WNBA Rookies Watch – Rookies shining during All-Star break and preparing for second half of WNBA season

The second half of the WNBA season will begin this week with more than half of the league having played 30 regular season games and getting ready for the second half of the WNBA season. The All-Star weekend took place last week in Chicago, Illinois and the WNBA highlighted their 30 years of the WNBA. Two rookies (Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles) were outstanding. Azzi Fudd won the 3 point contest on Friday night and became the first ever rookie in WNBA history to do so. Olivia Miles was a starter on Team Spoon and she finished with a double-double. Her team also won the game.

It is now time to evaluate the rookies and see their continued progress from the start of the WNBA season. This is the sixth edition of the WNBA Rookies Watch and the fifth edition of the WNBA Rookies Watch can be found here.

It is now time to rank the top 5 rookies who shined during the latest round of games which took place from July 17th, 2026 to August 3rd, 2026.

WNBA Rookies Watch – Week 6 – Rookies preparing for the second half of the WNBA season

1) Olivia Miles – PG – Minnesota Lynx

As we enter the second half of the WNBA season, Olivia Miles is the favourite to win the Rookie of the Year Award. She continued to score in double-figures in the latest round of games, she only shot the ball poorly in two games and she continues to help her team out when needed. Her team has also won 10 straight games and in her rookie season could be a potential MVP candidate.

2) Sydney Taylor – SG – Chicago Sky

Sydney Taylor continues to improve and get better. She scored a career-high 31 points in the loss versus New York, continues to score in double-figures and has shot the ball extremely well. She also scored the game-winner at home versus Las Vegas. As we enter the second half of the WNBA season, she is a candidate for a spot on the All-Rookie Team. However, she was injured in the loss versus Phoenix and left the game with a left-groin injury.

3) Azzi Fudd – SG – Dallas Wings

Azzi Fudd scored in double-figures in all but one game and in that game, was the only game in which she shot poorly from the field. Otherwise, she continues to try to help out her team in any way she can and that includes her defense. She does try to block some shots and steal the ball from game to game. Like Sydney Taylor, she is a candidate for a spot on the All-Rookie Team.

4) Flau’jae Johnson – SG – Seattle Storm

In the latest round of games, Flau’jae scored in double-figures in all but one game, she continued to try to help her team win by increasing her assists and rebounds as well as grab a couple of steals. However, she remains in fourth place for this week’s edition of WNBA Rookies Watch because she shot the ball poorly in two of those games and committed a career-high 7 turnovers in a loss versus Atlanta. As we enter the second half of the WNBA season, she is also a strong candidate for a spot on the All-Rookie Team.

5) Awa Fam – C – Seattle Storm

Awa Fam continues to grow and develop into a solid post player. She had her first career double-double in the loss against Minnesota along with 2 blocks. She had a career-high 11 rebounds in another loss versus Minnesota. She did not score in double-figures in three of the latest round of games and did not shoot the ball well in two of those games. She could be a possible candidate for the final spot on the All-Rookie Team, but she will face some competition against Pauline Astier of the New York Liberty.

Honourable mention: Pauline Astier PG, New York Liberty, Lauren Betts, C, Washington Mystics