Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün is officially the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year — and she didn’t leave any doubt.
Salaün was unanimously selected as the 2026 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, receiving all 74 votes from the national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
That makes Salaün the first player in Golden State Valkyries franchise history to win the award.
And considering she came off the bench in every game she played, her impact was impossible to ignore.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Salaün appeared in all 40 games for Golden State, coming off the bench in every appearance while averaging:
| STAT | 2026 |
| Points | 12.7 PPG |
| Rebounds | 4.0 RPG |
| Assists | 1.2 APG |
| Field Goal % | 42.5% |
| 3-Point % | 39.2% |
| Made 3-Pointers | 93 |
| Total Points | 509 |
Her 12.7 points per game led all WNBA reserves.
But Salaün didn’t simply lead the league’s bench scorers — she rewrote the record book.
A Record-Breaking Season
Salaün established WNBA single-season records for a reserve with:
- 509 points
- 93 made 3-pointers
- 27 games scoring at least 10 points
She also became the first WNBA reserve to average at least 2.3 made three-pointers per game over a season.
Her ability to stretch the floor gave the Valkyries another dangerous scoring option every time she checked into the game.
When Salaün Got Hot, Golden State Usually Won
Salaün scored at least 20 points six times during the regular season.
Golden State went 6-0 in those games.
Her biggest scoring performance came July 8 against Toronto, when she dropped 26 points while shooting 5-of-6 from three-point range.
That’s exactly what a Sixth Player of the Year is supposed to provide: instant offense and the ability to change a game without needing to be in the starting lineup.
A Perfect Fit for a Championship Contender
The award comes during a historic season for the Valkyries.
Golden State finished the regular season 32-12, earning the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs.
Salaün’s emergence gave the Valkyries a legitimate scoring threat coming off the bench and helped make one of the league’s best teams even more difficult to defend.
Now, she has the hardware to match the production.
Janelle Salaün is the 2026 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year.
And she earned every single vote.
