Awards

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2025 – Atlanta Dream General Manager Dan Padover has been named the 2025 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the WNBA announced today.
This marks a record third WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award for Padover and the first since he earned the honor in 2020 and 2021 with the Las Vegas Aces. Padover becomes the first three-time WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, breaking a tie with two-time winner Cheryl Reeve (2019 and 2024).
The voting panel to determine the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year was composed of the general manager from each of the league’s 13 active teams, plus the general manager of the Toronto Tempo, which will begin play in 2026. Each voter submitted a ballot with a first-place vote, second-place vote and third-place vote, and they could not vote for themselves. The executives received three points for each first-place vote, two points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.
Padover was named on the most ballots (12, including eight first-place votes). The Golden State Valkyries’ Ohemaa Nyanin (10 ballots) finished in second place and the Phoenix Mercury’s Nick U’ren (nine ballots) placed third. The Washington Mystics’ Jamila Wideman (three ballots) was fourth.
With Padover in his fourth year as general manager, Atlanta finished tied for the second-best record in the WNBA (30-14) in the regular season, doubling its win total from 2024. The Dream earned the No. 3 seed in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Leading into the 2025 season, Padover first hired Karl Smesko as Atlanta’s new head coach, bringing the longtime Florida Gulf Coast University coach to the WNBA for the first time after a decorated career in which he recorded the third-highest winning percentage (.843) among active head coaches in NCAA Division women’s basketball.
Padover then signed veteran free agent forward Brionna Jones and veteran free agent center Brittney Griner, adding the multi-time All-Stars to a roster that already included All-Star guards Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. Padover had previously selected Howard with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm and acquired Gray from the Dallas Wings in a January 2023 trade. In April, Padover selected guard Te-Hina Paopao with the 18th pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm.
In guiding the Dream to a franchise-record 30 wins, Smesko finished with the most victories ever by a first-year WNBA head coach and helped Atlanta improve in key statistical categories. The Dream’s year-over-year improvement included moving from 12th to second in offensive rating (108.2), sixth to second in defensive rating (98.9) and 12th to third in assists per game (21.4).
Gray was a three-time Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month (May, June and August), finished fourth in the voting for the Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player Award and was selected as an All-Star starter for the first time in her career. She ranked seventh in the WNBA in scoring, averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game.
Howard, who was named an All-Star for the third time, led all WNBA players in made three-point shots per game (3.1) and became the first player in league history to record multiple games of nine made threes in a career (June 13 vs. the Chicago Sky and Sept. 5 vs. the Los Angeles Sparks).
Jones led the WNBA in total offensive rebounds (136) and ranked second in offensive boards per game (3.1). She also was named to her fourth AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game.
In addition, Naz Hillmon, a 2022 draft pick by Padover, was named the 2025 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year after recording career-high averages in scoring (8.6 ppg), rebounding (6.2 rpg) and assists (2.1 apg). Paopao ranked fifth among 2025 rookies with 2.4 assists per game.
Below is the list of recipients of the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award since its inception in 2017.
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WNBA BASKETBALL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 216px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Dan Padover</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Atlanta Dream</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2025</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Cheryl Reeve</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2024</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Jonathan Kolb</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">New York Liberty</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2023</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">James Wade</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Chicago Sky</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2022</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Dan Padover</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Las Vegas Aces</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2021</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Dan Padover</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Las Vegas Aces</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2020</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Cheryl Reeve</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2019</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Chris Sienko</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Atlanta Dream</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2018</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Curt Miller</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Connecticut Sun</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2017</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

