With the 2026 WNBA All-Star weekend quick approaching, a number of groups hope to place themselves for a run into the playoffs over the ultimate two months of the season. And whereas it is simple to level to the All-Stars themselves as large the explanation why sure groups are taking part in effectively on the halfway level, it is simply as vital to acknowledge gamers who’re trending upward, taking part in with confidence and increasing their roles, all of which establish potential breakout seasons.
As accidents have taken a toll on sure groups and others are discovering their method whereas constructing chemistry, a number of gamers have seen elevated minutes or utilization, larger offensive roles, and will have entered conversations for postseason awards.
As we close to the midway mark, coaches are having a clearer understanding of their lineups, who can deal with extra duty, and which of their youthful gamers are able to emerge. Here’s a LIST OF SIX gamers who’re poised for a breakout season (in alphabetical order):
SHAKIRA AUSTIN, Washington Mystics
Now in her fifth season with the Mystics, Austin is placing up career-best numbers with 13.4 factors and 9.2 rebounds per recreation. The 6-foot-5 middle out of Ole Miss has been a menace within the paint, not solely in cleansing the glass, however for anybody who challenges her on the rim. Austin has eight blocks in her final three video games, together with three throughout Thursday’s five-point dwelling win over Atlanta. And whereas she’s swatted not less than one shot in 13 of 18 video games this season, she’s tied for seventh with 1.5 blocked photographs for the reason that begin of June.
Shakira Austin delivered within the @WashMystics‘ win!
21 PTS (9-14 FGM)9 REB3 AST3 BLKpic.twitter.com/amqS6y2lDk
— NBA (@NBA) July 3, 2026
MARIA CONDE, Toronto Tempo
The 29-year-old from Spain could have lastly discovered a house north of the border. Conde, who performed at Florida State and was initially a third-round draft choose by the Chicago Sky in 2019, is taking part in her first season within the WNBA. The Spain native was chosen as Toronto’s choose from the Golden State’s roster within the 2026 WNBA enlargement draft, and so long as Toronto is battling a number of accidents, head coach Sandy Brondello is prone to proceed to lean on the sharpshooter.
Conde made 17 3-pointers in her first 13 video games this season; she’s made 16 in her final seven. She’s began simply six instances in 20 video games, however has seen elevated time in a beginning position over the past 4 video games. For perspective, Conde ranked ninety fifth within the league with 6.6 factors per recreation by means of June 12. Since then, she’s forty ninth with 11.0 PPG. So long as she’s beginning in Brondello’s system, her numbers will probably climb.
Automated for Maria Conde🔁 pic.twitter.com/wKtjdQwviy
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) June 23, 2026
CARLA LEITE, Portland Hearth
The second-year product from the Tony Parker Academy in France has etched herself an integral position in Portland’s lineup, turning into a bona fide scoring menace for any opponent. After averaging 7.2 factors in about 17 minutes per recreation for the Golden State Valkyries final season, the 5-foot-9 guard is scoring 15.4 factors in 25.5 minutes per recreation for the Hearth.
Leite has began 18 of the 19 video games she’s appeared in, and her scoring common ranks fifth amongst second-year gamers. Most lately, since June 17, she’s one among 9 gamers in all the league averaging 20.0 factors per recreation, a listing that does not embrace the likes of Jackie Younger, Olivia Miles, Rhyne Howard, and Nneka Ogwumike.
Carla Leite over her final 3 video games: pic.twitter.com/eDsZ6yL8Ij
— Girls’s Hoops Community (@WomensHoops_USA) July 5, 2026
NATASHA MACK, Phoenix Mercury
The 28-year-old emerged as an early candidate for Most Improved Participant earlier than being injured. Mack, who has 5 double-doubles, is because of return later this month and can play a essential position for Phoenix, final 12 months’s runner-up, if the workforce needs to return to the playoffs. Sitting twelfth within the league, the Mercury are three video games again of the ultimate playoff spot. Mack may need seen an uptick along with her scoring had she not missed the final three video games with a bone bruise in her left foot.
Mack, who is predicted to be reevaluated by the workforce throughout the subsequent few weeks, nonetheless ranks twelfth within the WNBA with 8.3 rebounds per recreation. With a good schedule that has the Mercury taking part in 9 of their remaining 16 video games in Phoenix after the All-Star Break, do not be stunned to see Mack return with a vengeance.
OLIVIA NELSON-ODODA, Connecticut Solar
Outdoors of Brittney Griner breaking the all-time blocked photographs report, there have not been quite a lot of optimistic headlines with the Solar this season. That stated, Nelson-Ododa is having fun with her greatest season of a four-year profession, averaging 8.4 factors and 5.3 rebounds, each profession numbers. The previous UConn star has turned it up a notch lately, scoring in double figures in 4 straight and in seven of her final 10 video games.
The 6-foot-5 backup middle ranks thirteenth within the league with 7.9 rebounds per recreation since June 8, together with a double-double (11 factors, 15 rebounds) within the workforce’s 29-point win over Chicago. Nelson-Ododa, who has began three straight video games for the Solar, could not ask for a greater mentor in Griner and will see her productiveness enhance down the stretch.
AND ONEEEE FOR ONO 🗣️😮💨#GetClose | #CTSun pic.twitter.com/n8wdhdOobX
— Connecticut Solar (@ConnecticutSun) July 3, 2026
SYDNEY TAYLOR, Chicago Sky
Although they’ve misplaced eight of 10, the Sky have been the second-highest scoring workforce within the league since June 11 with 96.3 factors per recreation. And one of many largest contributors has been the 5-foot-9 rookie guard out of Louisville, who ranks second amongst all rookies with 18.1 factors per recreation, in the course of the workforce’s offensive surge.
Taylor’s 3-point taking pictures has been a number of the greatest we have seen in that span, as she’s made not less than one long-range jumper in all eight video games and ranks No. 1 amongst first-year gamers with 2.8 treys per recreation. League-wide, that 2.8 clip ranks tied for fourth.
Sydney Taylor in her first profession begin:
• 24 factors• 3 steals• 2 assists• 4/7 3PM• 10/16 FG pic.twitter.com/EPYuYOBG7N
— Girls’s Hoops Community (@WomensHoops_USA) June 18, 2026
