Caitlin Clark Has Entered WNBA MVP Conversation With A'ja Wilson
A'ja Wilson is the clear favorite to win WNBA MVP. One doesn't need to take my word for it, the odds say so. The Las Vegas Aces star is listed around -3000 to take home the award on most sportsbooks, which would back up the argument she could be a unanimous selection.
However, the Aces are heading in the wrong direction in the standings. Meaning the conversation around MVP could pick up, with Caitlin Clark of the surging Indiana Fever currently sitting at second in the betting markets.
The way these discussions have always worked throughout my basketball fandom is that multiple players get mentioned with their respective cases stated. And given Las Vegas has fallen to fifth record wise, there is no better time than now to at least broach a debate.
As a result, any analysis would be remiss without mentioning other candidates. Sabrina Ionescu has led the New York Liberty to the best record in the league while posting an all around stat line of 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6 assists. But the problem for Sabrina is that she plays on the same team as reigning MVP Breanna Stewart, so it will likely be difficult for one to separate from the other when it comes to voters.
There's also Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx. Collier is scoring less than Wilson but is taking fewer shots. She has totaled 20.4 points and 9.9 rebounds on close to 50% shooting in having the Lynx a half game out of the second best record in the W. Collier is also atop the league in Defensive Win Shares. Unfortunately for Napheesa, she missed a few games due to injury, so that will make it more difficult to close the gap.
Which brings us to Clark. Caitlin being mentioned in any MVP talks would have seemed blasphemous early in the season, but she deserves to be discussed at this juncture, and not based on hype.
Clark's production is unprecedented. She is leading the league in total points generated, either off her own scoring or from passes to teammates, and by a wide margin. Clark is also tops in the W in assists and is pacing to break the all-time record for assists in a season. That as she currently is posting averages of 17.8 points and 8.3 assists, marks that have never been achieved in combination by any player in league history. Those numbers climb to nearly 22 points and 12 assists since the start of July. In addition, Caitlin is averaging more rebounds and blocks than any guard.
And while all that is extremely impressive, given the way the year began, it's safe to say Clark would need to lead the Fever to a record over .500 and the Aces would have to continue to stumble over the remaining third of the season in order for her to have a true claim for the award at season's end.
That's because A'ja is putting up truly staggering numbers. Wilson leads the league in scoring at 26.9 points and is doing so quite efficiently. She is also second in rebounding, first in blocks, and second in steals. So the MVP remains A'ja's to lose.
However, fans probably did not expect her team, that features three other Olympians from the recent Team USA roster, to arguably underachieve. Which has cracked the door open for debate.
So expect to see other names, specifically Clark, at least mentioned for MVP more and more.
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his burgeoning YouTube show. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak on SI!