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WNBA Survey Picks Aces Champ, Bueckers GM Cornerstone

5/6/2026

Summary

Bueckers Cornerstone

WNBA general managers voted Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers the franchise cornerstone with 33% of votes.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark placed second with 20%, tied with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray won best point guard (73%) and A’ja Wilson captured 60% of MVP votes.
Survey predicted the Las Vegas Aces to win the 2026 championship (40%) and named Dallas most improved (67%).

Summary

Boston’s Record Deal

The 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement added two developmental roster spots, which GMs called the biggest roster-construction adjustment.
The league expanded to 15 teams with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, adding over 50 roster slots.
Indiana forward Aliyah Boston signed the largest total-value contract in WNBA history as player salaries surged dramatically.
Betting markets list the Indiana Fever at +450 and Caitlin Clark as MVP favorite at +245 on DraftKings.

History

Historical Context

The WNBA launched in 1997 with eight teams after the 1996 Olympic gold-medal win sparked a surge in women’s basketball. Decades of growth led to the 2025 expansion fee of $115 million for the Toronto Tempo and $125 million for the Portland Fire, bringing the league to 15 teams in 2026 and setting the stage for further expansion.

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Bueckers Cornerstone

WNBA general managers voted Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers the franchise cornerstone with 33% of votes.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark placed second with 20%, tied with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray won best point guard (73%) and A’ja Wilson captured 60% of MVP votes.
Survey predicted the Las Vegas Aces to win the 2026 championship (40%) and named Dallas most improved (67%).

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