The 2026 sports calendar closed with two high-profile award nights that celebrated both basketball excellence and achievement across a range of disciplines. In the women’s professional league, the WNBA unveiled its annual honors, while Sports Illustrated honored athletes from football, boxing, equestrian sport and more in its SI Awards ceremony.
Both events featured historic firsts, surprise upsets, and a handful of athletes who added another trophy to already impressive resumes. Below is a detailed look at the winners, the narratives that drove their votes, and the statistical milestones that set this year apart.
2026 WNBA awards: milestones and standout performances
The league’s awards ceremony began with a paradox: the Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year both came from the Minnesota Lynx, a team that had just endured an unprecedented first-round exit. The No. 1 seed fell to the No. 8 seed New York Liberty, marking the first time a top seed lost to an eight-seed in WNBA history.
Despite the playoff disappointment, Lynx guard Olivia Miles dominated the rookie conversation. Selected No. 2 8 points and six assists per game, breaking Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record with 790 points. Her performance earned a unanimous selection—making her only the sixth player ever to receive the honor without dissent.
Most improved and coaching accolades
Free-agent signing Jessica Shepard of the Dallas Wings captured the Most Improved Player award after leaping from 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season to a double-double average of 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Shepard also set a league-wide record with six triple-doubles and posted the second ever 20-20-10 game in WNBA history.
Long-time Lynx tactician Cheryl Reeve added a fifth Coach of the Year trophy, extending her own record and becoming the first coach in major North American professional sports to win the award five times. She navigated a roster stripped of six rotation players and a star forward sidelined by double-ankle surgery, still guiding the team to a league-best 33-11 record.
Defensive dominance and sixth-player impact
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese earned her first Defensive Player of the Year honor, leading the Dream to a third-best defensive rating (103.5). Reese ranked third in steals (1.8 per game), fourth in defensive rebounds (7.3), and topped the league in defensive win shares (3.4). The Dream’s opponents shot 6.4% lower true-shooting percentage when Reese was on the floor.
Golden State Valkyries reserve Janelle Salaün became the first player ever to win Sixth Player of the Year unanimously. Coming off the bench, she posted 12.7 points per game and a 39.2% three-point clip, shattering single-season reserve records for points (509), three-pointers made (93) and double-digit scoring games (27) in the expanded 44-game schedule.
MVP legacy and other honors
Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson captured her fifth MVP award, the first athlete to win the honor three years in a row. Wilson posted a 26.2-point, 9.4-rebound, 3.2-assist line with shooting splits of 52.7%/40.4%/86.4% and accumulated 3.4 defensive win shares.
Additional accolades included Cheryl Reeve’s first Executive of the Year nod and retired forward Nneka Ogwumike receiving her fifth Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. The All-Defensive teams featured three players each from the Dream and Valkyries, underscoring the depth of defensive talent across the league.
Sports Illustrated Awards 2026: a cross-sport celebration
The annual SI Awards gathered athletes, coaches and teams from a broad spectrum of Mexican and international sport. Seven categories were presented, each highlighting a different facet of achievement.
Spirit SI and momentous performances
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas shared the Spirit SI award with rising star Diana Flores recognizing their perseverance and inspirational impact. The award ceremony also honored footballers Scarlett Camberos and Alexis Vega with the Moment SI title for standout plays that captured national attention.
Coaching, team and legend recognitions
Coaching excellence was split between Antonio Mohamed and Efraín Juárez each receiving an Coach of the Year award for guiding their squads through challenging campaigns. The Team of the Year accolade went to an equestrian delegation comprising Andrés Azcárraga, Patricio Pasquel, Juan Manuel Cosío, Rafael David and Daniela García Nigaglioni, together with the women’s football club América Femenil.
Legends of Mexican sport were celebrated as well: former goalkeeper Jorge Campos and boxing icon Julio César Chávez received the Legend SI award, cementing their lasting influence.
Emerging talent and national sportsperson of the year
Newcomers Erick Portillo and Katia Itzel were named Revelation of the Year**, highlighting breakthrough performances in baseball and gymnastics, respectively. The coveted Mexico Sportsperson of the Year title was shared by diver Osmar Olvera and track star Gabriela Jaquez celebrating their international successes.
These recognitions illustrate the breadth of talent across Mexico’s sporting landscape, from traditional powerhouses like football and boxing to emerging disciplines such as diving and equestrian competition.
Together, the 2026 WNBA awards and the Sports Illustrated Awards underscore a year of record-breaking achievements, historic firsts, and the continued rise of athletes who inspire both on and off the court.
