With the All-Star break nearly upon us, we figured it was time to join the MVP discussion. Plenty of names have been thrown back and forth since before the season even started. This type of basketball debate is a true testament to the WNBA’s rise in popularity. Though we have to recognize that the WNBA award debates aren’t always purely focused on the hoops.

Every fan, media member, and casual watcher has their own pick for the MVP award. The MVP frontrunners for the WNBA 2026 season are players that make the biggest impact on their teams. They are the players that lead the team to winning results, even when it doesn’t seem likely to happen. These are the three players we think should be in the WNBA regular season MVP conversation!

Paige Bueckers

The Dallas Wings drafted Paige Bueckers as the #1 overall pick in 2025, which wasn’t at all surprising. Paige has been a bona fide star since her high school days, and she cemented her stardom by winning the NCAA National Championship with UConn. But her professional career got off to a rocky start with the Dallas Wings, finishing the season with 10 wins and 34 losses.

Even with an abysmal team performance, Bueckers shone, breaking multiple records and winning ROTY. Those same abysmal team performances are why we believe Bueckers should be the 2026 MVP frontrunner. The Wings are currently 4th in the league with 18 wins and 9 losses. The Wings added a couple of important pieces, including ROTY and DPOY favorite Azzi Fudd, who was the #1 draft pick. However, Bueckers is the undisputed team leader. The PG boasts 20.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 6.2 APG. The Wings are 18-7 with Bueckers, and 0-2 without her. That makes her one of the MVP frontrunners for the WNBA 2026 season.

A’ja Wilson

A’ja Wilson is one of those players that we’ve run out of superlatives for. Wilson is a 3x WNBA Champion, 4x WNBA MVP, 2x WNBA Finals MVP, and a 3x WNBA DPOY. Her resume is as impressive as her ability on the basketball court. She dominates the paint, leads her team, and she has even managed to add a 3-point shot to her repertoire. Wilson, with her 26.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 3.0 APG, is undoubtedly the Las Vegas Aces’ strongest weapon.

But she is one of the MVP frontrunners for the WNBA 2026 season for much more than that. The MVP signifies the Most Valuable Player, and there is no player more valuable to the Aces than Wilson. With her on the court, they look strong, dominant, and coherent. Without her, they look like they are struggling, which is worth noting because the Aces also have Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewel Lloyd on their team.

Kelsey Mitchell

The Indiana Fever is one of those teams that is often at the center of controversies in the WNBA. From the fans’ racism and CBA statements, to trade rumors, and even inappropriate behavior by staff, the Fever are famous for everything but basketball. But we’d be remiss not to point out Kelsey Mitchell’s magnificent season. She is by far the Fever’s best player, regardless of who is on the court.

Mitchell, who was the #2 overall pick in 2018, is balling out this season, with 23.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, and 2.7 APG. She is a pure scorer who puts the team on her back when the going gets tough. Her team is 17-10 in the win-loss column, putting them at #1 in the Eastern Conference. Media narratives will have you believe she should be the second scoring option, but the truth is, without Mitchell’s consistency, the Fever aren’t a playoff team. That is why she is one of the MVP frontrunners for the WNBA 2026 season.