The 25 best WNBA players entering the 2026 season

Williams joins her third WNBA club following a career-defining campaign in her seventh season in the league. With Seattle, Williams averaged career highs of 11.6 points, 4.2 assists, and a WNBA-leading 2.3 steals. A member of the WNBA All-Defensive first team, Williams was also named a first-team league All-Star in 2025. Now, she takes her act to the Bay Area, where the Valkyries look to build on their special inaugural season that resulted in a playoff berth.

Another standout veteran defender -- and overall performer -- who is coming off her first All-Star nod from 2025, while starring for Washington and Seattle. A two-time, first-team member of the WNBA All-Defensive squad, Sykes begins year 10 playing for her third team in less than a year. Sykes, who averages 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and nearly 3.0 assists, at least to start, will be the face of the expansion Tempo. 

Ogunbowale is a four-time WNBA All-Star, and has averaged 19.9 points during her seven-year career -- all with the Wings. However, she no longer needs to carry the franchise as Paige Bueckers, and now Azzi Fudd, provides some overall potent talent that takes the pressure off Ogunbowale. Perhaps the streakiest shooter in the league, Ogunbowale looks to improve on last season, when she shot a career-low 36.4 percent and also averaged the lowest points (15.5) of her career.

Hamby has gone from dependable and lauded sixth woman to a three-time All-Star (2021, '22, '24) since breaking into the league in 2015. In 2025, Hamby was still playing at a high level -- career-best, to be specific. In her third season with the Sparks, Hamby averaged personal highs of 18.4 points and shot 57.2 percent from the field. Hamby has started all 84 games she's played over the past two seasons.  

It's been a stilted start to Reese's WNBA career. While among the game's best rebounders, averaging 13.1 (league record) and 12.6 boards in her first two seasons, respectively, her ability to adapt to adversity might be questioned. Reese is already on her second team after being dealt to the Dream in the league's biggest offseason move. She didn't seem happy in Chicago, but already has a more talented cast to work with in Atlanta. That said, it will be interesting to see how the two-time All-Star and WNBA rebounding leader meshes with her new club.

Rumors swirled for years that Chicago wanted Diggins in the fold. It finally happened, and though she's entering her 12th WNBA season, Diggins is still one of the league's best overall players. Coming off her seventh All-Star nod, Diggins played and started a career-high 43 games last season with Seattle and averaged 15.5 points. However, Diggins' most noted worth in 2026 should be the leadership she'll provide for a revamped Sky roster. 

No player who entered the 2026 season has made more career 3-pointers than McBride's 772. The consummate professional, McBride is a five-time All-Star and dependable scorer. Though even as she enters her 13th WNBA campaign, McBride remains a well-rounded threat. In 2025, she matched career highs with 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game for a Lynx squad that hopes to remain among the league's best.

Part of the Liberty's "Big 3," Jones has been inconsistent in scoring and shooting during her three seasons in New York. However, she helped the Liberty win a championship in 2024, when she was the WNBA Finals MVP, and she remains one of the most versatile post players in the game. The key for Jones in 2026 would be to remain healthy after missing 13 games during the '25 regular season and being banged up during the playoffs. 

Boston has been named an All-Star in each of her three seasons in the league, yet there still seems to be an underappreciated stigma around her overall game. Maybe because she has some high-profile teammates to share the limelight. Regardless, Boston is as steady as they come, and last season she averaged a career-high 15.0 points. A leg injury has dogged Boston during the preseason, but she appears ready to continue their successful career as one of the top bigs in the WNBA. 

Smarting from an early playoff exit in 2025, the Liberty went out and added to their riches through the addition of Sabally. A three-time All-Star, Sabally has averaged 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during her five seasons with Dallas and one in Phoenix. Now, it will be interesting to see how Sabally fares, both statistically and in terms of cohesiveness, on a team full of stars and under plenty of pressure to regain its place as one of the WNBA's elite. 

Howard might be one of the best defensive players in the league, but her offensive contributions should not be overlooked. She's averaged 17.1 points during her four WNBA seasons while establishing herself as one of the great overall performers, whose dependability cannot be overstated. The Dream has some lofty expectations in 2026, and Howard must be at the forefront of them to be achieved. 

Following two rather solid seasons in Seattle, the 10-time All-Star is back with the Sparks, where her stellar pro career began in 2012. And, she's still got it. Ogwumike's 18.3 points per game in 2025 are the fourth-best effort amid her 14 seasons. The immediate task for the respected veteran is to help the Sparks end a five-year playoff drought, and, on paper, she might have equally talented teammates to make that happen.

