Olivia Miles wins unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year

Dream rookie Madina Okot was too shy for trash talk — so Angel Reese stepped up.

Olivia Miles wins 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year

Lynx star Olivia Miles made her mark, winning 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year by unanimous vote after leading No. 1 Minnesota to a 33-11 regular-season record.

• Miles is just the sixth unanimous ROY in league history, joining Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, Elena Delle Donne, Tina Charles, and Candace Parker.

• “I really owe it to all my vets,” Miles said. “You guys have allowed me to be me since day one, and I seriously am cherishing these moments.” (See full clip)

Taking stock: Miles swept all four regular-season Rookie of the Month awards en route to her first WNBA playoffs campaign.

• She became the fastest player to reach 500 points and 150 assists, posting a rookie-record six games with 20+ points while shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line.

• “I have gone through a lot with my knee injury, just some tough, tough years in college, so this means a lot,” Miles continued. (See full release)

Angel Reese picks up AP defensive nod

Angel Reese is hitting new heights, taking home this week’s AP Defensive Player of the Year award in just her first year in Atlanta.

• Reese succeeded Las Vegas’s four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, finishing third in steals while sitting atop the league in rebounds for the third straight season.

• She joined other fellow AP honorees Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles (Minnesota), Most Improved Player Jessica Shepard (Dallas), and Sixth Woman of the Year winner Janelle Salaün (Golden State), and Comeback Player of the Year Caitlin Clark (Indiana). (See full list)

Cleaning up: Wilson didn’t go unnoticed, as the AP named her the WNBA Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.

• Eyeing a fifth MVP award, Wilson led the league in scoring with 26.2 points per game, while averaging 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 blocks.

• “My counterparts in this league are really good,” she told the AP. “I don't take it lightly because of how much talent we do have.” (See full report)

Atlanta unveils NWSL branding

Atlanta is ready for kick-off, as NWSL expansion side Atlanta City FC announced its official name and branding on Monday ahead of a planned 2028 debut.

• The crest features a phoenix surrounded by a dogwood blossom representing unity, with a hidden “A” tying the concept to the city.

• “Atlanta City FC reflects the energy, diversity, and ambition that define this community, and we are proud to build a club that belongs to Atlanta and represents its future on the national stage,” said club Chief Business Officer Deandra Duggans. (See full release)

Big picture: Backed by US Soccer donor Arthur Blank, Atlanta City will join the NWSL in 2028 alongside a yet-to-be-named club in Columbus, Ohio.

• The red- and Georgia peach-hued team will not adopt current NWSL side Angel City’s ACFC acronym, instead choosing ATL CTY as its call sign.

• “Our supporters are at the heart of everything we do, and their energy and belief will shape the soul of this club,” said Blank.

Catch up on the latest women’s soccer headlines, as an all-new The Late Sub presented by Ally Bank dishes up host Claire Watkins’s hottest takes on all things USWNT, NWSL, Champions League, and more.

• The USWNT roster announcement is just around the corner, and Ashley Sanchez is making it impossible for Emma Hayes to ignore her.

• In the episode, Claire breaks down why Sanchez has earned another call-up, which NWSL stars deserve a shot against Spain, and if Hayes needs to rethink her player pool ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Tune in: Catch The Late Sub with Claire Watkins on YouTube.

Ally Bank, Member FDIC.

Cheryl Reeve wins record fifth Coach of the Year

Cheryl Reeve is rewriting the record books, as Minnesota coach won WNBA Coach of the Year for a record fifth time this week — marking the most COTY selections in US pro sports history. 

• Reeve tallied 40 national media panel votes, finishing ahead of Golden State’s Natalie Nakase (20) and Washington’s Sydney Johnson (14), after guiding the Lynx to a league-best 33-11 record and the No. 1 playoff seed.

• The honor caps another milestone season, as the 60-year-old also became the WNBA’s all-time winningest coach in July before capping the year with 397 career victories. (See full report)

Up next: Reeve now chases a record-tying fifth league title, as Minnesota looks to bounce back on the road after dropping Game 1 to No. 8 New York on Sunday.

Alex Eala cruises into Asian Games QFs

Alexandra Eala is making a run in Japan, as the Filipina phenom opened the 2026 Asian Games with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej to book a quarterfinal berth.

• The world No. 18 seized control early, racing to a 4-0 lead in each set and winning 15 first-serve points to her opponent’s two in the opener, before rain delays forced the match indoors.

• Eala now faces Chinese Taipei’s No. 8 seed Joanna Garland in the quarterfinals, as she moves within one win of a bronze medal and three of gold. (See full recap)

Big picture: Eala withdrew from the China Open to represent the Philippines in Aichi-Nagoya, risking both a fine and WTA rankings drop. (See full report)

Quote of the day

Proud dad Yakubu Miles
on flying in to present his daughter Olivia with the WNBA Rookie of the Year award.