WNBA, like any other league, isn’t one that’s won on paper or based on predictions, but when it comes from key front office members, it carries serious weight. The 2026 WNBA GM Survey is one such list that might not be a determining factor in the league’s positioning, but it offers a clear verdict on which team the league is leaning and how key players like A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers are expected to perform in the upcoming season, and how it will even fire up the MVP race of the season.

The survey, published on Tuesday, presents the opinions of general managers on major hot topics across the league ahead of its tip-off. Without delay, let’s start decoding where the teams and players stand according to the survey.

A’ja Wilson Emerges Hot Favorite for MVP as Caitlin Clark Trails Behind in Backcourt

The 2026 WNBA GM Survey encompassed a range of perspectives. On the one hand, it reinforced certain known constants, while on the other hand, it introduced a few major surprises for the fans. The MVP predictions, though, weren’t one of the surprises, as the managers rallied behind last year’s winner, A’ja Wilson. Wilson received an outright majority in this regard, earning over 60% of the votes. The complete rankings are as follows:

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces- 60%
2. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty- 27%
3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
4. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

With her prowess on both sides of the court, Wilson has made the league MVP truly her own, winning it 4 of the last 6 seasons. For instance, last season Wilson posted a double-double with 23.2 points per game and 10.2 rebounds, lending weight to the GMs’ survey predictions. Wilson’s prominence in the survey doesn’t end there; she was also named the league’s best center and forward.

For the forward position, Wilson got 47% of the backing, surpassing Napheesa Collier and Stewart again at 27% each. There’s no doubt that both Stewart and Collier are veterans and stand miles clear among the other frontcourt players in the league. But the impact that Wilson has had on the team’s results, and furthermore the success it translated to on the court, gives Wilson a bit more edge.

Similar to the center position, Wilson surpassed the likes of Jonquel Jones, Aliyah Boston, and Brionna Jones, clearly getting an outright 57% votes to emerge on top of the charts. Jones, who was second in the list, got around 21%, while Boston and Brionna earned 14% and 7%, respectively.

The survey’s results regarding the backcourt are where things get more interesting. Most would have thought a certain Caitlin Clark at the top of the point guard position. But as reality set in, it was Wilson’s teammate, Chelsea Gray, who took the stand by a handsome margin against CC. Here are the complete rankings:

1. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces- 73%
2. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever- 20%
3. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings- 7%

The voting for the shooting guard position went a bit more tight. In fact, the difference between the first and second-ranked players was just 7%. Jackie Young got the nod for the top spot, followed by Bueckers and Kelsey Mitchell.

1. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces- 27%
2. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings- 20%
3. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever- 13%
4. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty- 13%
5. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream- 13%

Dallas Wings’ Offseason Moves Help Them Dominate WNBA GM Survey as Angel Reese earns top place after Atlanta move

The Dallas Wings have been on a roll in the offseason and, more specifically, in free agency. Coming off a dismal 10-34 season, the Wings were looking at a rebuilding phase. And the offseason has done just that for them. They have brought in players like Alanna Smith to improve their defense, an area where they were among the worst last season (defensive rating of 109.9).

Furthermore, the Wings have also roped in Jessica Shepard and Azzi Fudd to improve their offensive output and strengthen the team around Paige Bueckers, making them one of the best teams in this free agency. The GM survey reflects that as well, placing them at the top of the list for best offseason moves and most improved team. Here are the complete rankings from the survey:

Best offseason moves:

1. Dallas Wings- 47%
2. Atlanta Dream- 33%
3. Chicago Sky
4. Las Vegas Aces
5. New York Liberty

Most Improved Team:

1. Dallas Wings- 67%
2. Chicago Sky- 20%
3. Los Angeles- 13%

On similar lines, Angel Reese created a stir in the community as well through her move to the Atlanta Dream. It definitely is a surprise that only a few could have imagined. But from Atlanta’s perspective, it’s one of the most valued additions to the roster. After all, adding a two-time WNBA rebounding leader definitely raises the team’s ceiling immensely. As a result, ChiBarbie has found herself in two probes in the survey questionnaire.

Player Acquisition Who Will Make The Biggest Impact:

1. Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream- 27%
2. Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries- 27%
3. Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks- 20%
4. Satou Sabally, New York Liberty- 13%

Most Surprising Move In the Offseason:

1. Satou Sabally to NY Liberty- 23%
2. Angel Reese to Atlanta Dream- 15%
3. Alanna Smith to Dallas Wings- 15%

Seattle and Minnesota Rookies Lead Rookie Prospects Race

The WNBA’s offseason isn’t just about free agency and signing veteran players. It’s also about the WNBA Draft, where teams sign young talent and develop them into franchise faces. The 2026 WNBA GM Survey trends showcase that the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm might have hit the bullseye in this regard, as their draftees, Awa Fam and Olivia Miles, headline the list.

Predictions for WNBA Rookie of the Year 2026:

1. Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx- 73%
2. Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings- 20%
3. Flau’jae Johnson, Seattle Storm- 7%

Best Rookie Player in Five Years:

1. Awa Fam, Seattle Storm- 67%
2. Olivia Miles- 33%

Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings Take Top Spots in Major Team Metrics

The WNBA GM Survey has clearly voted the Dallas Wings as the most exciting team to watch out for in the 2026 season. After all, it’s quite certain that if a team has players like Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Arike Ogunbowale, the anticipation around it will build up automatically. Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever take the next two spots, mainly because of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.

Teams that will be most fun to watch:

1. Dallas Wings- 36%
2. Atlanta Dream- 29%
3. Indiana Fever- 29%
4. Golden State Valkyries- 7%

On the other hand, the Golden State Valkyries are poised to be the defensive team this season. It isn’t a surprise, given that the best perimeter defender as per the survey, Gabby Williams (60% of the votes), also plays for them, while also having players like Veronica Burton. Here are the rankings:

1. Golden State- 50%
2. Atlanta Dream- 36%
3. Indiana Fever- 7%
4. Minnesota Lynx- 7%

Las Vegas Aces Emerge as the Winner of WNBA 2026 as Per GM Survey Predictions

If there were any major doubts about the Aces’ title defense this season, the GM survey has diminished them to some extent. According to the survey, Las Vegas, led by A’ja Wilson, is sitting at the top with a significant percentage of winning the Championship this season. Here are the complete rankings:

1. Las Vegas Aces- 40%
2. New York Liberty- 33%
3. Atlanta Dream- 27%

And if there were any doubts about the main reason for this, the survey answers that too. As per the survey stats mentioned earlier, the Aces already have the best front-court player in Wilson, as well as the best guards in Wilson and Young. As a result, there’s no major weak link in the team. Furthermore, the survey also establishes that most of the GMs feel that the Aces also have the most clutch players in the league- Gray and Wilson.

On top of that, Wilson is also at the top of the charts as the league’s best leader (79% of the votes) and its standout defensive player (53%), covering everything it generally takes to win a Championship.

The league’s predictions and expert opinions are on the drawing board. Now, it’s just a matter of a few months before we reach a conclusion on whether these predictions actually come to life. For now, the festivities of the 30th edition of the WNBA are approaching as the league commences on May 8.