padover-2025-executive-of-the-year

Atlanta Dream's Dan Padover Wins Record Third WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 – Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike has been named the recipient of the 2025 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, the WNBA announced today. Ogwumike becomes the first player in league history to win the award four times, having previously earned the honor in three consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2021.
The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award is presented each season to a player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court, including ethical behavior, fair play and integrity. The award is named in honor of the late Kim Perrot, who helped the Houston Comets win WNBA championships in 1997 and 1998 in the league’s first two seasons before passing away in August 1999 after a seven-month battle with cancer.
Ogwumike received 18 votes from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters. Connecticut Sun rookie guard Saniya Rivers finished in second with 11 votes, while Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton tied for third with seven votes each. Chicago Sky guard Rachel Banham and Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon each received six votes.
In her 14th WNBA season, Ogwumike averaged 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. She started all 44 games for Seattle and led the Storm in both points and rebounds per game. Ogwumike set a career high with 803 total points and became the first player in Storm history to record 40 double-digit scoring games in a single season.
Ogwumike also continued to climb league charts, moving to fifth all time in steals (668) and becoming the sixth-leading scorer in WNBA history. She is the first player ever to surpass 7,000 career points while shooting at least 50 percent from the field. A 10-time AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star, Ogwumike was named the Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2016 and the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2012.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 WNBA Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award and a list of past recipients.
2025 KIM PERROT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD VOTING RESULTS
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 312px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Player</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Team</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Nneka Ogwumike </td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Seattle Storm</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">18</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Saniya Rivers</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Connecticut Sun</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">11</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Napheesa Collier</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">7</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Kayla Thornton</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Golden State Valkyries</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">7</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Rachel Banham</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Chicago Sky</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">6</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Naz Hillmon</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Atlanta Dream</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">6</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Maddy Siegrist</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Dallas Wings</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Natasha Howard</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Indiana Fever</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">4</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Jewell Loyd</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Las Vegas Aces</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Sami Whitcomb</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Phoenix Mercury</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Leonie Fiebich</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">New York Liberty</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Jade Melbourne</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Washington Mystics</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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KIM PERROT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS
1997 – Haixia Zheng, Los Angeles
1998 – Suzie McConnell Serio, Cleveland
1999 – Dawn Staley, Charlotte
2000 – Suzie McConnell Serio, Cleveland
2001 – Sue Wicks, New York
2002 – Jennifer Gillom, Phoenix
2003 – Edna Campbell, Sacramento
2004 – Teresa Edwards, Minnesota
2005 – Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Connecticut
2006 – Dawn Staley, Houston
2007 – Tully Bevilaqua, Indiana
2008 – Vickie Johnson, San Antonio
2009 – Kara Lawson, Sacramento
2010 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2011 – Sue Bird, Seattle; Ruth Riley, San Antonio
2012 – Kara Lawson, Connecticut
2013 – Swin Cash, Chicago; Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2014 – Becky Hammon, San Antonio
2015 – DeLisha Milton-Jones, Atlanta
2016 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2017 – Sue Bird, Seattle
2018 – Sue Bird, Seattle
2019 – Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles
2020 – Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles
2021 – Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles
2022 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2023 – Elizabeth Williams, Chicago
2024 – Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles
2025-   Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle

