diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
index bdfc2ad46f..5d4db81a77 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ body:
       label: Version
       description: What version are you running? Look to OpenPype Tray
       options:
+        - 3.17.6-nightly.1
         - 3.17.5
         - 3.17.5-nightly.3
         - 3.17.5-nightly.2
@@ -134,7 +135,6 @@ body:
         - 3.15.1
         - 3.15.1-nightly.6
         - 3.15.1-nightly.5
-        - 3.15.1-nightly.4
     validations:
       required: true
   - type: dropdown
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
index 6c8b5b6b78..55bd3a0347 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
@@ -774,7 +774,8 @@ class ReferenceLoader(Loader):
             "ma": "mayaAscii",
             "mb": "mayaBinary",
             "abc": "Alembic",
-            "fbx": "FBX"
+            "fbx": "FBX",
+            "usd": "USD Import"
         }.get(representation["name"])
 
         assert file_type, "Unsupported representation: %s" % representation
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py
index 4b704fa706..0d7f08d3c3 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import os
 import difflib
 import contextlib
+
 from maya import cmds
+import qargparse
 
 from openpype.settings import get_project_settings
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.plugin
@@ -128,6 +130,12 @@ class ReferenceLoader(openpype.hosts.maya.api.plugin.ReferenceLoader):
         if not attach_to_root:
             group_name = namespace
 
+        kwargs = {}
+        if "file_options" in options:
+            kwargs["options"] = options["file_options"]
+        if "file_type" in options:
+            kwargs["type"] = options["file_type"]
+
         path = self.filepath_from_context(context)
         with maintained_selection():
             cmds.loadPlugin("AbcImport.mll", quiet=True)
@@ -139,7 +147,8 @@ class ReferenceLoader(openpype.hosts.maya.api.plugin.ReferenceLoader):
                               reference=True,
                               returnNewNodes=True,
                               groupReference=attach_to_root,
-                              groupName=group_name)
+                              groupName=group_name,
+                              **kwargs)
 
             shapes = cmds.ls(nodes, shapes=True, long=True)
 
@@ -251,3 +260,92 @@ class ReferenceLoader(openpype.hosts.maya.api.plugin.ReferenceLoader):
         else:
             self.log.warning("This version of Maya does not support locking of"
                              " transforms of cameras.")
+
+
+class MayaUSDReferenceLoader(ReferenceLoader):
+    """Reference USD file to native Maya nodes using MayaUSDImport reference"""
+
+    families = ["usd"]
+    representations = ["usd"]
+    extensions = {"usd", "usda", "usdc"}
+
+    options = ReferenceLoader.options + [
+        qargparse.Boolean(
+            "readAnimData",
+            label="Load anim data",
+            default=True,
+            help="Load animation data from USD file"
+        ),
+        qargparse.Boolean(
+            "useAsAnimationCache",
+            label="Use as animation cache",
+            default=True,
+            help=(
+                "Imports geometry prims with time-sampled point data using a "
+                "point-based deformer that references the imported "
+                "USD file.\n"
+                "This provides better import and playback performance when "
+                "importing time-sampled geometry from USD, and should "
+                "reduce the weight of the resulting Maya scene."
+            )
+        ),
+        qargparse.Boolean(
+            "importInstances",
+            label="Import instances",
+            default=True,
+            help=(
+                "Import USD instanced geometries as Maya instanced shapes. "
+                "Will flatten the scene otherwise."
+            )
+        ),
+        qargparse.String(
+            "primPath",
+            label="Prim Path",
+            default="/",
+            help=(
+                "Name of the USD scope where traversing will begin.\n"
+                "The prim at the specified primPath (including the prim) will "
+                "be imported.\n"
+                "Specifying the pseudo-root (/) means you want "
+                "to import everything in the file.\n"
+                "If the passed prim path is empty, it will first try to "
+                "import the defaultPrim for the rootLayer if it exists.\n"
+                "Otherwise, it will behave as if the pseudo-root was passed "
+                "in."
+            )
+        )
+    ]
+
+    file_type = "USD Import"
+
+    def process_reference(self, context, name, namespace, options):
+        cmds.loadPlugin("mayaUsdPlugin", quiet=True)
+
+        def bool_option(key, default):
+            # Shorthand for getting optional boolean file option from options
+            value = int(bool(options.get(key, default)))
+            return "{}={}".format(key, value)
+
+        def string_option(key, default):
+            # Shorthand for getting optional string file option from options
+            value = str(options.get(key, default))
+            return "{}={}".format(key, value)
+
+        options["file_options"] = ";".join([
+            string_option("primPath", default="/"),
+            bool_option("importInstances", default=True),
+            bool_option("useAsAnimationCache", default=True),
+            bool_option("readAnimData", default=True),
+            # TODO: Expose more parameters
+            # "preferredMaterial=none",
+            # "importRelativeTextures=Automatic",
+            # "useCustomFrameRange=0",
+            # "startTime=0",
+            # "endTime=0",
+            # "importUSDZTextures=0"
+        ])
+        options["file_type"] = self.file_type
+
+        return super(MayaUSDReferenceLoader, self).process_reference(
+            context, name, namespace, options
+        )
diff --git a/openpype/tools/publisher/widgets/widgets.py b/openpype/tools/publisher/widgets/widgets.py
index cc0f7a9f97..8cc2a39ea8 100644
--- a/openpype/tools/publisher/widgets/widgets.py
+++ b/openpype/tools/publisher/widgets/widgets.py
@@ -580,6 +580,10 @@ class AssetsField(BaseClickableFrame):
         """Change to asset names set with last `set_selected_items` call."""
         self.set_selected_items(self._origin_value)
 
