Newcomer Impact Shakes Up the 2026 WNBA Season

Five games into the 2026 season, the Las Vegas Aces’ free-agent signing Chennedy Carter has become the league’s most impactful newcomer. She averages a career-high 19.4 points on 67.2 % shooting and set a record with 97 points off the bench in her first five games. Olivia Miles, the Minnesota Lynx rookie guard, posted 15.5 points, 5.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 47.8 % and ranking seventh in league assists. Across the league, Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo) logged 18.5 points per game on 40 % three-point shooting, and rookie guard Kelsey Sykes (Toronto) posted a league-tied fourth-best 24.3 points per game. The newcomer impact rankings compiled by ESPN list these players among the ten most consequential additions.

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The rankings reflect a free-agency period that saw the Aces acquire Carter, the Lynx rely on Miles after losing five top scorers, and the expansion Toronto Tempo secure Mabrey with a two-year, $2.4 million contract. The list excludes Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson, who suffered an ACL tear, underscoring the depth of talent entering the league.

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• Chennedy Carter (Las Vegas Aces, guard) – 19.4 PPG, 67.2 % FG, 2.0 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG; 97 points in first five games (record).

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• Olivia Miles (Minnesota Lynx, guard) – 15.5 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.3 RPG, 47.8 % FG; only rookie in top-21 overall.

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• Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo, guard) – 18.5 PPG, 40 % 3P, 7.5 attempts per game; 12th in league scoring.

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• Kelsey Sykes (Toronto Tempo, guard) – 24.3 PPG, 2.8 SPG, 20.5 efficiency rating, 4.5 APG.

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• Jovana Nogic (Phoenix Mercury, forward) – 16.0 PPG, 51.6 % FG, 65 % 3P, 80.4 TS%; first Mercury rookie to score 25+ points and hit five threes since 2004.

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Coach Becky Hammon praised Carter’s scoring freedom, noting the team “lets her be herself” while working on defensive fundamentals. The Lynx front office highlighted Miles as “the only rookie in the top-21,” emphasizing her role in stabilizing a roster that lost key scorers. Toronto’s management described Mabrey as a “core player” whose contract reflects the franchise’s commitment to immediate competitiveness. Phoenix’s coaching staff cited Nogic’s “green light” to lead the offense as a catalyst for the Mercury’s early success.

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Carter’s off-court demeanor has drawn scrutiny; she exited a post-game media session early and has been described as “wearing her emotions on her sleeve.” Critics argue that such volatility could affect team chemistry, especially in high-pressure playoff scenarios.

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No contradictory statistics appear among the sources. The rankings omit injured players like Rickea Jackson, leaving a gap in assessing the full impact of potential returnees later in the season.

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• “I'm just thankful that I have a team that has embraced me and allowed me to be me. It's felt comfortable. It doesn't feel forced. It just feels right.” — Chennedy Carter, Guard, Las Vegas Aces

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• “The points, you can't get past the points. She's a bucket. ... I don't give her a lot of structure offensively.” — Becky Hammon, Head Coach, Las Vegas Aces

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• “For me, I am ready to kind of unlock everything,” — Marina Mabrey, Guard, Toronto Tempo

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• “Here, I'm getting to do what I want to do, which is score the ball, but also play both ends of the floor,” — Kelsey Sykes, Guard, Toronto Tempo

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• “You're relying on everyone playing together and fighting for each other.” — Williams, Forward, Phoenix Mercury

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The Aces, Lynx, Tempo and Mercury will each face playoff-bound opponents in the coming weeks. Continued performance from these newcomers will be pivotal in determining seeding and could reshape championship narratives as the season progresses.

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