WNBA MVP Rankings: Early Season Insights

As we find ourselves nearly a month into the WNBA season, it’s that time—time to unveil the first MVP rankings. A couple of things to note before diving in: team performance matters a lot. So, if your favorite player’s squad is struggling, chances are they’re not going to feature here. For this initial round-up, we’ve left out players who aren’t currently on playoff-bound teams. This means no love for Kelsey Plumb, for instance.

This list isn’t a definitive ranking of the league’s elite. Instead, it reflects individual contributions up to this point in the season and how they’ve influenced team success. Some usual MVP contenders, like Alyssa Thomas, find themselves absent owing to their team’s difficulties (the Phoenix Mercury, for instance, currently sit at 3-8).

Having cleared that up, let’s get to the rankings.

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 24.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, TS rate 60.1%

A’ja Wilson might not be making headlines this season like in years past, but she’s just doing what she does best: dominating both ends of the court for a successful team. With a league-leading scoring average of 24.8 points and 2.6 blocks per game, her shooting efficiency also shines—she boasts a 51.9% field goal percentage and a solid 55.6% on 3-on-2 attempts. The Aces are sitting pretty in 3rd place with 6 wins to 3 losses; who knows, another MVP could be in her future.

Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

Team record: 8-2
2026 stats: 17 points, 6.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, TS rate 62.4%

Olivia Miles has surprised everyone this season. The rookie sensation is emerging as one of the league’s top playmakers, dishing out 6.4 assists per game, ranking seventh overall. She’s finding her scoring rhythm too, averaging 17 points per game, placing her 15th in the league. Her shooting efficiency stands out—no one on this list showcases better true shooting.

What really bolsters her MVP candidacy is the Lynx’s performance despite losing star Napheesa Collier to injury. With new players like Bridget Carleton and Alana Smith joining, they’ve still managed to dominate, and Miles has been central to that success.

Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 18.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, TS rate 59.9%

The Wings share a 6-3 record, tied with the Atlanta Dream and Aces as one of the best in the league, thanks in large part to Bueckers. She’s averaging 18.3 points and 3.7 assists, enjoying a shooting success rate of 49.2% from the field and a notable 42.5% from beyond the arc.

The team has had several contributors—like Arike Ogunbowale and Jessica Shepherd—but if you’re looking for the driving force behind their good start, Bueckers is the clear choice.

Alisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, TS rate 55.6%

The Dream are currently one of the league’s top teams, with Gray and Rhyne Howard forming a formidable duo. Gray, who made the All-WNBA First Team last year, ranks as the league’s third top scorer so far this season.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Team record: 5-4
2026 stats: 19.8 points, 8.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, TS rate 54.9%

Clark is off to a solid start, averaging 19.8 points (fourth in the league) and 8.1 assists (the highest). However, her shooting efficiency—ranked below her standards—has drawn some criticism. She is still a player with significant playmaking ability and presence.

Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 17.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.8 steals, TS rate 57.9%

Howard has been vital for the Dream, and while she may be overshadowed by Gray, she’s a force on defense. For her to truly rise as one of the league’s elite, she’ll need to find greater consistency. After an explosive game with 36 points, she followed up with just eight points two days later.

Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Team record: 5-4
2026 stats: 21.1 points, 2.4 assists, TS rate 59.6%

This is a tough call—Mitchell or Clark, who’s more crucial to the Fever’s success? With Mitchell boasting an average of 21.2 points per game, the edge is perhaps slightly in her favor. The 30-year-old guard has also improved her shooting percentages from last year, hitting 48.6% from the field and 37.5% from three-point distance, along with a 59.6% true shooting percentage.

Brianna Stewart, New York Liberty

Team record: 6-4
2026 stats: 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, TS rate 54.6%

After a rocky start for the Liberty with a 3-4 record, they have now clinched three consecutive wins, tying them with the Valkyrie for the fifth-best record. Stewart has been their leading player, with averages of 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds. Yet, there are reasons holding her back from a higher spot on this list—her team’s overall underperformance and her struggles from three-point territory, where she’s hitting only 18.8%, haven’t gone unnoticed.

Veronica Barton, Golden State Valkyries

Team record: 6-4
2026 stats: 13.6 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, TS rate 55.3%

Barton may not have the standout credentials of others on this list, but as the point guard for the Valkyries, she has been crucial on both ends of the court, making a significant impact in their season thus far.