+    def confirm_value(self):
+        self._origin_value = copy.deepcopy(self._selected_items)
+        self._has_value_changed = False
+
 
 class TasksComboboxProxy(QtCore.QSortFilterProxyModel):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -786,6 +790,15 @@ class TasksCombobox(QtWidgets.QComboBox):
 
         self._set_is_valid(is_valid)
 
+    def confirm_value(self, asset_names):
+        new_task_name = self._selected_items[0]
+        self._origin_value = [
+            (asset_name, new_task_name)
+            for asset_name in asset_names
+        ]
+        self._origin_selection = copy.deepcopy(self._selected_items)
+        self._has_value_changed = False
+
     def set_selected_items(self, asset_task_combinations=None):
         """Set items for selected instances.
 
@@ -920,6 +933,10 @@ class VariantInputWidget(PlaceholderLineEdit):
         """Change text of multiselection."""
         self._multiselection_text = text
 
+    def confirm_value(self):
+        self._origin_value = copy.deepcopy(self._current_value)
+        self._has_value_changed = False
+
     def _set_is_valid(self, valid):
         if valid == self._is_valid:
             return
@@ -1111,6 +1128,7 @@ class GlobalAttrsWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
         btns_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
         btns_layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
         btns_layout.addStretch(1)
+        btns_layout.setSpacing(5)
         btns_layout.addWidget(submit_btn)
         btns_layout.addWidget(cancel_btn)
 
@@ -1161,6 +1179,7 @@ class GlobalAttrsWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
         subset_names = set()
         invalid_tasks = False
+        asset_names = []
         for instance in self._current_instances:
             new_variant_value = instance.get("variant")
             if AYON_SERVER_ENABLED:
@@ -1177,6 +1196,7 @@ class GlobalAttrsWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
             if task_name is not None:
                 new_task_name = task_name
 
+            asset_names.append(new_asset_name)
             try:
                 new_subset_name = self._controller.get_subset_name(
                     instance.creator_identifier,
@@ -1218,6 +1238,15 @@ class GlobalAttrsWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
         self._set_btns_enabled(False)
         self._set_btns_visible(invalid_tasks)
 
+        if variant_value is not None:
+            self.variant_input.confirm_value()
+
+        if asset_name is not None:
+            self.asset_value_widget.confirm_value()
+
+        if task_name is not None:
+            self.task_value_widget.confirm_value(asset_names)
+
         self.instance_context_changed.emit()
 
     def _on_cancel(self):
diff --git a/openpype/tools/publisher/window.py b/openpype/tools/publisher/window.py
index 312cf1dd5c..2416763c27 100644
--- a/openpype/tools/publisher/window.py
+++ b/openpype/tools/publisher/window.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from openpype.tools.utils import (
     MessageOverlayObject,
     PixmapLabel,
 )
+from openpype.tools.utils.lib import center_window
 
 from .constants import ResetKeySequence
 from .publish_report_viewer import PublishReportViewerWidget
@@ -529,6 +530,7 @@ class PublisherWindow(QtWidgets.QDialog):
     def _on_first_show(self):
         self.resize(self.default_width, self.default_height)
         self.setStyleSheet(style.load_stylesheet())
+        center_window(self)
         self._reset_on_show = self._reset_on_first_show
 
     def _on_show_timer(self):
diff --git a/openpype/version.py b/openpype/version.py
index 9832c77291..8500b78966 100644
--- a/openpype/version.py
+++ b/openpype/version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """Package declaring Pype version."""
-__version__ = "3.17.5"
+__version__ = "3.17.6-nightly.1"