Three of the brightest young stars in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) have received a major honour off the court. Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston, Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier, and Dallas Wings' Paige Bueckers have been named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 – USA list for 2026 in the Sports category.
A Prestigious Trio Joins an Elite Club
This recognition places the trio in an exclusive club of top young sports talents. They now stand alongside peers like Indiana Fever teammate Caitlin Clark, who was featured on the 2025 list at age 22. The announcement was made official by Forbes on Tuesday via social media platform X, highlighting the three WNBA athletes for their significant impact.
For Aliyah Boston, the honour caps a remarkable breakout season. Despite the Indiana Fever's struggles in the 2025 season, Boston was a constant force, playing every game and anchoring the team on both ends of the floor. In her third WNBA season, she posted impressive averages of 15.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 44 regular-season games. Her defensive contributions included 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Notably, she also broke the franchise's single-season rebound record for the third consecutive year, hauling in a total of 361 boards.
Why Caitlin Clark Isn't on the 2026 List
Fans might wonder why last year's honouree, Caitlin Clark, is absent from the 2026 list. The reason lies in Forbes' selection criteria. To make room for new, rising talents, individuals are typically removed from subsequent lists once they have been honoured, regardless of whether their influence continues to grow. Clark, having been named to the 2025 list, was effectively ineligible for the 2026 edition. This pattern is also seen with Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, who was on the 2025 list and has not been featured again since.
Beyond the Court: Impact and Entrepreneurship
The Forbes list recognises not just on-court skill but also off-court influence and commercial acumen. Napheesa Collier, labelled an "All-Star Alumni" by Forbes, has made a powerful return to the game since coming back in 2023, ranking fourth in league scoring and eighth in rebounds. Her ambitions extend beyond playing; she is co-developing a new off-season league called Unrivaled with Breanna Stewart and will serve as an advisor for Overtime Select, a new league for high school players.
Paige Bueckers, after leading UConn to an NCAA title and being the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings, had a stellar rookie year. She was crowned the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, earned an All-Star Game start, and averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 36 games.
Aliyah Boston's journey to this point is rooted in a dominant collegiate career at South Carolina, where she won a national championship and numerous individual awards before being drafted first overall by the Fever in 2023 and immediately winning Rookie of the Year.
The inclusion of these three athletes underscores the growing stature and marketability of the WNBA, celebrating a new generation that excels in sport while building their legacies as entrepreneurs and role models.
