The Minnesota Lynx, who made WNBA history by becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 8 seed in the first round of the playoffs, are somehow still racking up major hardware, and it is a wild ride of irony. Awards season has officially hit the WNBA, and while the Lynx had a historic early exit, their talent is undeniably recognized.
Historic Wins, Ironic Exits: The Lynx Story
It all kicked off with Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, absolutely dominating the Rookie of the Year vote. She was unanimous, only the sixth player ever to pull that off, putting her in some elite company with legends like Candace Parker and A’ja Wilson. Miles wasn’t just good, she was incredible, leading all rookies with 19.8 points and six assists per game. That also put her eighth in the league in scoring and seventh in assists. Oh, and she broke Caitlin Clark’s rookie points record, dropping a staggering 790 points. She led the Lynx to a 33-11 record and the top seed in the playoffs, which makes their first-round exit to the New York Liberty even crazier.
And then there’s Cheryl Reeve, who somehow just won Coach of the Year for the Lynx. Think about this: her team lost six rotation players from last season, and star forward Napheesa Collier was sidelined until late July after undergoing double ankle surgery. Yet, Reeve still guided the Lynx to that 33-11 record and the No. 1 seed. The irony of winning Coach of the Year after leading the first No. 1 seed ever to lose to a No. 8 seed in the first round is almost too much. It just shows how incredible that regular season performance must have been to overcome so many obstacles.
The Dallas Wings Got an Absolute Bargain with Jessica Shepard
While the Lynx were cleaning up, the Dallas Wings snagged a massive win with Jessica Shepard earning Most Improved Player. This woman signed a two-year, $2 million deal in free agency, and let me tell you, she immediately justified every single penny. Stepping into a full-time starter role for the first time in her career, Shepard went off. She jumped from averaging eight points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists last season to a ridiculous 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this year.
Shepard finished second in the entire league in rebounding and 11th in assists. She was one of only two players, along with Angel Reese, to average a double-double, which is just insane. She also led the league with six triple-doubles and recorded only the second 20-20-10 game in WNBA history. She beat out Shakira Austin and Carla Leite in what was apparently a close race, but frankly, with those numbers, how was it even close? Her contract was an absolute steal for the Wings, and she proved it big time.
Angel Reese and What’s Still to Come
Rounding out the early awards, Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream was named Defensive Player of the Year, a first-time honor for her. That’s a huge moment for the Dream, signaling a serious force on that end of the floor.
This is only the beginning for WNBA awards season. We are still waiting for the biggest prizes, including MVP and Sixth Player of the Year. Plus, we’ve got the All-WNBA, All-Defensive, and All-Rookie Teams still to be announced, along with Executive of the Year and the Sportsmanship Award. The league hasn’t even told us when those are coming, so we’re all just on pins and needles. It’s going to be wild to see who else gets recognized for their incredible seasons.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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