oguwmike-2025-kim-perrot-sportsmanship-award

Seattle Storm's Nneka Ogwumike Wins 2025 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2025 – Las Vegas Aces center-forward A’ja Wilson has been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, the WNBA announced today.
This marks a record fourth Kia WNBA MVP Award and second in a row for Wilson, who also earned the honor in 2020 and 2022. With the 2025 award, Wilson becomes the first four-time Kia WNBA MVP, breaking a tie with three-time MVPs Sheryl Swoopes (2000, 2002 and 2005), Lisa Leslie (2001, 2004 and 2006) and Lauren Jackson (2003, 2007 and 2010).
Wilson received 51 of 72 first-place votes and 21 second-place votes (657 points) from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (534 points) finished in second place, followed by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (391 points) in third place, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (180 points) in fourth place and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (93 points) in fifth place. Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, five points for a third-place vote, three points for a fourth-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote.
In her eighth WNBA season, Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.6 steals in 31.2 minutes in 40 games – the second-best per-game marks of her career in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals. She led the league in points per game for the second straight season and in blocks per game for the fifth time (2020 and 2022-25). Wilson also scored the most points (937) and had the highest efficiency rating (29.2) in the WNBA.
For the second consecutive season, Wilson averaged at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steal per game. She is the only WNBA player to reach these averages in a season (minimum 15 games played).
This season, the 6-4 Wilson finished among the top five in the WNBA in points (No. 1), rebounds (No. 2), blocks (No. 1) and steals (No. 4) per game for the second consecutive year. The only other player to accomplish this feat in a season is Yolanda Griffith in 1999.
As a scorer, Wilson set a WNBA single-season record for games of 30 or more points with 13. She also led the league with 25 games of 20 or more points this season and her 21 double-doubles included 16 games with at least 20 points.
The seven-time All-Star shot 50.5 percent from the field, a career-high 42.4 percent from three-point range (25-of-59) and 85.5 percent from the free throw line. She made a career-high and WNBA-leading 284 free throws.
After Las Vegas entered the All-Star break with an 11-11 record, Wilson led the Aces to a 19-3 finish that propelled them to a 30-14 mark and the No. 2 seed in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google. Las Vegas won a franchise-record 16 consecutive games to close out the regular season, tied for the second-longest regular-season winning streak in league history. During that streak, Wilson averaged 26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals while shooting 52.7 percent from the field, 59.3 percent from three-point range and 88.9 percent from the free throw line.
Wilson was named the Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month for August. She was also recognized as the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week a league-high six times (Weeks 2, 6, 10-12 and 14).
Wilson and the Aces have advanced to the WNBA Semifinals, where they will meet the Indiana Fever. That best-of-five series tips off today at 3 p.m. ET (ABC).
In honor of being named the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, Wilson will receive $15,450 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany &amp; Co.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player Award and a list of past recipients of the annual honor.
VOTING RESULTS: 2025 KIA WNBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 99.6974%;height: 626px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 122px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 122px">Player (Team)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 122px" width="90">1st Place Votes
(10 Points)</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 122px">2nd Place Votes
(7 Points)</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 122px">3rd Place Votes
(5 Points)</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 122px">4th Place Votes
(3 Points)</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 122px">5th Place Votes
(1 Point)</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 122px">Total Points</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 48px">51</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">21</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">0</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 48px">657</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">Napheesa Collier (Minnesota)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 72px">18</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">42</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">12</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">0</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 72px">534</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 72px">3</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">9</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">59</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">1</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">0</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 72px">391</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">Allisha Gray (Atlanta)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 48px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">1</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">54</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 48px">13</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 48px">180</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">15</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">48</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">93</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Aliyah Boston (Indiana)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Jackie Young (Las Vegas)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Veronica Burton (Golden State)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Rhyne Howard (Atlanta)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">Rickea Jackson (Los Angeles)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 24px">1</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">Breanna Stewart (New York)</td>
<td style="width: 14.264%;height: 72px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">0</td>
<td style="width: 14.2857%;height: 72px">1</td>
<td style="width: 13.9831%;height: 72px">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
KIA WNBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD WINNERS
1997 – Cynthia Cooper, Houston
1998 – Cynthia Cooper, Houston
1999 – Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento
2000 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2001 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2002 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2003 – Lauren Jackson, Seattle
2004 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2005 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2006 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2007 – Lauren Jackson, Seattle
2008 – Candace Parker, Los Angeles
2009 – Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
2010 – Lauren Jackson, Seattle
2011 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2012 – Tina Charles, Connecticut
2013 – Candace Parker, Los Angeles
2014 – Maya Moore, Minnesota
2015 – Elena Delle Donne, Chicago
2016 – Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles
2017 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2018 – Breanna Stewart, Seattle
2019 – Elena Delle Donne, Washington
2020 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2021 – Jonquel Jones, Connecticut
2022 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2023 – Breanna Stewart, New York
2024 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2025 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
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* Select trims of the 2025 all-electric EV6 and EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV and PHEV models), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV models), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

wilson-2025-mvp

Las Vegas Aces’ A'ja Wilson Wins Record Fourth Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player Award

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-204309" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Picture1.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="187" />
NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2025 – Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon has been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, the WNBA announced today. She has earned the honor as the league’s top reserve for the first time and become the first player to win the award with the Dream.
Hillmon received 44 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (22 votes) and forward Jessica Shepard (four votes) finished in second and third place, respectively. Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga and Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb each received one vote.  To be eligible for the award, a player had to play more games as a reserve than as a starter.
In her fourth WNBA season, Hillmon averaged career highs of 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 25.5 minutes in 44 games (17 starts). She helped the Dream (30-14) set a franchise record with 30 wins, doubling its total from last season. Atlanta secured the No. 3 seed in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google after finishing as the eighth seed in 2024.
Hillmon provided a spark off the bench throughout the season, recording eight games with at least 10 points and five rebounds as a reserve – the second-most such games in the league (Malonga, 12). The Dream went 5-0 in games when she scored 15 or more points.
Hillmon made 53 three-pointers this season after entering 2025 with one career three-pointer. On July 30 against the Dallas Wings, she scored a career-high 21 points and connected on five three-pointers, including a tiebreaking three with 2.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Durability has been a hallmark of Hillmon’s career since she joined the Dream as the 15th overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm out of the University of Michigan, where she was a four-time All-Big Ten First Team selection. She has played in a franchise-record 151 consecutive regular-season games for Atlanta, including all 124 games over the last three seasons.
In honor of being named the Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, Hillmon will receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate her achievement.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Award and the list of recipients since the award’s inception in 2007.
 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" width="623">
2025 KIA WNBA SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="208">Player</td>
<td width="208">Team</td>
<td width="208">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="208">Naz Hillmon</td>
<td width="208">Atlanta Dream</td>
<td width="208">44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="208">Natisha Hiedeman</td>
<td width="208">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td width="208">22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="208">Jessica Shepard</td>
<td width="208">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td width="208">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="208">Dominique Malonga</td>
<td width="208">Seattle Storm</td>
<td width="208">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="208">Sami Whitcomb</td>
<td width="208">Phoenix Mercury</td>
<td width="208">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
 
