If you are a fan of the WNBA and you have been distracted by the controversy that has lately surrounded the league, the playoff picture is officially in place. Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas, New York, Indiana, Washington, Minnesota and the Valkyries are officially the playoff contenders.

As the heavyweights and the underdogs get ready to enter the postseason shortly after the 2026 FIBA World Cup break, they will need their stars to justify the money and the converging camera focus.

However, there are players on the team that don’t make the list of top players on any team, but these role players are extremely important for any team’s success. Their impact on defense and offense is barely seen on the stat board, including the dirty work they do on the board.

So, here are some of the most important role players on each playoff team that nobody is paying attention to.

Most important role players on every playoff team

• Atlanta Dream, Jordin Canada

Jordin Canada’s stat line is perhaps the most obvious indicator of her importance on the Atlanta Dream. The WNBA averages 11.5 points, 7.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. The Dream point guard fills a lot of gaps for the Dream with her presence, including one at the scoring end. 

She is Atlanta’s best ball handler, and one of the best in the league. Not only does she make the game easy for her teammates, but Atlanta’s offensive turnovers also decrease by 3.2% with Canada on the court.

Moreover, she is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. With her on the court, Atlanta forces 6.5% more turnovers. The top three steal leaders in the league are from the Dream. Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese force 2.4 and 1.8 turnovers per game, respectively.

• Dallas Wings, Awak Kuier

If you are watching Awak Kuier on the scoring end, it would be hard to judge her impact on the Dallas Wings. She is a menace on defense. In the last five games, she has averaged 3.8 blocks per game, including a game with seven blocks. Kuier is basically the Wings’ wall against opponents’ paint scoring.

The Wings are 6.2 points better on the defensive end. With Azzi Fudd now out for the season, the Wings’ defense is basically compromised. This increases defensive responsibility on every player, including Awak Kuier. Still, Kuier protects their paint proudly wearing the tag of the best defender on the team.

• Golden State Valkyries, Kiah Stokes

Kiah Stokes’ defensive numbers are simply elite, possessing the lowest defensive field goal percentage (40.8%) in the entire league. She is also among the top two players in the league as a screener defender when the Valkyries execute pick-and-roll.

The Valkyries are the prime example of an elite team because of teamwork, and Stokes is an important part of that chemistry. 

However, it is Stokes’ offense that makes head coach Natalie Nakase’s job a tricky one. With Stokes in the lineup, the Valkyries’ offense takes a big hit (-15.6 points). But without her, their defense suffers, both in rebounding and blocks.

• Indiana Fever, Makayla Timpson

Head coach Stephanie White made a midseason adjustment, putting Makayla Timpson in the starting lineup, replacing Monique Billings. Since then, the Fever have posted a net rating of +28. Perhaps that should summarise Timpson’s importance for the Fever. 

The Fever already possess the best offense in the lineup, but their top two offensive stars, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, are defensive liabilities. Timpson’s presence becomes even more important. 

With Timpson on the floor, opponents’ shooting goes down by 15% in the paint, and a similar trend happens at midrange. She is athletic and can make short-range shots that don’t make her a liability on the offense.

• Las Vegas Aces, NaLyssa Smith

Smith is an integral part of the Aces in their back-to-back title hopes, and last year was the ultimate testament to that. Becky Hammon was constantly on Smith’s back because she knew how important her forward was for her.

When the Aces faced a tough semifinal series against the Indiana Fever, she delivered. Smith had 18 and 16 points in back-to-back games, helping the Aces win the series and eventually the title.

This season, she is averaging 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and shooting 63.8% from the field. The Aces starter is not just another scoring option for Las Vegas. Smith provides physicality to the Aces and an excellent defense that they would certainly need in the postseason.

However, Smith went down with a knee injury in the last game against the Toronto Tempo. The Aces are yet to provide any update on her injury, but if is serious, Las Vegas could be in a lot of trouble.

• Minnesota Lynx, Nia Coffey

Nia Coffey played most of her 2026 season as a starter before Napheesa Collier came back from injury. However, it would be foolish to downplay Coffey’s importance to the Lynx. 

Yes, Collier remains their defensive anchor, but Coffey’s importance exponentially increases when Collier is not on the court. She is an excellent shot-blocker, averaging 1.1 blocks this season. 

The Lynx will need Coffey for defensive rebounding, an end they have always struggled with this season against physical teams. Opponents’ offensive rebounding falls by nearly 5% when Coffey takes Collier’s place in the lineup. 

The Lynx are already by far the best team in the league, yet again this year. Perhaps Coffey is one of the pieces that addresses their past mistakes in the playoffs.

• New York Liberty, Leonie Fiebich

Satou Sabally’s absence has already put the Liberty in a very vulnerable position this season. But even if Sabally were healthy, Leonie Fiebich would still be their second most important piece. 

The German forward gives New York an edge on multiple fronts. She is a decent contributor on offense, averaging 10.7 points per game. She is also one of the best shooters on the Liberty team, making 44.6% of her 3-point shots. 

However, it is her defensive presence that is irreplaceable. Fiebich possesses a massive wingspan that is highly important for the Liberty’s perimeter defense. With Breanna Stewart and Fiebich, the Liberty makes it almost impossible for any team to make entry or skip passes. With Fiebich, the Liberty’s 3-point defense improves by 8.8%.

She has played only 15 games this season because of injury but should be available for the playoffs.

• Washington Mystics, Michaela Onyenwere

While the Mystics are in the postseason, they have a 3-point problem that significantly elevates Michaela Onyenwere’s importance on the team. They are the worst 3-point shooting team in the entire league. Their only hope comes from Onyenwere’s 41.3% shooting. 

Her presence also impacts the overall Mystics’ offense, as the team records an increased 4.5% true shooting with her on the court. 

The Mystics forward has been exceptional in her role and excelled as an offensive rebounder. With her on the court, Washington’s offensive rebounds jump by 4.5%. Moreover, Onyenwere also impacts the team’s scoring similarly. With her, the Mystics post +11 points, a substantive swing for any player’s caliber.

The stars may grab the headlines, but the playoffs could be decided by the players doing the dirty work. These overlooked role players might be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.