continue her MVP run? They give their insight.
Next, they give their early favorites for Defensive Player of the Year, and Nekias explains why guards and wings matter. Who are their dark horse selections? The answers may surprise you.
Later, they share why Olivia Miles and Flau’jae Johnson have stepped up as their favorites for Rookie of the Year candidates, share their dark horse candidates for Sixth Player of the Year, and which players are taking All-Star leaps for their Most Improved Player candidates. Plus, will Becky Hammon be named Coach of the Year?
All that and more!
1:55 MVP candidates
19:03 Defensive Player of the Year candidates
25:25 Rookie of the Year candidates
35:20 Sixth Person of the Year candidates
41:20 Most Improved Player candidates
46:46 Coach of the Year candidates
AUSTIN, TX - MAY 03: Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson #22 takes a shot over Dallas Wings forward Alysha Clark #32 during the game on May 03, 2026, at the Moody Center in Austin, TX. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel
Check out all episodes of The Dunker Spot and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv
Q&A
Who are the early favorites for the 2026 WNBA MVP award?
Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones identify Aja Wilson as a leading candidate for the 2026 WNBA MVP award.
What are the dark horse selections for the 2026 WNBA awards?
The article reveals surprising dark horse selections for various 2026 WNBA awards, including Defensive Player of the Year.
Why are guards and wings important in the WNBA awards discussion?
Nekias Duncan explains that guards and wings play a crucial role in the context of the Defensive Player of the Year award.