<table style="width: 77.6027%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 133.464%;text-align: center" colspan="3" width="487">KIA WNBA SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">Year</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Player</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Team</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2025</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Naz Hillmon</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Atlanta Dream</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%">2024</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%">Tiffany Hayes</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%">Las Vegas Aces</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2023</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Alysha Clark</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Las Vegas Aces</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2022</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Brionna Jones</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Connecticut Sun</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2021</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Kelsey Plum</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Las Vegas Aces</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2020</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Dearica Hamby</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Las Vegas Aces</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2019</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Dearica Hamby</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Las Vegas Aces</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2018</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Jonquel Jones</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Connecticut Sun</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2017</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Sugar Rodgers</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">New York Liberty</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2016</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Jantel Lavender</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Los Angeles Sparks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2015</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Allie Quigley</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Chicago Sky</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2014</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Allie Quigley</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Chicago Sky</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2013</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Riquna Williams</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Tulsa Shock</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2012</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Renee Montgomery</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Connecticut Sun</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2011</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">DeWanna Bonner</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Phoenix Mercury</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2010</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">DeWanna Bonner</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Phoenix Mercury</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2009</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">DeWanna Bonner</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Phoenix Mercury</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2008</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Candice Wiggins</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Minnesota Lynx</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 22.8963%" width="112">2007</td>
<td style="width: 36.5949%" width="182">Plenette Pierson</td>
<td style="width: 73.9726%" width="192">Detroit Shock</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
About Kia America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the &#8220;Official Automotive Partner&#8221; of the WNBA and NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. 
For media information, including photography, visit <a href="http://www.kiamedia.com">www.kiamedia.com</a>. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert__;!!PMETyfE!LQ_AWgu_xS8m2ZdpIVOeFIM6CjzB7GXan16p-xQBBSMFDqSqBaxovepbT109Px9yCDy8QlykRUjGqeA$">www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert</a> 
* Select trims of the 2025 all-electric EV6 and EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV and PHEV models), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV models), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

2025-kia-wnba-sixth-poy

Atlanta Dream's Naz Hillmon Named 2025 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 – Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson have been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, the WNBA announced today. This is the first Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Smith, and the third for Wilson (2022, 2023).
Smith and Wilson received 29 votes each from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters. Seattle Storm guard Gabby Williams finished in second place with nine votes, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was third with three votes, and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier was fourth with two votes.
This marks the first time in league history that the award has been shared by multiple players.
Smith, in her seventh WNBA season, started all 42 games she appeared in for Minnesota and averaged 26.6 minutes per game. A 2024 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team selection, Smith was instrumental in leading the Lynx to the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Anchoring the league’s top-ranked defense, Smith powered Minnesota to a league-best 97.5 defensive rating. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks (135), ranked third in both blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (80), and tied for 10th in total steals (55).
Drafted eighth overall in 2019, Smith has developed into a defensive cornerstone for the Lynx, helping lead the team to the semifinals following a 2-0 series victory against the Golden State Valkyries in the first round.
Wilson, in her eighth season, started all 40 games she appeared in for Las Vegas while averaging 31.2 minutes per game. She helped the Aces secure the No. 2 seed in the WNBA Playoffs following a 16-game win streak to close the regular season. A three-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, Wilson now adds a third Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award to her decorated trophy case.
Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game (2.3), total rebounds (407), defensive rebounds (316), and combined steals and blocks (156). She also ranked second in total blocks (92) and rebounds per game (10.2). Demonstrating her all-around defensive impact, Wilson ranked third in total steals (64) and fourth in steals per game (1.6).
Already one of the most dominant two-way players in league history, Wilson also delivered on the offensive end in 2025, leading the WNBA in total points (937), points per game (23.4), field goals made (332), and free throws made (248).
Behind the efforts of Smith and Wilson, Minnesota and Las Vegas have earned the top two seeds in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
In honor of being named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, Smith and Wilson will each receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate the achievement.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.
2025 KIA WNBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 144px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Player</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Team</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Alanna Smith</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">A’ja Wilson</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Las Vegas Aces</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Gabby Williams</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Seattle Storm</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">9</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Alyssa Thomas</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Phoenix Mercury</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Napheesa Collier</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
KIA WNBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1997 – Teresa Weatherspoon, New York
1998 – Teresa Weatherspoon, New York
1999 – Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento
2000 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2001 – Debbie Black, Miami
2002 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2003 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2004 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2005 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2006 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2007 – Lauren Jackson, Seattle
2008 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2009 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2010 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2011 – Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
2012 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2013 – Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
2014 – Brittney Griner, Phoenix
2015 – Brittney Griner, Phoenix
2016 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2017 – Alana Beard, Los Angeles
2018 – Alana Beard, Los Angeles
2019 – Natasha Howard, Seattle
2020 – Candace Parker, Los Angeles
2021 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2022 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2023 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2024 – Napheesa Collier, Minnesota
2025 – Alanna Smith, Minnesota (Co-Winner)
2025 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas (Co-Winner)
&nbsp;
About Kia America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the &#8220;Official Automotive Partner&#8221; of the WNBA and NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. 
For media information, including photography, visit <a href="http://www.kiamedia.com">www.kiamedia.com</a>. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert__;!!PMETyfE!LQ_AWgu_xS8m2ZdpIVOeFIM6CjzB7GXan16p-xQBBSMFDqSqBaxovepbT109Px9yCDy8QlykRUjGqeA$">www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert</a> 
* Select trims of the 2025 all-electric EV6 and EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV and PHEV models), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV models), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

