The WNBA's 25 Under 25 rankings for 2026 highlight top players like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, focusing on those aged 25 or younger. The rankings come ahead of the season starting on May 8, 2026, which will also introduce two new teams.
From Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to rising rookies and international prospects, here are the top 25 players age 25 or younger to watch during the 2026 season.
WNBA 25 Under 25 Rankings for 2026: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and the League’s Next Stars originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The future of the WNBA is not waiting around.
With the 2026 season set to begin on May 8, that date serves as the cutoff for this ranking. Any player who is 25 years old or younger on opening day is eligible. If a player turns 26 after May 8, they still makes the cut. That means some players who already feel like established veterans are still part of the league’s next wave. The 2026 season also marks the league’s 30th year and features two new teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, giving even more young players a chance to take on bigger roles.
This ranking is not just a look back at last season. It takes 2025 production into account, but it is more about projection: How will we view these players by the end of the 2026 WNBA season? Rookies are included, overseas prospects are included and upside matters. So do role, team fit, health, efficiency and the chance to impact winning.
The top players include Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, among others.
Players must be 25 years old or younger on the opening day of the 2026 season, May 8, to be eligible.
The 2026 season will mark the league's 30th year and will introduce two new teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo.
The WNBA 2026 season is set to begin on May 8, 2026.
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Clark remains the standard for this list, even after an injury-interrupted 2025 season. Her shooting range, passing and ability to bend an entire defense still give her the highest offensive ceiling of any young player in the league. If she gets a full, healthy season, there is a real chance she finishes 2026 right back in the MVP conversation.
Bueckers already looks like a franchise player. She was polished, efficient and productive as a rookie, and Dallas immediately gave her the ball like someone who could carry a rebuild. The next step is turning big numbers into wins, but the skill level, pace and shot-making all scream future perennial All-Star.
Citron moves this high because her game already feels incredibly easy to trust. She has size on the wing, a clean shooting stroke, defensive toughness and the ability to fit next to almost anyone. By the end of 2026, she could be viewed as the best two-way player in Washington’s young core and one of the safest long-term building blocks in the league.
Boston is already more than a traditional post player. She can score inside, pass out of pressure, rebound and help organize Indiana’s half-court offense. If the Fever take another step forward, Boston’s efficiency and playmaking from the frontcourt will be a major reason why.
Iriafen’s rookie season gave Washington another foundational piece. She rebounds, runs the floor and has the face-up game to keep expanding as a scorer. With another year of comfort and touches, she has a real chance to be viewed as one of the best young forwards in the WNBA by season’s end.
Malonga’s ranking is about upside as much as production. At 6-6 with rare movement skills, she has the type of physical tools teams dream about in a modern frontcourt player. Seattle does not need to rush her into being a star, but if the development curve hits, she could be one of the biggest risers on this list.
Jackson gets the edge here because of her shot-creation upside. She already has one of the more polished scoring packages among the league’s young wings, with the ability to create in the midrange, attack mismatches and generate offense when a possession breaks down. If Chicago gives her more freedom, she could finish the season looking like one of the better young bucket-getters in the WNBA.
Reese is already one of the most dominant rebounders in basketball, and that gives her a very high floor. Moving to Atlanta should give her a fresh setup and a chance to impact winning in a new way. The swing factor is still offensive growth — finishing, touch and overall efficiency — but her motor, rebounding and competitiveness keep her firmly in the top 10.
Cardoso still has one of the best long-term ceilings on this list because of her size and interior presence. She gives Chicago a true paint anchor who can finish, rebound and protect space around the rim. The next jump is becoming more consistent as a defensive centerpiece and late-clock option, but the foundation is already strong.
Burton deserves top-10 respect after turning herself into one of the best young lead guards in the league. She may not have the same highlight-reel scoring upside as some players below her, but she controls games, defends and makes winning plays. By the end of 2026, she could be viewed less as a breakout story and more as one of the league’s most dependable floor generals.
Miles is one of the most creative passers entering the league. Minnesota is a great landing spot because she will not have to force everything right away, but her vision gives her a clear path to a meaningful role. If the jumper translates, she could outperform this ranking quickly.
