awards and predictions

Photos of three players each focused and exclaiming in the middle of a basketball game

Locked On Women’s Basketball: WNBA award predictions

By The IX Basketball / August 21, 2025

Host Chelsea Leite talks with SB Nation’s Noa Dalzell about who might win some of the league’s biggest awards at the end of the season

Phoenix Mercury big wing Alyssa Thomas smiles while jogging towards teammate Satou Sabally, who is seen from behind, as both hold out their hands to dap each other up.

The Next’s 2025 WNBA preseason awards and predictions

By Emily Adler / May 16, 2025

MVP, Rookie of the Year, and off-the-wall questions asked and answered

Indiana center Aliyah Boston, the unanimous Rookie of the Year, stands on the court in front of two Fever teammates during pregame player introductions while surrounded by smoke.

The Next’s 2023 WNBA Awards: Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team

By Emily Adler / October 1, 2023

A shocking turn of events as Aliyah Boston sweeps the vote

A three-picture collage of the leading WNBA MVP vote-getters: on top-left, Breanna Stewart releases a deep jump shot over the outstretched arm of a defender; on the top-right, A'ja Wilson shoots a fadeaway jumper over a defender; on the bottom, Alyssa Thomas.

The Next’s 2023 WNBA Awards: MVP

By Emily Adler / September 25, 2023

Do you think they’ll cut the trophy in half horizontally or vertically?

A three-picture collage of the leading WNBA Most Improved Player vote-getters: on top, Jordin Canada dribbles past a Connecticut Sun defender who has fallen over; on the bottom-left, Satou Sabally drives baseline into the paint; on the bottom-right, Alanna Smith looks surprised.

The Next’s 2023 WNBA Awards: Most Improved Player

By Emily Adler / September 20, 2023

Jordin Canada takes the internal vote from The Next staff

A three-image collage of the WNBA's leading Coach of the Year candidates on their respective sidelines: Stephanie White, Latricia Trammell and Cheryl Reeve.

The Next’s 2023 WNBA awards: Coach of the Year

By Emily Adler / September 16, 2023

First-year Sun head coach Stephanie White takes home the hardware

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) shoots during a matchup of top WNBA awards candidates between the Connecticut Sun and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA on May 27, 2023.

The Next’s 2023 WNBA midseason awards

By Emily Adler / July 26, 2023

MVP, Coach of the Year up for grabs; ROY is Boston’s to lose

Seattle Storm big wing Breanna Stewart stands with her hands on her hips, photographed from a side angle.

The Next’s 2023 free agency projections, part 2: Unrestricted free agents

By Emily Adler / January 20, 2023

Where will Stewie sign? Our team predicts it all.

Two images side-by-side. On the left, Dallas Wings wing Marina Mabrey dribbles the ball up the court. On the right, Seattle off-ball guard Gabby Williams points ahead while running up the court as teammates celebrate on the Storm bench to her right and fans celebrate beyond the baseline in the background.

The Next’s 2023 free agency projections, part 1: Restricted free agents

By Emily Adler / January 19, 2023

Projecting Pancake Gustafson’s landing spot and much more

Four images of All-WNBA selections in a collage: on the top-left, a shot of Las Vegas point guard Kelsey Plum from behind, holding her follow-through as the ball falls through the hoop, with fans in the background celebrating but out of focus; on the top-right, Phoenix Mercury point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith drives from the key past Connecticut Sun combo guard Natisha Hiedeman, who is falling over towards her; on the bottom-left, Los Angeles Sparks big Nneka Ogwumike jogs up the court while pointing ahead; on the bottom-right, a shot of New York Liberty combo guard Sabrina Ionescu from behind, holding a finger up while looking out towards her teammates and Washington Mystics players

The Next’s 2022 WNBA Awards: All-WNBA

By Emily Adler / September 14, 2022

The Next’s official 2022 WNBA awards wrapping up with All-WNBA