WNBA announces Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride as winner of 2026 WNBA Cares Community Assist Award

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The WNBA announced on Nov. 5, 2026 that Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride is the recipient of the 2026 Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award, recognizing what the league described as her dedication to youth empowerment, mental health advocacy and building lasting community connections in Minneapolis. The league’s release ties the award to community efforts carried out throughout the 2026 season, including mentorship and in-person engagement connected to pediatric patient visits and back-to-school support.

According to the WNBA, McBride has emphasized emotional well-being and youth empowerment through mentorship and visits with pediatric patients during the 2026 season. A central part of the work highlighted by the league is McBride’s partnership with Washburn Center for Children, where the release says she has built relationships with children, families and staff since 2024. The WNBA also states that McBride’s public discussion of her own mental health journey has been part of her advocacy, with the stated goal of reducing stigma and underscoring the importance of early intervention and family-centered care.

In the league’s release, McBride said that “Minnesota has become home for me, and giving back to the people, families, and communities across this state is something I care deeply about.” She added that the support and sense of connection she receives from Minnesotans during games motivates her to show up with similar commitment off the court, and she described her approach to community work as consistent relationship-building rather than single events.

The WNBA said McBride was actively engaged in multiple community initiatives during the 2026 season, including specific programming in September. The league reported that McBride mentored eight middle school girls from Girl Scouts and the Hallie Q. Brown and Sabathani Community Centers, with discussions and activities focused on confidence, friendship and self-expression. The WNBA also said she visited pediatric patients and their families at Mayo Clinic Children’s, spending time beyond the scheduled visit.

The league further said McBride hosted the Washburn Center for Children at a Lynx game as part of the season’s community programming. In earlier summer activity described by the WNBA, McBride participated in back-to-school support with a seventh-grade student through a collaboration with Target to select $1,000 in school essentials. The release also says McBride welcomed a 12-year-old from Special Olympics Minnesota to the Jr. Lynx Dream Team, and that she shared leadership and perseverance lessons at the Lynx Changemakers Summit, encouraging attendees to use their influence to uplift others.

Additional community engagement described in the WNBA announcement included an in-person assessment from Sherri Green, Director of Critical Services at Sabathani Community Center. Green is quoted in the WNBA release saying the young women had “an absolute ball” at McBride’s event and that one participant described it as “super intimate,” like they were hanging out at home. Green’s comments, as presented by the league, emphasize the environment created by McBride and the idea that these experiences can create lasting memories and make participants feel seen, supported and valued.

The WNBA release also includes a statement from Lynx President of Business Operations Carley Knox, who is quoted by the league saying, “Community impact is not something she does, it is who she is.” The WNBA attributes the award selection to what it describes as a designated committee of WNBA and NBA leadership, which the league said selected McBride as the winner of the 2026 Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.

In recognition of McBride’s community commitment, the WNBA said it will donate a total of $20,000. The league stated that $10,000 will go to each of two nonprofits selected by McBride: Play Your Way! MN, which the WNBA described as providing athletic opportunities for kids, and Girl Scouts River Valleys, described by the league as helping girls grow through friendship, fun and fearless exploration.