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WNBA award season delivered a historic collection of results Sunday, with A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and Olivia Miles leading the Associated Press’ annual honors. The announcements arrived as the league’s postseason began, adding another major storyline to an already compelling playoff race.
Historic WNBA Awards Put Wilson in a Class of Her Own
Wilson won the AP WNBA Player of the Year award for the third consecutive season, receiving 15 of 17 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Las Vegas Aces star defeated Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles, along with Indiana Fever teammates Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
The honor is Wilson’s fourth overall AP Player of the Year award, moving her past Breanna Stewart for the most since the award was first introduced in 2016. Wilson acknowledged the significance of the achievement while emphasizing the depth of talent across the league.
“It’s big. It’s an honor for me to do it three times in a row. It’s not easy,” Wilson said, according to the Associated Press. “My counterparts in this league are really good. I don’t take it lightly because of how much talent we do have in this league.”
Wilson’s statistical season explained why she remained the leading candidate. She topped the league in scoring at 26.2 points per game, shot 52.7% from the field and averaged 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 blocks. She is also considered a strong favorite for the WNBA’s official Most Valuable Player award, which will be announced during the playoffs.
Angel Reese Claims a Breakthrough Defensive Honor
Angel Reese ended Wilson’s recent dominance in the defensive category by earning AP Defensive Player of the Year honors. Wilson had won the award in three of the previous four seasons, but Reese’s outstanding campaign made her a deserving challenger.
After moving to the Atlanta Dream during the offseason, Reese continued to establish herself as one of the league’s most physical and versatile defenders. She ranked third in the WNBA in steals and regularly guarded players across multiple positions. She also led the league in rebounding for the third consecutive season.
Reese’s award marks an important step in her rapid development. Her defensive impact helped Atlanta remain competitive while her rebounding and interior presence made her one of the most difficult matchups in the league.
Olivia Miles Makes Immediate History
Miles was selected as the AP Rookie of the Year by unanimous vote after an exceptional debut campaign with the Minnesota Lynx. The No. 2 pick averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, helping Minnesota finish with the league’s best record.
Miles also set a WNBA record for points by a rookie, surpassing the mark Caitlin Clark established in 2024. Her combination of scoring, playmaking and poise quickly made her one of the league’s most influential young stars.
She was joined on the AP All-Rookie Team by Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings, Sydney Taylor of the Chicago Sky, Flau’jae Johnson of the Seattle Storm, Pauline Astier of the New York Liberty and Kiki Rice of the Toronto Tempo.
Clark, Reeve and Other Major AP Winners
Caitlin Clark earned Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a difficult injury-marred 2025 season. The Indiana Fever guard appeared in 40 games and averaged 22.3 points, 8.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds, providing a powerful reminder of her influence on the league.
Cheryl Reeve won Coach of the Year for the third time. She guided Minnesota to the top seed despite the team missing superstar Napheesa Collier for the first half of the season while Collier recovered from offseason surgery on both ankles.
- Most Improved Player: Jessica Shepard, who averaged career highs of 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists for Dallas.
- Sixth Woman of the Year: Janelle Salaun of the Golden State Valkyries, who averaged 12.7 points and 4.0 rebounds off the bench.
- AP All-WNBA First Team: A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Olivia Miles, Kelsey Mitchell and Breanna Stewart.
- AP All-WNBA Second Team: Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, Paige Bueckers, Jackie Young and Gabby Williams.
Why These WNBA Honors Matter
The awards highlight the league’s balance between established superstars and a new generation of difference-makers. Wilson remains the standard for elite two-way production, while Reese has emerged as a defensive force. Miles’ record-setting rookie season and Clark’s comeback further demonstrate the WNBA’s expanding talent pool.
With the playoffs underway, these honors could shape the postseason narrative. Wilson is chasing another championship with Las Vegas, Reese and Atlanta are looking to make a deep run, and Minnesota enters the bracket with the league’s best regular-season record and a confident young star at the center of its attack.
Who won the AP WNBA Player of the Year award?
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces won the award for the third consecutive season. It was her fourth overall AP Player of the Year honor.
What award did Angel Reese win?
Angel Reese was named the AP Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in rebounding and ranking third in steals.
Who was named AP Rookie of the Year?
Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx was the unanimous AP Rookie of the Year. She averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Which WNBA player won Comeback Player of the Year?
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark won Comeback Player of the Year after averaging 22.3 points and 8.3 assists in 40 games.