smith-wilson-2025-dpoy

Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces’ A'ja Wilson Named 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2025 – Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has been named the 2025 State Street Investment Management SPY WNBA Coach of the Year, the WNBA announced today. She has earned the honor in her first season as a WNBA head coach.
Nakase received 53 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko finished in second place with 15 votes. Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve tied for third place with two votes each.
With Nakase leading the way, Golden State set the WNBA record for victories by an expansion team in its first season with 23. The Valkyries (23-21) also became the first team to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google in its inaugural season.
After a 2-5 start to the season, Golden State won seven of its next nine games. That 7-2 stretch led to Nakase being honored as the WNBA Coach of the Month for June. As the Valkyries competed for a playoff spot in the final weeks of the season, Nakase guided them to winning streaks of four games from Aug. 9-15 and five games from Aug. 24 – Sept. 4.
Under Nakase, the Valkyries held opponents to league lows of 76.3 points per game and 40.5% shooting from the field. On offense, Golden State made a WNBA-high 9.7 three-pointers per game. Among Valkyries players, guard Veronica Burton won the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player Award and forward Kayla Thornton was selected to the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game for the first time.
Nakase was hired as the Valkyries’ head coach in October 2024 after serving three seasons as an Aces assistant coach. She helped Las Vegas win back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. Before her stint with the Aces, Nakase spent 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, finishing her tenure as an assistant coach.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 State Street Investment Management SPY WNBA Coach of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.
VOTING RESULTS: 2025 STATE STREET INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SPY WNBA COACH OF THE YEAR
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 120px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">Coach (Team)</td>
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">Natalie Nakase (Golden State)</td>
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">53</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">Karl Smesko (Atlanta)</td>
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">15</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">Becky Hammon (Las Vegas)</td>
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota)</td>
<td style="width: 50%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
STATE STREET INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SPY WNBA COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1997 – Van Chancellor, Houston
1998 – Van Chancellor, Houston
1999 – Van Chancellor, Houston
2000 – Michael Cooper, Los Angeles
2001 – Dan Hughes, Cleveland
2002 – Marianne Stanley, Washington
2003 – Bill Laimbeer, Detroit
2004 – Suzie McConnell-Serio, Minnesota
2005 – John Whisenant, Sacramento
2006 – Mike Thibault, Connecticut
2007 – Dan Hughes, San Antonio
2008 – Mike Thibault, Connecticut
2009 – Marynell Meadors, Atlanta
2010 – Brian Agler, Seattle
2011 – Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota
2012 – Carol Ross, Los Angeles
2013 – Mike Thibault, Washington
2014 – Sandy Brondello, Phoenix
2015 – Bill Laimbeer, New York
2016 – Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota
2017 – Curt Miller, Connecticut
2018 – Nicki Collen, Atlanta
2019 – James Wade, Chicago
2020 – Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota
2021 – Curt Miller, Connecticut
2022 – Becky Hammon, Las Vegas
2023 – Stephanie White, Connecticut
2024 – Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota
2025 – Natalie Nakase, Golden State
&nbsp;
About State Street Investment Management 
At State Street Investment Management, we have been helping to deliver better outcomes to institutions, financial intermediaries, and investors for nearly half a century. Starting with our early innovations in indexing and ETFs, our rigorous approach continues to be driven by market-tested expertise and a relentless commitment to those we serve. With over $5 trillion in assets managed*, clients in over 60 countries, and a global network of strategic partners, we use our scale to create a comprehensive and cost-effective suite of investment solutions that help investors get wherever they want to go. State Street Investment Management is the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT).
*This figure is presented as of June 30, 2025 and includes ETF AUM of $1,689.83 billion USD of which approximately $116.05 billion USD in gold assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Investment Management are affiliated. Please note all AUM is unaudited.

