The Athletic Tabs Reeve and Austin as WNBA's Top Coach and Most Improved
The short version
- The Athletic's panel named Shakira Austin (Washington) Most Improved Player and Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota) Coach of the Year.
- Jessica Shepard finished second in MIP voting; her 14.3/11.1/5.1 averages would be a first in WNBA history.
- Reeve edged Natalie Nakase (Golden State) and Sydney Johnson (Washington); all three received first-place votes.
- Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year picks are due Thursday, with MVP and All-WNBA teams on Friday.
- The WNBA playoffs open Sunday with Game 1 of the first round.
The Athletic's expert panel picked Minnesota's Cheryl Reeve as Coach of the Year and Washington's Shakira Austin as Most Improved Player for the 2026 WNBA season.
The Athletic has released its staff selections for two WNBA honors, naming Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin as Most Improved Player and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve as Coach of the Year. A four-writer panel — Annie Costabile, Brian Hamilton, Chantel Jennings and Sabreena Merchant — voted on the awards, with additional honors such as Rookie of the Year, MVP and All-WNBA teams scheduled for release later in the week.
Austin earned nine points in the balloting, finishing ahead of Dallas forward Jessica Shepard (eight) and Toronto's Marina Mabrey (seven). Now in her fifth season with the Mystics, Austin has posted career-best scoring, rebounding, assist and block averages while anchoring a Washington defense that ranks second in the league and has helped drive the club's return to the playoffs.
Shepard, in a much bigger role after joining the Wings, is averaging 14.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists over a career-high 31.7 minutes per game — a line that would make her the first WNBA player to average at least 10 points, 10 boards and five assists across a full season. Her 23 double-doubles rank second in the league behind Chicago's Angel Reese.
In the coaching vote, Reeve took nine points, followed by Golden State's Natalie Nakase (eight) and Washington's Sydney Johnson (seven), with each receiving at least one first-place nod. The writers credited Reeve for keeping Minnesota atop the standings despite free-agency losses and a long absence to start the year by MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier, while rookie guard Olivia Miles stepped in at point guard.
Nakase was recognized for building a top-two record and a consistent defensive identity with the expansion Valkyries, and Johnson drew praise for transforming a young Mystics roster into a winner. The playoff test the panel pointed to begins Sunday with Game 1 of the first round.
