ESPN has announced the nominees for the 2026 ESPYS for the best WNBA player. The featured names come as no surprise, as the list includes Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury), and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces).

A’ja Wilson: She is the reigning MVP and the only four-time MVP in WNBA history. No wonder she found her name in the mix. She finished the 2025 regular season at 23.4 points per game and 2.3 blocks per game. She was second in rebounds at 10.2 per game, and fourth in steals per game at 1.6.

She also won the championship with the Las Vegas Aces last year. The Aces are in the fray for the best team as well.

Napheesa Collier: Then, there is Napheesa Collier, who dominated the league, emerging as an elite two-way threat- scoring efficiently and providing elite rim defense. She became the first player in WNBA history to average over 20 points per game while achieving a 50/40/90 shooting efficiency profile (53.1% FG, 40.3% 3PT, 90.6% FT).

Off-season injuries have meant that she has yet to feature this season. But the Lynx are doing fine even without her, notably due to the impressive performances of rookie Olivia Miles, who has taken some of the playmaking burden.

Alyssa Thomas: The Phoenix Mercury made the WNBA Finals on the back of Alyssa Thomas’ stunning display. Her passing became an elite weapon for Phoenix, as she broke the single-season WNBA assist record by dishing out 9.2 assists per game in the regular season last year. She finished the regular season with 15.4 PTS and 8.8 REB.

Her scoring output increased in the postseason to keep Phoenix alive through some hard-fought playoff series against the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. This Herculean effort, however, was not enough, as Mercury were swept 0-4 in the Finals.

Allisha Gray: She enjoyed a historic season of her own. Her elite shooting accuracy and effectiveness from beyond the arc were instrumental for Atlanta in making the playoffs last year. She averaged 18.4 PTS, 5.3 REB, and 3.5 AST per game last season.

A’ja Wilson is chasing history of her own

A’ja Wilson will look to become only the seventh athlete to win the ‘Best Athlete’ award multiple times. Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin is also in the fray for the same feat as Wilson this year.

Wilson became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win the regular season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, a scoring title, and the Finals MVP in the same season. Shiffrin became the first athlete ever to reach 100 World Cup victories. So, it is going to be a tough battle.

Top celebrities from sports and entertainment will gather to honor all the nominees and winners at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in New York City. The event will be live on ABC and also stream on the ESPN App.