Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson remains the frontrunner for the WNBA MVP award, with sportsbooks heavily favoring her to take home the title. However, as the Aces stumble in the standings, a new name has entered the MVP discussion: Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
Wilson’s dominance this season has been undeniable, with odds placing her as the clear favorite to win the MVP, potentially even unanimously. She leads the league in scoring with an impressive 26.9 points per game, ranks second in both rebounds and steals, and tops the charts in blocks. Yet, as the Aces drop to fifth place in the standings, the MVP race has started to open up, making room for other contenders like Clark.
Clark’s inclusion in the MVP conversation might have seemed far-fetched early in the season, but her recent performances have made her impossible to ignore. She leads the league in total points generated, whether through her own scoring or assists, and is on pace to set a new record for assists in a single season. With averages of 17.8 points and a league-best 8.3 assists per game, Clark is achieving numbers never before seen in WNBA history. Since July, these figures have surged to nearly 22 points and 12 assists per game, as the Fever have found their stride, winning four of their last five games.
Other MVP candidates, such as Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, have also put up strong cases, but both face their own challenges. Ionescu shares the spotlight with reigning MVP Breanna Stewart, making it difficult for either player to stand out individually. Collier, while impressive with 20.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, missed several games due to injury, complicating her MVP bid.
For Clark to seriously challenge Wilson for the MVP, she would need to continue leading the Fever to a winning record, while the Aces would likely need to continue their downward trajectory. Wilson’s performance, however, is still the gold standard, making her the player to beat for the MVP award.
As the season progresses, expect Clark’s name to come up more frequently in MVP discussions, especially if she continues her unprecedented rookie campaign. While A’ja Wilson remains the favorite, the door is now open for a spirited debate, with Clark emerging as a legitimate contender.
