The 2026 WNBA GM Survey has the Las Vegas Aces favored to repeat as champions with 40% of the vote, ahead of the New York Liberty (33%) and Atlanta Dream (27%).
The defending champion Las Vegas Aces are the favorites to repeat as WNBA champions, according to the league's 2026 GM Survey, which was released ahead of the regular season. Forty percent of general managers picked Las Vegas to win the 2026 title.
The New York Liberty received 33% of the vote, and the Atlanta Dream received the remaining 27%.
Las Vegas re-signed A'ja Wilson, the only four-time MVP in league history, to a multi-year extension during the offseason. Wilson won 2025 league MVP and Finals MVP honors. The Aces also added Chennedy Carter, Stephanie Talbot, and Brianna Turner. Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd all return from the 2025 championship team, along with NaLyssa Smith and Dana Evans.
Head coach Becky Hammon finished second in the best-coach voting, according to the survey. Las Vegas added Nola Henry to its coaching staff during the offseason. The Aces won 16 straight games to close the 2025 regular season and entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed before sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in a four-game Finals series. Wilson averaged 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4 assists in the championship round.
The Liberty re-signed Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones, and acquired Satou Sabally. GMs called the Sabally addition the most surprising offseason move. Stewart, a two-time MVP, played in 70.5% of games last season because of a right knee injury and underwent an arthroscopic procedure in March. The Liberty will play under new head coach Chris DeMarco in 2026.
Ionescu sustained an injury in the team's preseason finale and was scheduled for an MRI. The Liberty have not provided an updated status.
The Atlanta Dream finished with 30 wins last season. The team traded for Angel Reese during the offseason and will be without Brionna Jones, who is recovering from knee surgery on an unspecified timeline. Atlanta's frontcourt rotation includes Reese, Naz Hillmon, and rookie Madina Okot. Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada lead the perimeter group.
The Minnesota Lynx, who finished 34-10 last season, did not receive a first-place vote in the Finals category. Forward Napheesa Collier is recovering from ankle surgery and is not expected to return until June. Bridget Carleton departed for the Portland Fire in the expansion draft.
Las Vegas opens the regular season Saturday against the Phoenix Mercury at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC in a rematch of the 2025 Finals. The matchup is part of opening weekend for the league's 30th season.
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