Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts? Who will win 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year?

Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts? Who will win 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year?

In 2024, Caitlin Clark was the no-brainer pick. Last season, little debate ensued about Paige Bueckers’ win.

This season’s preseason prediction for 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year also seems pretty locked down. Our experts mostly foresee Olivia Miles performing well enough with the Minnesota Lynx to take home that honor near the end of the summer. But with a talented rookie class, it could be up for grabs.

The Athletic’s voters, who selected their top three picks, also put the Dallas Wings’ Azzi Fudd, Washington Mystics’ Lauren Betts, Toronto Tempo’s Kiki Rice and Seattle Storm’s Flau’jae Johnson on their ballots.

Here’s how our experts explained their predictions for who will win Rookie of the Year.

Our experts’ top picks

Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx are giving the keys to Olivia Miles right away, and she will have an opportunity to put up stats on a roster without many other high-usage guards. Cheryl Reeve has coached three other rookies of the year — two of whom were not No. 1 picks; she can get players to succeed in their first seasons and impact winning. — Sabreena Merchant

With out at the beginning of the season, the rookie PG will have a chance to shoulder more for the Lynx (while making her case for ROY if she can sustain Minnesota enough to still contend for a playoff run upon Collier’s return).