Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson have had MVP-worthy 2026 WNBA campaigns. They have their respective teams in good positions to make deep runs in the playoffs.
However, one standout rookie on the Minnesota Lynx, Olivia Miles, is making a strong MVP run of her own, catching the attention of former NFL star Dez Bryant.
NFL Legend Dez Bryant Backs Olivia Miles for 2026 WNBA MVP
Minnesota took Miles with the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, and she has certainly lived up to the lofty expectations that come with this draft slot. The 23-year-old averages 19.9 points, 6.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals this season. She already earned her first All-Star selection, likely the first of many in the years to come.
The Lynx took down the Golden State Valkyries, 77-66, on August 19 to move to a WNBA best-30-7 record. Miles led her team with a smooth 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, adding seven assists, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
She splashed a side-step triple over Veronica Burton with the shot clock winding down before halftime. Bryant quote-tweeted the highlight with a simple message.
“MVP…MVP…MVP,” he wrote.
MVP…MVP…MVP https://t.co/2dosLZVzI5
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 20, 2026
While this prestigious award honors individuals, voters often take into account the team record. Miles and her teammates have put her in a prime position with a four-game lead over the Valkyries for the No. 1 seed. Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Natasha Howard, and Courtney Williams are putting together great seasons of their own as well.
Along with Miles, all five women average over 14.0 points per game. Collier, who already established herself as one of the best players in the league, has four seasons under her belt with a top-five MVP finish. She knows a thing or two about shining in the spotlight as a mentor to the rookie star.
A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark Also Have Strong Arguments
So how does Miles’ candidacy stack up against Wilson and Clark? These two women actually carry some statistical advantages over Miles, but they do not share the same level of team success.
Wilson averages 26.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.1 blocks. The three-time champion made the All-Star team in her rookie season, like Miles, and has dominated the league ever since.
Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces sit fourth in the league at 24-13. They hit a rough patch recently, going 5-5 in their last 10 games compared to the Lynx’s 9-1. If Las Vegas finds its groove over the last seven contests, Wilson could give herself an edge in this tight MVP race.
Clark puts up 22.1 points, 8.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds this season. She has earned an All-Star selection in each of her first three seasons, living up to the lofty expectations when the Indiana Fever took her with the No. 1 pick in 2024.
Indiana owns the No. 3 seed with a 24-12 record and caught fire recently, going 8-2 in its last 10 contests. Clark and Kelsey Mitchell arguably form the best scoring backcourt in the WNBA, while Aliyah Boston holds down the paint. This star trio leads the best offense in the league with a 115.8 offensive rating.
The Fever will close the campaign with back-to-back games against the Lynx. Miles and Clark’s performances in these contests could shape voters’ decisions in this tight 2026 MVP race.
