WNBA names top All-Rookie Team candidates ahead of season finale, highlighting 10 players

With only a week remaining in the regular season, the WNBA released a lookahead for its end-of-season awards debate, focusing on the five spots on the WNBA All-Rookie Team. The league said the regular season resumes on Thursday and framed its candidate breakdown with stats and rankings through games played before the FIBA break, which began on Aug. 31. The WNBA listed 10 players in alphabetical order as candidates, spanning lottery picks, first-rounders, second-rounders, and undrafted rookies.

Among the candidates is Pauline Astier of the New York Liberty, described by the league as a France product who made an immediate scoring impact in her early games and has started 35 contests. The WNBA also highlighted Lauren Betts of the Washington Mystics, a 6-foot-7 center selected fourth overall out of UCLA, crediting her with leading all rookies in total blocks and ranking highly in total rebounds. Seattle Storm rookie Awa Fam was identified as the league’s youngest player, with the WNBA citing her standing among rookies in rebounds, blocks, steals, and scoring.

Dallas Wings lottery pick Azzi Fudd was included despite a season-ending arthroscopic surgery on her right knee after 30 games. The WNBA noted her pre-sidelining production, including leading all rookies in 3-pointers made and ranking among the leaders in steals and blocks per game. The Seattle Storm’s Flau’jae Johnson was also featured as part of a young core, with the WNBA stating she leads all rookies in steals and ranks among the top rookie players in points and rebounds per game.

Toronto Tempo’s Laura Juskaite was highlighted as an international newcomer, while the Connecticut Sun’s Charlisse Leger-Walker was included after a second-round selection at No. 18. Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles was positioned by the WNBA as a central figure in the Rookie of the Year conversation, and the league also featured Toronto’s Kiki Rice, as well as Chicago Sky rookie Sydney Taylor, who the WNBA said made history with multiple game-winning shots in the final moments of games.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk