Looking At The Favorites Heading Into The 2026 WNBA Season

The WNBA season starts Friday, May 8. Here’s a look at the contenders to win the title with the odds from BetRivers.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 01: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty celebrates in the second half of Game Two of the WNBA Semifinals over the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center on October 01, 2024 in New York City. The New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 88-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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Contender: New York Liberty +225

After winning the title in 2025, New York started last season playing some of the best basketball on the planet. They won nine in a row to open the year and looked unstoppable. Then it all just stopped.

The Liberty’s Big Three of Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart (Stewie is acceptable) and Jonquel Jones each missed time for various injuries. The chemistry was off, and it never came back. New York lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Coach Sandy Brondello left for expansion Toronto, and it was never really explained why. The Liberty hired Chris DeMarco, a former assistant with Golden State in the NBA. They brought in Satou Sabally who is, unfortunately, also injury prone.

Healthy, this is the best team in the WNBA. But with a new, totally unproven coach, these odds are way too high.

Contender: Las Vegas Aces +400

A’ja Wilson is the best women’s basketball player in the world. She’s the first 4x WNBA MVP, she was also the WNBA Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

And she may not have had her best season last season.

Las Vegas was 14-14 midway through the season when it was like all of the sudden they decided to get together. All five starters are back. Coach Becky Hammon. She will be a U.S. Olympics head coach one day. Vegas is still the team holding all the cards.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 12: Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the second quarter against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on August 12, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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Contender: Indiana Fever

The Fever feature one of the best guards in the WNBA, a three-time All-Star who shot almost 40 percent from three-point range and scored over 20 points a game last season.

Her name is Kelsey Mitchell.

Ohhhh, you probably thought I was talking about the other Fever guard: Caitlin Clark. Clark, 24-years-old, is still a transcendent talent. She missed all but 13 games last season with a groin injury. She took a hard fall the other night in pre-season on her knee and you could hear the screams of TV execs nationwide.

Clark is still a must-see player. It’ll be interested to see how the Fever blend by bringing Clark back in the fold. They won a lot of games last year without her.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 20: Brionna Jones #42 of the Connecticut Sun looks on during a game against the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 20, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

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Contender: Atlanta Dream +600

The Dream were the surprise of the W last season. The just were bigger, meaner and better than almost everyone else. They’re the new 3-and-D team. They shot almost 30 threes last season and led the WNBA in rebounds….but they also led the league in turnovers and fouls.

Atlanta brought in influencer/rebounder/flashpoint Angel Reese. Reese is Moses Malone. She has incredible instincts for the ball. She has no reliable offensive game to speak of…yet. Neither did Moses when he started. Brionna Jones was set free from Connecticut. Allisha Gray is a 3x All-Star. Reese, unfortunately, will get the blame if the Dream goes bad.

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - JULY 28: Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm steals the ball from Olivia Nelson-Ododa #10 of the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on July 28, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)

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Dark Horses: Golden State +4000 and Seattle +25000

What if I told you that the Aces were a missed shot in the first round of the playoffs away from not even advancing to the semifinals? It’s true. Seattle had the ball down one with 12 seconds left in the decisive Game 3 of their first round series, but Erica Wheeler missed a jumper from the free throw line (she had a decent look).

Seattle looked like the team of the future in the WNBA in the second half of the season. Dominique Malonga, now 20, played 14 minutes a game and scored 7.7 points and looked like she was improving every minute she played. She’s a 6-foot-6 center with some game. What did the Storm do in the off-season? They went out and got the next Malonga in Awa Fam with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. She played pro ball in Spain. She’s only 19.

Who’s getting to the basket on these two? Not many.

Golden State made the playoffs in their first year as a franchise, they added Gabby Williams, a capable scorer, but they still need more.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com