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Bueckers Named Cornerstone, Aces Champ; Fever Valuation Soars

5/6/2026

28 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Bueckers Franchise Cornerstone

The GM survey named Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers franchise cornerstone with 33% of votes.
The poll tied Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson at 20%, although Clark played only 13 games in 2025 and averaged 16.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Indiana Fever’s valuation rose from $90 million in 2024 to $560 million in May 2026; Las Vegas Aces were voted 2026 champions with 40% of GM vote.

Summary

Coaches Vote

Cheryl Reeve of Minnesota was voted best head coach with 53% of coaches’ votes, best in-game adjustments with 50% and best offensive coaching with 33%.
Becky Hammon of Las Vegas led the vote for best manager/motivator, earning 43%.
Sandy Brondello of Toronto was named the new or relocated head coach expected to have the biggest impact, receiving 71% of votes.
Golden State was voted the best defensive team, capturing 50% of coaches’ choices.

Summary

Fever Misses Finals

Indiana Fever lost in overtime to the Las Vegas Aces, missing the 2025 WNBA Finals by one game.
Clark recorded 14 points, three rebounds, 15 assists and five steals in the 102-83 win while Bueckers added 21 points, then both posted 21 and 20 points in a 95-80 preseason loss to Dallas.
Analyst Rosalina Lee called the GM survey results “disrespect” toward Clark and the Fever, accusing the league of bias.

History

Historical Context

The WNBA began in 1996 under NBA ownership, debuting its eight original franchises—including the Charlotte Sting—in the 1997 season. NBC, announced as the league’s first national broadcaster on June 27 1996, aired the inaugural game on June 21 1997 before a crowd of 14,284 at the Forum. Early TV ratings and the parallel rise of the ABL reflected a surge in women’s basketball after the 1996 Olympic gold.

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Bueckers Franchise Cornerstone

The GM survey named Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers franchise cornerstone with 33% of votes.
The poll tied Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson at 20%, although Clark played only 13 games in 2025 and averaged 16.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Indiana Fever’s valuation rose from $90 million in 2024 to $560 million in May 2026; Las Vegas Aces were voted 2026 champions with 40% of GM vote.

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