nakase-2025-coty

Golden State Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase Wins 2025 State Street Investment Management SPY WNBA Coach of the Year Award

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2025 – Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, the WNBA announced today. She is the first player to earn the honor with Dallas since Allisha Gray in 2017.
Bueckers received 70 votes from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters. Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron received 2 votes.
A starter in all 36 of her appearances, Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 33.3 minutes and shot 47.4 percent from the field and 88.8 percent from the free throw line. She led all rookies in total points (692), points per game, total assists (194) and assists per game. Bueckers also ranked second among rookies in steals per game and free throw percentage and fourth in field goal percentage.
On top of breaking the Wings’ franchise rookie records, Bueckers finished third all-time in both total rookie points and total rookie assists. She also finished tied for second for the most double-digit scoring games by a rookie (35). Among all WNBA players, Bueckers ranked fifth in points per game, sixth in steals per game and ninth in assists per game.
On Aug. 20 against the Los Angeles Sparks, Bueckers set a WNBA single-game rookie record with 44 points, making 17-of-21 shots from the field (81 percent). She became the first player in WNBA history to score 40 or more points and shoot at least 80 percent from the field in a game.
Bueckers was voted as a starter for Team Collier for the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game. She was also named the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month three consecutive times (June, July and August).
Additional highlights of Bueckers’ 2025 season include:
<ul>
<li>Was the only player this season ranked in the top 10 in points, assists and steals per game.</li>
<li>Became the first rookie in WNBA history to average at least 15.0 points and 5.0 assists and shoot 45.0 percent or higher from the field in a season.</li>
<li>Scored at least 10 points in each of her first 30 games, the fourth-longest streak to begin a career in WNBA history.</li>
<li>Became the second rookie in WNBA history to record multiple games of at least 35 points, joining Wings teammate Arike Ogunbowale (2019).</li>
<li>Became the second rookie in WNBA history to finish with at least 500 points, 150 assists, 100 rebounds and 50 steals in a season, joining Caitlin Clark (2024).</li>
<li>Posted ten games with at least 20 points and five assists, the second most by a rookie in WNBA history (Clark had 18 last season).</li>
<li>Became the fastest rookie in WNBA history to reach 500 points and 100 assists.</li>
</ul>
Bueckers was selected by the Wings with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm after a decorated career at the University of Connecticut. A three-time AP All-America First Team selection, Bueckers led the Huskies to the Final Four in each of the four seasons she played and won the national championship in the 2024-25 season.
In honor of being named the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, Bueckers will receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate her achievement.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.
2025 KIA WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">Player</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">Team</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">Paige Bueckers</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">Dallas Wings</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">Sonia Citron</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">Washington Mystics</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
KIA WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1998 – Tracy Reid, Charlotte
1999 – Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington
2000 – Betty Lennox, Minnesota
2001 – Jackie Stiles, Portland
2002 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2003 – Cheryl Ford, Detroit
2004 – Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
2005 – Temeka Johnson, Washington
2006 – Seimone Augustus, Minnesota
2007 – Armintie Price, Chicago
2008 – Candace Parker, Los Angeles
2009 – Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta
2010 – Tina Charles, Connecticut
2011 – Maya Moore, Minnesota
2012 – Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles
2013 – Elena Delle Donne, Chicago
2014 – Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut
2015 – Jewell Loyd, Seattle
2016 – Breanna Stewart, Seattle
2017 – Allisha Gray, Dallas
2018 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2019 – Napheesa Collier, Minnesota
2020 – Crystal Dangerfield, Minnesota
2021 – Michaela Onyenwere, New York
2022 – Rhyne Howard, Atlanta
2023 – Aliyah Boston, Indiana
2024 – Caitlin Clark, Indiana
2025 – Paige Bueckers, Dallas
About Kia America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the &#8220;Official Automotive Partner&#8221; of the WNBA and NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. 
For media information, including photography, visit <a href="http://www.kiamedia.com">www.kiamedia.com</a>. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert__;!!PMETyfE!LQ_AWgu_xS8m2ZdpIVOeFIM6CjzB7GXan16p-xQBBSMFDqSqBaxovepbT109Px9yCDy8QlykRUjGqeA$">www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert</a> 
* Select trims of the 2025 all-electric EV6 and EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV and PHEV models), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV models), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

bueckers-2025-roty

Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers Wins  2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year Award

