The 2026 WNBA season has begun, featuring top talents like A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark. A'ja Wilson is ranked as the best player following an impressive 2025 season.
Ranking the 30 best WNBA players in 2026, from A'ja Wilson to Caitlin Clark originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After an unprecedented offseason that saw players' salaries leap into new stratospheres, the 2026 WNBA season is mercifully here.
That's a welcome sight for masses of women's basketball enthusiasts, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the best talents the sport has to offer.
A'ja Wilson sits at the top of the ladder after a glint 2025 season that saw her capture nearly all there was to offer in 2025. The Aces supernova dances with eternals. And with four MVPs and three WNBA titles to her name, there's a real case that the South Carolina product can be considered the greatest's player in the sport's history.
Behind her are a cadre of gemstones, stretching from Minnesota and Indiana to the Big Apple and Los Angeles.
So, just who are the best players in the WNBA heading into the 2026 season? Here's what you need to know.
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The ranking includes notable players like A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark, highlighting their performances in the league.
A'ja Wilson captured nearly all available accolades in 2025, including four MVPs and three WNBA titles.
The offseason of 2026 saw players' salaries increase significantly, marking a new financial era for the league.
A'ja Wilson's top ranking reinforces her status as a potential greatest player in WNBA history, influencing fan engagement and league visibility.
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Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Mitchell enjoyed the best season of her career in 2025, averaging a career-best 20.2 points per game en route to a first-team All-WNBA appearance and a fifth-place finish in MVP voting. She kept her strong displays going in the postseason, bringing Indiana to the cusp of a Finals appearance before going down in Game 5 with rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle injury that causes one's muscles to break down, leading to muscle death.
Mitchell will likely see her usage rate decrease as Caitlin Clark returns to health. That shouldn't diminish her shine too much, however; she hasn't averaged fewer than 17.8 points per game since 2019.
Boston, too, dazzled in Clark's absence, producing more points and assists than any other campaign in her still-budding career. Her paint passing makes her a unicorn of sorts among paint talents. So too does her defense -- Boston remains one of the sport's most enchanting rim protectors, leaving attackers forlorn as the anchor to Indiana's defense.
Boston was rewarded handsomely for her exploits, taking home the largest contract in WNBA history in terms of total value.
Bueckers was the league's best guard in her maiden season, wowing audiences with her mid-range game, stout off-ball defense and fluid handle. She was the fifth-leading scorer in the league and ranked joint-eighth in assists per game, capturing Rookie of the Year and All-WNBA second team honors.
With Azzi Fudd, Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard in tow, the Wings could put themselves in postseason contention. If so, Bueckers could end up in MVP consideration.
Allisha Gray IMAGN 04102026
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Gray might not command the same level of publicity of some of her counterparts on this year's list. But make no mistake; she is a hooper.
The South Carolina alum was the centerpiece to Dream head coach Karl Smesko's setup in 2026, posting career highs in points, rebounds and assists. Furthermore, she secured her first All-WNBA berth, being voted to the first team. A dogged defender and steady offensive performer, Gray lead Atlanta to its best record in franchise history in 2025. With the nucleus of the team back and Angel Reese set to join the ranks, Atlanta should be in contention for an NBA title come 2026.
Stewart had a down season by her standards in 2025, seeing her scoring and rebounding tail off while missing 13 games with injury issues. She still remains one of the sport's finest two-way talents and enjoyed a wondrous offseason, capturing titles in Unrivaled and EuroLeague with the Mist and Fenerbahce, respectively.
However, it's she'll have to settle for a slightly lower position than she commanded this time last year. Her shooting has been trending downward for the better part of three seasons, a worry for a player set to turn 32 during the season.
(Getty Images)
Young is undoubtedly one of the best guards in basketball. She showed as much during the playoffs, tallying 20.4 points per game on 49.4% shooting as the Aces captured their third title in four seasons.
