WNBA Players Who Could Break Out This Season

Each year, some players in the WNBA unexpectedly make significant strides in their performance.

Take Veronica Barton, for example. She transitioned from being a seldom-used bench player in Connecticut to becoming the standout of the Golden State Valkyries last year, jumping from an average of 3.1 points and 1.9 assists per game in 2024 to 11.9 points and six assists in 2025. At just 25, Barton earned the title of the WNBA’s Most Improved Player.

It’s common to see players truly shine in their third or fourth seasons. Before Barton, DeJonai Carrington received the Most Improved Player award in 2024 during her fourth year. Though breakthroughs can occur early or late in a career. It’s intriguing how unpredictable this can be.

So, here are my thoughts on who might take a big leap in the upcoming 2026 WNBA season.

1. Rikea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

Rikea Jackson, drafted fourth overall in 2024, is now in her third season with the Sparks. Her rookie season was quite solid, averaging 13.4 points with a shooting percentage of 45.6. Last year, she upped her scoring to about 14.7 points, although her shooting efficiency dipped a bit.

Jackson had to adapt to two different coaches and systems in her first couple of years, yet she consistently showcased her scoring skills. Although her start was a little slow, she ended strong with an average of 15.9 points and a shooting rate of 47.6% (with 40.7% from three). If she can start connecting more on her 3-pointers, she might just become one of the top scorers in the league. In the last ten games of the previous season, she was the 13th leading scorer overall and third for players 25 and under. That’s pretty impressive!

2. Dominic Malonga, Seattle Storm

Dominic Malonga didn’t see much court time at the beginning of her rookie season with the Seattle Storm. Yet, she averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in around 14.3 minutes per game.

As the second overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, she performed notably well in the postseason, scoring 8.7 points and gathering 8.7 rebounds over 22.4 minutes in three games against A’ja Wilson and the Aces. Currently, Malonga is the sole rotation player under contract for next season, which means Seattle will likely center their strategy around her. The status of veteran players like Nneka Ogwumike and Skyler Diggins is still up in the air, making this even more interesting.

Malonga managed to stay healthy, playing in 42 of 44 games, and showed consistent progress throughout the year. After the All-Star break, she scored in double figures in 11 games, which is quite a leap from just two before.

3. Carla Leite, Golden State Valkyries

I’m keeping an eye on Carla Leite as a potential breakout player. At just 21, she’s one of the youngest in the league and one of only two players on the Valkyries who aren’t heading into free agency this offseason. The other is Kate Martin, a promising third-year player.

Last season, Leite averaged 7.2 points and two assists per game, displaying a strong knack for finishing plays near the basket with an impressive 66% success rate in the restricted area. Interestingly, she was ranked as the fourth most efficient isolation player in the league, right behind some big names. Yet, her jump shot has held her back—scoring only 17.3% from three-point range and 29.2% from 16 feet to the arc. But she does have a solid 84% success rate at the free-throw line, so there are definitely foundational skills to build upon.

Predicting who will break out is never easy, but for now, I think Rikea Jackson, Dominic Malonga, and Carla Leite have the potential to make significant advancements this coming season.