The 2026 WNBA rookie class has made quite an impression in its first season, and six players now have another reason to celebrate. The league announced its All-Rookie Team on Instagram, with Pauline Astier, Azzi Fudd, Flau’jae Johnson, Olivia Miles, Kiki Rice, and Sydney Taylor earning spots. The announcement also caught the attention of Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello and Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins, who liked the post.

“2026 WNBA All-Rookie Team 🏀,” the WNBA wrote in its Instagram post, naming Astier of the New York Liberty, Fudd of the Dallas Wings, Johnson of the Seattle Storm, Miles of the Minnesota Lynx, Rice of the Toronto Tempo, and Taylor of the Chicago Sky.

The six-player selection came down to a tie in media voting. Rice and Astier finished level for the final spot, so both made the team. It’s not the first time the WNBA has had to expand its All-Rookie Team following a tie. The same situation occurred in 2008, when Matee Ajavon and Amber Holt shared the final spot, and again in 2015, when Natalie Achonwa and Ana Dabović were both selected.

Miles arguably had the most impressive rookie campaign of the group. Selected second overall, the Minnesota Lynx guard averaged 19.8 points and 6.0 assists across 40 games, starting every one of them. Her production also helped Minnesota finish as the top seed with a 33-11 record. Miles went on to win Rookie of the Year unanimously, collecting all 74 first-place votes from the media panel. She also set a new rookie scoring record with 790 points, surpassing the previous mark held by Caitlin Clark.

Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick, also made her mark in Dallas. The Wings guard averaged 13.1 points per game while shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc. She reached a combined 50 steals and blocks in just 18 games, becoming the fastest guard to hit that mark, and knocked down six three-pointers in a single game to set a Wings rookie record. Fudd also won the All-Star Weekend 3-Point Contest, becoming the first rookie to claim the title in WNBA history. Her season was cut short after 30 games because of a knee injury, but her early performances were enough to earn her a place among the league’s top newcomers.

Johnson took a different route to her rookie season after being traded to Seattle by the Golden State Valkyries on draft night. The eighth overall pick averaged 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 42 games. She also rewrote several Seattle rookie records, finishing with 626 points, 58 steals, and 60 three-pointers. Johnson recorded six 25-point games as well, giving the Storm plenty to be excited about as she continues to develop.

Taylor’s inclusion is another standout story. The undrafted rookie earned a spot with Chicago and made the most of her opportunity, averaging 13.6 points across 37 games. Her 71 three-pointers were the most by any rookie this season, while her 504 total points set a new record for an undrafted WNBA rookie. What began as a training camp opportunity turned into one of the more productive debut seasons in the class.

Astier and Rice complete the six-player lineup, each bringing a different story to the team. Astier entered the league undrafted and averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds for New York. She was also highly efficient, recording a 63.5% true shooting percentage to set a WNBA rookie record among players with at least 200 shot attempts.

Rice, meanwhile, was selected sixth overall by the expansion Toronto Tempo. An ankle injury kept her out for roughly two months, but she returned to average 13.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. She scored in double figures in 21 of her 28 appearances and became the first Tempo player to earn All-Rookie Team honors.

These honors bring attention to the next generation of WNBA talent. This rookie class’s mix of record-breaking performances, top picks, and undrafted success stories makes them a group worth watching as their careers unfold.