Morrow is here because her rebounding and physicality already translate. She plays with force, attacks the glass and gives Connecticut a frontcourt player who can impact the game without needing many plays called for her. If her offensive role expands, she has a real chance to become one of the better young forwards in the league.
Fudd still belongs comfortably in the top 15 because of how cleanly her shooting should translate. Her fit next to Paige Bueckers in Dallas is easy to see: she can space the floor, punish defenses away from the ball and give the Wings another guard who does not need to dominate possessions to make an impact. The only reason she slides behind a few others is that this ranking weighs WNBA production and immediate role security, and some players ahead of her have already shown more at the pro level.
Betts brings size, touch and efficiency, which is always a good starting point for a young center. Washington can let her develop without asking her to immediately carry the offense. The long-term question is how quickly she adjusts to WNBA speed and defensive coverages, but her interior skill is real.
Brink slides down a bit because this ranking is projection-based, but also has to account for how much runway other young players gained last season. The upside is still obvious. She has the length, timing and defensive instincts to become one of the best rim protectors in the league, and her offensive game still has room to grow as a floor-spacing frontcourt piece. If she puts together a healthy, consistent season, she could easily outperform this spot.
Austin is still eligible and still has a chance to climb. She has already shown she can be a productive two-way frontcourt player when healthy. The challenge now is stacking availability and consistency on a crowded Washington roster with several young bigs fighting for long-term roles.
Lacan has the kind of defensive edge that gets coaches to trust young guards. She can pressure the ball, create offense and play with confidence. On a Connecticut team looking for long-term answers, she has a chance to become one of the league’s better young two-way guards.
Johnson enters the WNBA with pro-ready athleticism and a big-game personality. Seattle targeted her for a reason. Her downhill scoring, energy and defensive tools make her one of the most interesting rookies in the class, even if she needs time to settle into a defined role.
Edwards still feels like a player with more to show. Her motor, strength and defensive versatility give her a clear path to a larger role, especially on a Connecticut team reworking its young core. If she earns more consistent minutes, she could climb this list quickly by the end of the season.
Fam is one of the most intriguing long-term bets in the 2026 rookie class. She is young, big and already has high-level international experience. Seattle may not need to rush her, especially with Malonga also developing in the frontcourt, but Fam’s physical profile gives her major upside.
Siegrist feels like the kind of player who can thrive next to Dallas’ young guards. She is efficient, smart and does not need a ton of wasted dribbles to score. The ceiling may not be superstar-level, but she can be a very useful scorer on a team trying to grow up quickly.
Rice gets the benefit of opportunity here. As a top pick for a new franchise, she should have room to play through mistakes and grow into a leadership role. Her pace, decision-making and pedigree make her one of the most interesting rookie guards in the league.
Salaün was one of the better rookie stories of 2025. She earned All-Rookie recognition and gave Golden State size, shooting and versatility on the wing. If the efficiency keeps improving, she could become a tough matchup piece for years.
Smith’s role changed in Las Vegas, but she still has the talent to be more than a complementary frontcourt piece. She runs, rebounds and can finish around the basket. On a veteran-heavy team, her challenge is turning minutes into impact without needing plays called for her.
Leite sneaks onto the list because of her guard skill and opportunity in Portland. She showed flashes as a rookie and now lands with an expansion team that should be willing to develop young talent. If she becomes more efficient, she could be one of the better value pieces from this group.
A few names just missed the cut, including Jacy Sheldon, Saniya Rivers, Gabriela Jaquez, Iyana Martin Carrion, Raven Johnson, Cotie McMahon and Juste Jocyte. Some are rookies who may need a year to settle in, while others already have clear WNBA roles but slightly less upside than the players ranked above.
The league’s young talent pool is deeper than ever, and by the end of the 2026 season, this list could look very different. Clark and Bueckers are already carrying superstar expectations, but players like Citron, Iriafen, Malonga, Jackson, Reese and Cardoso are not far behind in shaping what the next era of the WNBA looks like.