The No. 1 pick in the 2019 Draft, Young has made her mark in Sin City in recent seasons. She should continue to shine in Las Vegas' backcourt, taking on greater responsibilities as Chelsea Gray nears the end of her glittering career.
Thomas is one of the most unique players in WNBA history, serving as an offensive hub despite offering little scoring threat from outside of the painted area. The 34-year-old is getting older. But her production continues to dazzle -- she fell less than one assist and less than rebounds short of averaging a triple-double for the whole of a season.
There are valid concerns about the viability of a Thomas-led offense in the playoffs. Still, she broke the record for most assists in a single season and continues to make plays on both ends of the floor. She is more than deserving of top-four recognition.
Caitlin Clark
Clark's 2025 season was effectively a write-off. The Iowa alum played in just 12 games, suffering injuries to her quad, groins and ankle. She fell way short of her 2024 production in the games she did play, seeing her three-point rate dip beneath 30 percent.
And yet, she remains in the same spot she was this time last year. Why? Well, things couldn't get much worse for Clark than they did in 2025. She is the sport's preeminent playmaker and her gravity opens up the floor for the likes of Boston and Mitchell.
All that amounts to a top-three player in the league. Expect Clark to enjoy a far better go of things in the 2026 season.
Collier will miss the first half of the season after undergoing surgery on both of her ankles. When she returns to action, she'll immediately surge to the top of the league's hierarchy -- right where she belongs.
Collier would have won MVP had it not been for Wilson's sizzling campaign. She has a case for the title of "league's most impactful defender" (alongside Wilson) and can produce highlights across the floor. Minnesota's roster looks a lot different to the title-contending unit it constructed in 2024 and 2025. Nevertheless, Collier should shine in Cheryl Reeve's setup, even if the Lynx do take a step back in 2026.
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12), Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22), and Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0)
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Was it ever a surprise? Wilson returns to the top of the charts in 2026. The South Carolina alum brought the Aces back to the mountaintop after a one-year hiatus, hoisting not only her third career title, but also her second career WNBA Finals MVP.
That was one of several accolades Wilson picked up last season. She collected her fourth MVP and fifth All-WNBA first team appearance. She also claimed the Defensive Player of the Year prize, sharing the achievement with Alanna Smith.
Wilson is the best player in the land. She's probably the best player in league history. We can expect her to sit at the same spot on this list in 2027.
Here's a look at the top 30 players in the WNBA heading into the 2026 season.
| Rank | Player |
| 1. | A'ja Wilson, Aces |
| 2. | Napheesa Collier, Lynx |
| 3. | Caitlin Clark, Fever |
| 4. | Alyssa Thomas, Mercury |
| 5. | Jackie Young, Aces |
| 6. | Breanna Stewart, Liberty |
| 7. | Allisha Gray, Dream |
| 8. | Paige Bueckers, Wings |
| 9. | Aliyah Boston, Fever |
| 10. | Kelsey Mitchell, Fever |
| 11. | Sabrina Ionescu, Liberty |
| 12. | Rhyne Howard, Dream |
| 13. | Kelsey Plum, Sparks |
| 14. | Nneka Ogwumike, Sparks |
| 15. | Satou Sabally, Liberty |
| 16. | Jonquel Jones, Liberty |
| 17. | Veronica Burton, Valkyries |
| 18. | Gabby Williams, Valkyries |
| 19. | Kahleah Copper, Mercury |
| 20. | Angel Reese, Dream |
| 21. | Courtney Williams, Lynx |
| 22. | Brionna Jones, Dream |
| 23. | Skylar Diggins, Sky |
| 24. | Dominique Malonga, Storm |
| 25. | Alanna Smith, Lynx |
| 26. | Kayla McBride, Lynx |
| 27. | Kamilla Cardoso, Sky |
| 28. | Brittney Sykes, Tempo |
| 29. | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Liberty |
| 30. | Sonia Citron, Mystics |