The WNBA's 25 Under 25 rankings for 2026 are out, and it's clear that the league is brimming with young talent. But who are the players to watch, and what makes them so exciting? Let's dive in and explore the future stars of the WNBA, with a heavy dose of personal commentary and analysis.
The Top Contenders
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever: Clark remains the standard-bearer for this list, even after an injury-plagued 2025 season. Her shooting range, passing, and ability to bend defenses give her the highest offensive ceiling in the league. Personally, I think her MVP potential is real, and if she gets a full, healthy season, she could be right back in the conversation by the end of 2026.
Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings: Bueckers already looks like a franchise player. She was polished, efficient, and productive as a rookie, and Dallas gave her the ball right away. What makes this particularly fascinating is that she's only going to get better. Her skill level, pace, and shot-making all scream future perennial All-Star.
Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics: Citron moves up because her game already feels incredibly easy to trust. She has size, a clean shooting stroke, defensive toughness, and the ability to fit next to almost anyone. In my opinion, she could be viewed as the best two-way player in Washington's young core and one of the safest long-term building blocks in the league.
The Rising Stars
Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever: Boston is already more than a traditional post player. She can score inside, pass out of pressure, rebound, and help organize Indiana's half-court offense. If the Fever take another step forward, Boston's efficiency and playmaking from the frontcourt will be a major reason why.
Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics: Iriafen's rookie season gave Washington another foundational piece. She rebounds, runs the floor, and has the face-up game to keep expanding as a scorer. What many people don't realize is that she's only going to get more comfortable and touches, and she has a real chance to be viewed as one of the best young forwards in the WNBA by season's end.
The Underrated
Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm: Malonga's ranking is about upside as much as production. At 6-6 with rare movement skills, she has the type of physical tools teams dream about in a modern frontcourt player. Seattle doesn't need to rush her into being a star, but if the development curve hits, she could be one of the biggest risers on this list.
Rickea Jackson, Chicago Sky: Jackson gets the edge here because of her shot-creation upside. She already has one of the more polished scoring packages among the league's young wings, with the ability to create in the midrange, attack mismatches, and generate offense when a possession breaks down.
The Rookies to Watch
Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream: Reese is already one of the most dominant rebounders in basketball, and that gives her a very high floor. Moving to Atlanta should give her a fresh setup and a chance to impact winning in a new way.
Flau'jae Johnson, Seattle Storm: Johnson enters the WNBA with pro-ready athleticism and a big-game personality. Seattle targeted her for a reason. Her downhill scoring, energy, and defensive tools make her one of the most interesting rookies in the class.
The Long-Term Bets
- Awa Fam, Seattle Storm: Fam is one of the most intriguing long-term bets in the 2026 rookie class. She is young, big, and already has high-level international experience. Seattle may not need to rush her, especially with Malonga also developing in the frontcourt, but Fam's physical profile gives her major upside.
The Underrated Rookies
Kiki Rice, Toronto Tempo: Rice gets the benefit of opportunity here. As a top pick for a new franchise, she should have room to play through mistakes and grow into a leadership role. Her pace, decision-making, and pedigree make her one of the most interesting rookie guards in the league.
Janelle Salaün, Golden State Valkyries: Salaün was one of the better rookie stories of 2025. She earned All-Rookie recognition and gave Golden State size, shooting, and versatility on the wing. If the efficiency keeps improving, she could become a tough matchup piece for years.
The Veterans
NaLyssa Smith, Las Vegas Aces: Smith's role changed in Las Vegas, but she still has the talent to be more than a complementary frontcourt piece. She runs, rebounds, and can finish around the basket. On a veteran-heavy team, her challenge is turning minutes into impact without needing plays called for her.
Carla Leite, Portland Fire: Leite sneaks onto the list because of her guard skill and opportunity in Portland. She showed flashes as a rookie and now lands with an expansion team that should be willing to develop young talent. If she becomes more efficient, she could be one of the better value pieces from this group.
Honorable Mentions
A few names just missed the cut, including Jacy Sheldon, Saniya Rivers, Gabriela Jaquez, Iyana Martin Carrion, Raven Johnson, Cotie McMahon, and Juste Jocyte. Some are rookies who may need a year to settle in, while others already have clear WNBA roles but slightly less upside than the players ranked above.
The league's young talent pool is deeper than ever, and by the end of the 2026 season, this list could look very different. Clark and Bueckers are already carrying superstar expectations, but players like Citron, Iriafen, Malonga, Jackson, Reese, and Cardoso are not far behind in shaping what the next era of the WNBA looks like.
