2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Best Bets, Favorites & Predictions

Chris Vasile - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Chris Vasile • Betting Analyst 13+ years betting experience
Updated: Jun 2, 2026 , 12:46 PM ET • 4 min read

Olivia Miles has quickly emerged as the clear WNBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner, separating herself from the field with elite playmaking, heavy minutes, and immediate offensive control for Minnesota.

 Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) dribbles up court.
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) dribbles up court.

The WNBA Rookie of the Year odds have shifted dramatically over the last few weeks, and Olivia Miles continues to separate herself from the field.

After opening as the second choice, Miles has shortened again from -182 to -250 following a strong start with the Minnesota Lynx, solidifying her position as the clear frontrunner in the race.

The biggest challenger right now is Azzi Fudd, whose recent surge has seen her odds improve from +900 to +600. Flau'jae Johnson remains firmly in the conversation at +750, but with Miles continuing to gain ground in the market, the gap between first and the rest of the field is growing.

Let's break down the latest WNBA Rookie of the Year odds, the biggest movers, and whether anyone can still catch Miles before season's end.

WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds

Player Odds
Lynx Olivia Miles -250
Wings Azzi Fudd +600
Storm Flau’jae Johnson +750
Tempo Kiki Rice +1000
Sky Gabriela Jaquez +2500
Storm Awa Fam +4000
Liberty Pauline Astier +4000
Mercury Jovana Nogic +5000
Mystics Lauren Betts +5000

Odds updated as of 6-2, courtesy of bet365, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account Add as a preferred source on Google

WNBA Rookie of the Year favorite

Lynx Olivia Miles (Guard) — No. 2 overall pick

Olivia Miles has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the WNBA Rookie of the Year race, and the betting market continues to reflect it.

The Minnesota Lynx guard has seen her odds shorten from -182 to -250 after a stellar start to her rookie campaign. Through nine games, Miles is averaging 15.8 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds while shooting nearly 50% from the floor.

Just as importantly, she's doing it for a Lynx team that sits at 7-2 without their best player, Napheesa Collier.

Miles is averaging 30.7 minutes per game and has quickly become one of the focal points of Minnesota's offense. Her combination of scoring, playmaking, and all-around production has translated seamlessly to the professional level, making her one of the most impactful rookies in the league.

At -250, much of the value has disappeared, but it's difficult to argue with the direction of the market. Right now, Miles isn't just leading the Rookie of the Year race — she's creating meaningful separation from the rest of the field.

Wings Azzi Fudd (Guard) — No. 1 overall pick

Azzi Fudd is quickly becoming Olivia Miles' biggest challenger in the WNBA Rookie of the Year race.

After a slow start to her professional career, the No. 1 overall pick is beginning to find her footing in Dallas. Fudd has scored 9, 22, and 24 points over her last three games while shooting better than 50% from the floor.

The nine-point outing isn't nearly as concerning as it looks on paper, either. Fudd played just 23 minutes in a comfortable Dallas victory, giving the Wings little reason to extend her workload.

Perhaps the most encouraging development is her role.

Fudd has started each of Dallas' last two games and appears to be cementing herself as a fixture in the starting lineup moving forward. As her minutes and confidence continue to grow, so should her production.

Miles remains the clear favorite, but Fudd is finally starting to look like the player many expected to contend for Rookie of the Year from the moment she entered the league.

Storm Flau'jae Johnson (Guard) — No. 3 overall pick

Flau'jae Johnson remains firmly in the WNBA Rookie of the Year conversation, but her path to the award has become more difficult over the last few weeks.

After a strong start to the season, Johnson has struggled to find consistency offensively. Her scoring outputs have bounced between 16- and 17-point performances and single-digit outings, making it difficult to build momentum in a race where Olivia Miles continues to strengthen her grip on the top spot.

The bigger problem may be the situation around her.

Seattle has struggled to generate consistent offense and hasn't provided Johnson with much support, which has put even more pressure on the rookie to create scoring opportunities.

Johnson has the talent to make this a competitive race, but she'll need to find more consistency and help lead Seattle up the standings if she's going to close the gap on the favorites.

WNBA Rookie of the Year best bets

Player Odds Stake Date Reason
Mystics Lauren Betts +700 0.5u May 4 Interior presence on both ends, with a high shooting percentage. 

Lauren Betts at +700 is a bet on early production.

Lauren Betts is strong on both ends inside and shoots a high percentage. She should have a role and steady minutes right away on a young Mystics team that could get off to a fast start.

The risk is simple — if the minutes aren’t there early, she falls behind guards in a stats-driven race.

How to bet WNBA Rookie of the Year

Rookie of the Year isn’t complicated — but most bettors still get it wrong.

This award is driven by opportunity, not long-term upside. The players who win are the ones producing from Day 1, not the ones with the highest ceiling.

Here’s what actually matters:

Factor Why it matters
Minutes No minutes, no production
Usage More touches = more stats
Ball-handling Controls the offense and pace
Team context Better teams = more visibility
Early momentum Voters form opinions quickly

Past Rookie of the Year winners

Year Player Team
2025 Paige Bueckers Wings Dallas Wings
2024 Caitlin Clark Fever Indiana Fever
2023 Aliyah Boston Fever Indiana Fever
2022 Rhyne Howard Dream Atlanta Dream
2021 Michaela Onyenwere Liberty New York Liberty
2020 Crystal Dangerfield Lynx Minnesota Lynx
2019 Napheesa Collier Lynx Minnesota Lynx
2018 A'ja Wilson Aces Las Vegas Aces
2017 Allisha Gray Wings Dallas Wings
2016 Breanna Stewart Storm Seattle Storm
2015 Jewell Loyd Storm Seattle Storm
2014 Chiney Ogwumike Suns Connecticut Sun
2013 Elena Delle Donne Sky Chicago Sky
2012 Nneka Ogwumike Sparks Los Angeles Sparks
2011 Maya Moore Lynx Minnesota Lynx
2010 Tina Charles Suns Connecticut Sun

Recent Rookie of the Year winners highlight a clear trend: players with immediate roles and high usage tend to win this award.

Guards and primary ball-handlers have had the most consistent success, largely because they control the offense and rack up counting stats early in the season.

That puts a premium on opportunity over potential — and makes early-season minutes one of the most important factors when evaluating this market.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

WNBA Rookie of the Year FAQ

Pages related to this topic

Chris Vasile Covers.com
Betting Analyst

Chris Vasile is a betting analyst with over 13 years of experience breaking down soccer betting markets, with additional coverage across the WNBA and NFL. He focuses on finding numbers that are slow to adjust — whether it’s due to scheduling spots, player usage, or recent form — and explaining why a line is worth playing. His work has appeared across major betting and sports media platforms, including Covers, VSiN, BetMGM Network, and SportsGrid, where he’s delivered sharp analysis on both mainstream and niche markets. At Covers, he contributes to major tournament coverage and daily betting content, with a particular focus on soccer. He also runs the Game Day Wagers YouTube channel, where he shares daily picks and betting insights tailored for serious bettors.

Popular Content

Covers is verified safe by: Evalon Logo GPWA Logo GDPR Logo GeoTrust Logo Evalon Logo