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2025 – Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton has been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player, the WNBA announced today.
Burton received 68 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Azurá Stevens finished in second place with 2 votes, and Allisha Gray and Natisha Hiedeman tied for third with 1 vote each.
In her fourth WNBA season, Burton averaged career highs of 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 44 games, up from 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.5 steals in 31 games with the Connecticut Sun in 2024. She became the first player in WNBA history to increase her averages by at least five points, two rebounds and two assists per game from one season to the next (minimum 30 games played in each season).
The only Valkyries player to start all 44 regular-season games, Burton ranked third in the WNBA in assists per game and ninth in free throw percentage (87.8). On Aug. 19 against the Phoenix Mercury, she became the first player in WNBA history to have at least 24 points, at least 14 assists and no turnovers in a game. It was one of her three games in 2025 with 10 or more assists and no turnovers, a WNBA single-season record.
Burton helped the Valkyries (23-21) set the WNBA record for victories by an expansion team in its inaugural season. She also led the Valkyries to be the first expansion team to reach the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google in its first season.
Burton was selected by the Dallas Wings with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. After playing two seasons with Dallas and one season with Connecticut, she was selected by the Valkyries in the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft presented by State Farm.
In honor of being named the Kia WNBA Most Improved Player, Burton will receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate her achievement.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player Award and a list of past recipients
2025 KIA WNBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER VOTING RESULTS
&nbsp;
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 120px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Player</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Team</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Veronica Burton</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Golden State  </td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">68</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Azurá Stevens</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Los Angeles</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Allisha Gray</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Atlanta</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Natisha Hiedeman</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
KIA WNBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER WINNERS
2000 – Tari Phillips, New York
2001 – Janeth Arcain, Houston
2002 – Coco Miller, Washington
2003 – Michelle Snow, Houston
2004 – Kelly Miller/Wendy Palmer, IND/CON
2005 – Nicole Powell, Sacramento
2006 – Erin Perperoglou, Sacramento
2007 – Janel McCarville, New York
2008 – Ebony Hoffman, Indiana
2009 – Crystal Langhorne, Washington
2010 – Leilani Mitchell, New York
2011 – Kia Vaughn, New York
2012 – Kristi Toliver, Los Angeles
2013 – Shavonte Zellous, Indiana
2014 – Skylar Diggins-Smith, Tulsa
2015 – Kelsey Bone, Connecticut
2016 – Elizabeth Williams, Atlanta
2017 – Jonquel Jones, Connecticut
2018 – Natasha Howard, Seattle
2019 – Leilani Mitchell, Phoenix
2020 – Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Atlanta
2021 – Brionna Jones, Connecticut
2022 – Jackie Young, Las Vegas
2023 – Satou Sabally, Dallas
2024 – DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut
2025 – Veronica Burton, Golden State
&nbsp;
About Kia America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the &#8220;Official Automotive Partner&#8221; of the WNBA and NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*.  
For media information, including photography, visit <a href="http://www.kiamedia.com">www.kiamedia.com</a>. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert__;!!PMETyfE!LQ_AWgu_xS8m2ZdpIVOeFIM6CjzB7GXan16p-xQBBSMFDqSqBaxovepbT109Px9yCDy8QlykRUjGqeA$">www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert</a> 
 
* Select trims of the 2025 all-electric EV6 and EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV and PHEV models), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV models), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

burton-2025-mip

Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton Named 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player