Sticking with the Sparks, Plum enjoyed one of her best seasons in her first year with L.A. in 2025, averaging 19.5 points and career highs of 5.7 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. However, a return to the playoffs is a focus for the Sparks. If Plum continues to play and lead at a high level, teammed with the return of Ogwumike and a healthy Cameron Brink, then Los Angeles has a serious chance of ending the postseason drought.

Often lost among the bevy of bigger names on the Aces roster, Grey remains an invaluable piece for the three-time WNBA champions. She's coming off a fourth All-Star selection and continues to do the little things that help teams win championships. On a career that officially began on the court in 2015, Gray has averaged nearly 12 points and more than 5 assists. 

Mitchell looks to build on a third consecutive All-Star season in which she set a personal best in scoring average at 20.2. She's one-half of one of the best backcourt tandems in the league, but is more than capable of carrying a team on her own. However, Mitchell hopes that won't be the case as long as the Fever's even more high-profile performer can stay healthy. There also might not be a more exciting player to watch in the "W" than Mitchell. 

Yes, Indiana's other star is Clark, who should have a chip on her shoulder after being limited to 13 games in her second season of 2025 due to injuries. There's no doubt Clark remains one of the biggest player attractions in the WNBA. But, the Fever need her to stay on the court, especially if they want to seriously challenge for a league title. Following a stellar, record-setting rookie campaign, Clark still averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in '25.

In a recent poll of WNBA general managers, Bueckers was named the player who would be selected first when starting a franchise. That's pretty impressive considering the track record of many on this list. However, Bueckers easily won WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2025 for averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals -- all among the top 10 in their respective statistical categories. What can she do for an encore? Will we see? But, Bueckers has Azzi Fudd as a running mate -- once again -- for a Dream squad that hopes for a special season.

When it comes to clutch performers and players who shine when the lights are brightest, look no further than Copper. A four-time All-Star, Copper's WNBA legacy, when it's all written, might be for her work in the playoffs, where she's averaged 17.0 points on 47.3-percent shooting in 36 such contests. Copper helped the Mercury to a rather surprising run to the WNBA Finals this season, yet it still seems she's an underrated commodity.

The Dream have upgraded their roster with hopes of taking the next step in bringing the franchise a WNBA title. However, Gray remains the heart and soul of the club, and is coming off a 2025 where she set career highs in averaging 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Gray has been in the league for nine seasons, but she's found her groove in Atlanta, where she's been an All-Star each of her three campaigns. Is a title next on her resume?

Injuries hindered Ionescu last season, and she's reportedly set to miss at least two weeks of the 2026 campaign due to an ankle issue. Sure, the Liberty have plenty of talent to survive that early period without Ionescu, who still averaged 18.2 points. Her shooting percentage might be down, and turnover average is up, but Ionescu's floor leadership is a value the Liberty can't be without for too long.

Young continues to elevate her game and is coming off a third All-Star selection in the last four years. She's averaged at least 15.9 points each season during that stretch, including 16.5 a year ago. Young was even better during the 2025 postseason, when she averaged 20.4 points on 49.4 percent shooting. If WNBA fans have not realized it by now, Young is one of the game's true stars and should be recognized more for her overall effort. 

Stewart seems determined and focused on helping return New York to prominence in 2026. Like teammate Ionescu, Stewart missed significant time due to injury last season, when her four-year run of averaging at least 20.0 points ended (18.3 ppg), but she played a rather grueling yet successful offseason schedule with Unrivaled and the EuroLeague. Among the elite overall players in the game, Stewart is coming off her seventh WNBA All-Star nod and has also been a first- or second-team All-Defensive selection seven times.

Is there anything Thomas can't do? After 11 seasons starring for Connecticut, Thomas thrived with the Mercury in 2025, averaging 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and career-best 9.2 assists (WNBA single-season record 357) to finish third in the league MVP voting. That talent, and her seemingly undervalued presence as a floor leader, helped Phoenix reach the WNBA Finals. It might be a tall ask for the Mercury to make a similar run, but Thomas has settled in nicely and could be even better in 2026. 

Plenty of eyes will be on Collier as she tries to get back into form from recovery from that brutal ankle injury suffered during the WNBA semifinals. When she'll actually take the court remains uncertain, though reports suggest some point in June. That injury was the beginning of the end of the Lynx's playoff run, and halted a stellar 2025 for Collier, who averaged a career-high 22.9 points, while also shooting a personal-best 53.1 from the field. Collier was also named a first-team member of the WNBA All-Defensive team. 

No surprise here. Wilson is still the best women's player on the planet and is coming off a 2025 season where she averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks to win her fourth WNBA MVP. Oh yeah, she was also named Finals MVP as the Aces won their third title. Las Vegas is again the preseason favorite to repeat, and as long as Wilson stays healthy, that could remain the case as she continues her dominance in the league.