A’ja Wilson is putting up WNBA-best numbers right now, and halfway through the 2026 season, she’s the undisputed frontrunner for MVP. Forget the usual grand debates about what “Most Valuable Player” even means. Is it just raw stats like points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks? Or are we talking advanced metrics, like gravity or net rating? Maybe team quality plays a role? For years, the discussion has raged on, with no real consensus. But when it comes to who deserves the hardware, the answer has become almost a broken record: A’ja Wilson.
The Reigning Queen Isn’t Giving Up Her Crown
Seriously, don’t take Wilson for granted. We’ve seen her do this before, over and over again. She’s the back-to-back MVP winner from 2020 and 2022. Her incredible reign has only been briefly interrupted by Breanna Stewart in 2023 and Jonquel Jones in 2021. This woman is a four-time MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and has three rings on her fingers. And guess what? She’s still the frontrunner for 2026. Right now, she’s averaging a staggering 25.5 points per game, which is the absolute best in the WNBA. She’s also pulling down 9.8 rebounds per game, good for third in the league. On defense, she’s swatting away a league-best 2.0 blocks per game and snagging 1.5 steals every single contest. Her plus-minus is an insane +167, with only two other players even close to that scoring margin during their time on the floor. Add her scoring, her rim protection, her all-around impact, and the fact that Las Vegas is just 1.5 games out of the No. 1 spot, and you have to ask: who’s stopping her?
But Wait, There’s A Rookie Shaking Things Up
Just when you think you know the whole story, here comes some serious new blood. This decade has given us some truly incredible rookies, players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, who stepped onto the professional stage and just went off. They all dominated from day one. But what Olivia Miles is doing in her rookie campaign? That’s different. She doesn’t just stand alone as the best rookie in the WNBA, she’s making a strong, legitimate case for being the best player in the entire league, period. Miles is averaging 19.3 points per game and doing it with crazy efficiency, hitting 50.5 percent of her shots. Teams are throwing everything they’ve got at her defensively, but it barely seems to matter. She’s just that good.
So, here we are, at the halfway point of the season. A’ja Wilson is doing what she always does, staking her claim for a third-straight MVP. But this time, she’s got a phenomenal rookie in Olivia Miles pushing the conversation. The WNBA MVP trophy is still very much on the table, and it’s going to be a wild ride to see who gets crowned queen.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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