Press Release

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2025 – The WNBA today unveiled the announcement schedule for its official 2025 end-of-season awards.
The WNBA will present 13 end-of-season awards throughout the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google: All-WNBA First and Second Teams; WNBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams; WNBA All-Rookie Team; WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year; WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award presented by Deloitte; WNBA Coach of the Year; Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year; Kia WNBA Most Improved Player; Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player; Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year; Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year; Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award; and the WNBA Peak Performers.
A national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters will submit votes for 10 of the 13 season-ending awards. The WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year honor is voted on by the league’s general managers, and the WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award presented by Deloitte is selected by WNBA senior leadership. The WNBA also recognizes the regular-season statistical leaders in points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game, with each receiving a Peak Performer Award.
&nbsp;
Below is the full announcement schedule for the official 2025 WNBA end-of-season awards:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="154">DATE</td>
<td width="461">AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Monday, Sept. 15</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Most Improved Player</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Wednesday, Sept. 17</td>
<td width="461">WNBA Coach of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Thursday, Sept. 18</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Friday, Sept. 19</td>
<td width="461">Announcement of five finalists for Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Saturday. Sept. 20</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Sunday, Sept. 21</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Monday, Sept. 22</td>
<td width="461">Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Tuesday, Sept. 23</td>
<td width="461">WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Monday, Sept. 29</td>
<td width="461">WNBA All-Rookie Team</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Wednesday, Oct. 1</td>
<td width="461">WNBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Thursday, Oct 2</td>
<td width="461">WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award presented by Deloitte</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Tuesday, Oct. 7</td>
<td width="461">All-WNBA First and Second Teams</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">TBD</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Exact times and platforms for the announcements will be announced in the coming days.
*Dates subject to change
The WNBA Playoffs presented by Google will tip off with four First Round games on Sunday, Sept. 14, and the Semifinals will get underway with two games on Sunday, Sept. 21. The WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV will begin on Friday, Oct. 3. All playoff games will be broadcast on ESPN Networks.

2025-end-of-season-awards-schedule

WNBA Unveils Announcement Schedule for Official 2025 End-of-Season Awards

NEW YORK, September 10, 2025 – The WNBA today announced Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles has been named the recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, recognizing her extraordinary commitment to service, social justice, and creating lasting impact in the communities she serves.
Named for WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, the award honors a current WNBA player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community where they work or live. The award’s recipient embodies Staley’s spirit, leadership, charitable efforts, love for the game, and inspirational presence in their community.
This marks the second time Charles has earned the award – first in 2012 as a rising star, and now as a veteran leader whose impact and dedication have only deepened over time.
This year, Charles will reach a powerful milestone in her community work, placing the 500th Automated External Defibrillator (AED) through her Hopey’s Heart Foundation. What began as a personal mission has grown into a life-saving legacy, fueled by her determination to ensure schools, recreation centers, and communities across the country have access to critical resources. Charles founded the Hopey’s Heart Foundation in 2013 in honor of her late aunt, Maureen “Hopey” Vaz, to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and provide AEDs to organizations in need.
Hopey’s Heart remains a family-run foundation, with Charles and her loved ones dedicating countless hours to outreach, research, education, and fundraising. This year, Yale New Haven Health pledged $20,000 to support AED distribution, enabling the foundation to reach the 500-device milestone.
Charles has also engaged fans through team-based initiatives, including a rebounding challenge that allowed supporters to pledge donations tied to her on-court performance. Beyond fundraising, she has been a visible ambassador for heart health, speaking at community events, health fairs, and awareness campaigns such as the American Heart Health Month.
“In every aspect of her game and character, Tina stands as a representation of the ideals and spirit of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Throughout her remarkable career, Tina has consistently used her platform to raise awareness and drive meaningful change. Her dedication to service, advocacy, and giving back to the community reflects the values that define our league. Tina continues to build a legacy that will inspire generations to come.”
Charles’ impact extends beyond Hopey’s Heart. In 2012, she personally funded the construction of a school in Mali, opening educational opportunities for hundreds of children. In New York City, Charles launched Hopey’s Week, a series of sports safety clinics focused on concussion prevention and injury awareness. She has also been a vocal advocate for racial and social justice, using her platform to elevate community voices and push for systemic change.
“Tina Charles exemplifies what it means to be a leader both on and off the court. We are thrilled to recognize her tireless efforts beyond the game over the course of her career, creating a profound and permanent impact within the entire sports community,” said Dawn Staley. “This award signifies the lasting legacy that leadership leaves behind. Tina embodies the values and hard work that continue to inspire her teammates, fellow athletes, fans, and members of her community.”
“Through my mother at a young age, I learned the importance of being a servant unto others, and receiving the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is truly special for me — especially for Hopey’s Heart Foundation to receive this honor through its work in raising awareness for sudden cardiac arrest,” said Tina Charles. “I started the foundation in April of 2013 and never thought its impact would cast as wide as it has. I’m thankful to everyone who has supported the foundation along the way. Thank you.”
A designated committee selected Charles as the winner of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to Charles’ charitable foundation, Hopey’s Heart Foundation.
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