Olivia Miles is having one of the greatest rookie seasons in W history. She is already an MVP candidate. Meanwhile in Dallas, first overall pick Azzi Fudd was a stellar 3-and-D role player before injuries cut her debut season short. These two are rightfully sharing the spotlight, but they’re not the only notable players in this draft class. With plenty of other rookies doing excellent things for their team, let’s take a moment to spotlight some of the other worthy names in this draft class.
1. Sydney Taylor, Chicago Sky
It’s almost a shame that Sydney Taylor’s rookie year had to be part of such an exceptional draft class. If it weren’t for Miles, she would be a contender for Rookie of the Year as an undrafted player. The last time a player who wasn’t the first overall player chosen won was Michaela Onyenwere in 2021. The last time an undrafted player won ROTY was never. Her underdog story is impossible not to root for. She graduated in 2024 and didn’t find a WNBA roster spot until this year, but her grit and focus have made her the heart of a team that otherwise feels somewhat aimless and confused.
Taylor is a badly needed bright spot for a fanbase that recently said goodbye to Angel Reese and lost Rickea Jackson’s season to injury. While she may not be the most consistent player in the league, she makes up for it with intangibles that I would wager come from the experience of working your way from the bottom to a starting role in the WNBA. No matter how she’s shooting on a given day, she is always the player you want to take the big shot. She has ice in her veins and has already hit multiple game-winners from deep.
2. Flau’jae Johnson, Seattle Storm
Golden State might be kicking themselves for letting this flashy rookie go. She complements Seattle’s potentially generational frontcourt with a well-rounded game, averaging 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals. Efficiency is a growth area for sure, but she’s an effective starter and a fun watch. The Storm were able to acquire her for the 16th pick and a 2028 second-rounder. In retrospect, this is a steal.
Johnson is exactly the kind of young player you want for an up-and-coming era of a franchise. She’s very talented with room to grow, and she projects personality on and off the court. Attitude is a real difference-maker, especially for young teams. She’s also a multihyphenate, making genuinely very enjoyable hip-hop on the side.
3. Kiki Rice, Toronto Tempo
Toronto’s abysmal injury luck did not miss Kiki Rice, who missed months of her rookie season. The time she spent on the court was very promising, however. Rice is a crafty guard gifted at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. She’s had to shoulder a lot of responsibility for the always injury-riddled Tempo, and she’s responded well to the challenge. She averages 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 49/37/87 shooting splits. Of the record-breaking six players drafted from UCLA’s national championship team this year, she’s shined the brightest so far.
4. Pauline Astier, New York Liberty
Another undrafted rookie, French guard Pauline Astier has been a huge find for the Liberty this year. She has played the third-most minutes in total on the team, trailing only Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart. She’s played an important role in these minutes as the starting point guard for this playoff team. Her scoring is hot and cold, but her playmaking and efficiency (and health) have made her a steady presence for a team in a volatile season.
5. Awa Fam, Seattle Storm
While Awa Fam is not yet as strong a player as the others on the list, she’s several years younger than all of them. The rookie from Spain, who turned 20 this summer, has plenty of time to catch up. Yes, her handles, decision-making, and overall consistency are not fully there, but the upside she has shown is sensational. With a 6’8 wingspan and a gorgeous 3-point shot, her potential is through the roof. Even now, when she gets on a heater, it’s impossible to stop. The Storm are not a dangerous team in 2026, but pretty soon her name is going to be feared around the league.
Lightning Round
Because this is such a strong rookie class, I want to speed through a few more rookie names you’re going to want to remember for years to come. Maria Conde and Laura Juskaite are two older rookies from Europe who both deserve credit for their contributions to Sandy Brondello’s Tempo. Kiki Rice isn’t the only UCLA rookie shining in the WNBA; Lauren Betts has shown great promise despite being limited in minutes by the positional logjam on the Mystics, and it’s been overlooked because the Connecticut Sun are no good, but Charlisse Leger-Walker has been really heating up lately. Finally, Minnesota’s Emma Cechova and Phoenix’s Jovana Nogić both ended their seasons early due to a torn ACL and personal reasons, respectively. They both showed enormous promise in their short season and are worth keeping an eye out for when they return to their team next season.
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