WNBA General Managers Project Aces Dominance and Bueckers as Cornerstone Ahead of 30th Season
In the 2026 General Manager Survey, the Las Vegas Aces topped 17 of 42 questions, with A'ja Wilson named the projected MVP and best leader, while Olivia Miles secured the Rookie of the Year award.
The Women's National Basketball Association has released its 21st General Manager Survey, a comprehensive assessment conducted ahead of the league's 30th season. The results, compiled from a panel of general managers, indicate a clear institutional preference for the Las Vegas Aces, who topped 17 of the 42 questions posed across the league. This dominance underscores the league's projection that the Aces are the most likely team to win the 2026 WNBA Finals, edging out New York and Atlanta in the voting.
At the centre of this institutional confidence is A'ja Wilson, who was named the projected WNBA MVP. Wilson's influence extends beyond scoring, as she was voted the best forward, best centre, and best leader by the general managers. Her leadership rating was particularly high, securing 79 per cent of the vote. The survey also identified her as the player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments, reflecting her perceived impact on game strategy and defensive schemes.
In a significant shift in franchise valuation, Paige Bueckers was voted the franchise cornerstone over Caitlin Clark. Bueckers secured 33 per cent of the vote in this category, while Clark received 20 per cent. This outcome marks a departure from the previous year, when Clark was named the player general managers most wanted to build a franchise. Clark, who played in only 13 games during the 2025 season due to soft-tissue injuries, did not top any of the individual position categories in this year's survey.
The survey also highlighted the performance of Chelsea Gray, who was named the best point guard with 73 per cent of the vote. Gray further impressed the panel by receiving half the votes for the active player who would make the best head coach someday, as well as all but one vote for best passer and best basketball IQ. Becky Hammon was named the best manager or motivator of people, though she narrowly missed the best head coach title, which went to Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx.
Regarding team dynamics and market perception, Las Vegas and New York were voted to play in the Commissioner's Cup championship game. Dallas was selected as the most fun to watch, the team that made the best overall moves in the offseason, and the most improved in 2026. Atlanta's acquisition of Angel Reese was tied with the Detroit Wings' signing of DiJonai Carrington as the player acquisition making the biggest impact, while New York's free agent signing of Satou Sabally was voted the most surprising move of the offseason.
Finally, the panel projected Olivia Miles as the winner of the Rookie of the Year award. Miles, the second overall pick to Minnesota, received 73 per cent of the vote, or 11 of the 15 cast. The survey notes that percentages are based on the pool of respondents for each question, meaning general managers were not required to vote in every category. The results serve as a strategic guide for the league's upcoming 30th season, reflecting the collective institutional view of the current roster landscape.
