7 WNBA Players In The MVP Conversation As We Near The End Of The Season

We’re less than two weeks away from what is easily the most talked-about season in WNBA history—one that’s been filled with plenty of drama thanks in no small part to the ascension of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Those rookies may have received the bulk of the attention heading into the year, but the WNBA is obviously filled with plenty of other stars who’ve found themselves dealing with an unprecedented amount of attention as the league has been thrust into the spotlight—including some who have firmly risen above the pack when it comes to the race for MVP.

At this point, it seems like Caitlin Clark is well on her way to securing Rookie of the Year honors, and it does seem like there’s a chance she could be the first WNBA player since Candace Parker to win that award and the MVP trophy in the same season.

With that said, she faces some stiff competition from some other standouts who’ve put on an impressive show during the 2024 season.

A'ja Wilson—Las Vegas Aces

STATS: 27.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game

TEAM RECORD: 21-12

It would appear the MVP award is A’ja Wilson’s to lose, as the Aces superstar (who previously won it in 2020 and 2022) leads the league in points and blocks as Las Vegas attempts to pull off the threepeat.

She headed into the season with a chip on her shoulder after a fourth-place vote in last year’s MVP tally helped Breanna Stewart reign supreme, and she’ll join Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lauren Jackson as the only three-time winner if she gets redemption.

Caitlin Clark—Indiana Fever

STATS: 18,9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game

TEAM RECORD: 18-16

It was pretty hard for Caitlin Clarkk to live up to the expectations surrounding her heading into her rookie season, but she’s done a pretty good job showing why there was so much hype surrounding her arrival.

Clark has really come into her own in the second half of the season, so while Wilson may still have the edge, she still has a few games to firm up the argument she’s actually more worthy.

Breanna Stewart—New York Liberty

STATS: 20.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game

TEAM RECORD: 27-6

Last year’s MVP winner has once again shown why she’s one of the best players in the WNBA, and the Liberty are the best team in the league thanks to the one-two punch she and Sabrina Ionescu (more on her in a minute) bring to the table.

She may be facing a bit of an uphill battle in her quest to repeat as MVP, but her résumé is certainly nothing to scoff at.

Napheesa Collier—Minnesota Lynx

STATS: 20.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game

TEAM RECORD: 24-9

Collier has been the primary weapon for the Lynx this season while helping Minnesota stage a fairly drastic turnaround after the team posted a 19-21 record last year (which was still good enough to qualify for the playoffs).

She was also the primary reason the Lynx won the Commissioner’s Cup (the WNBA’s in-season tournament), and barring an unexpected collapse, she’ll cement her status as one of the league’s top scorers by averaging more than 20 points for the second season in a row.

Jewell Loyd—Seattle Storm

STATS: 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game

TEAM RECORD: 20-13

The Storm finished with an absolutely dismal 11-29 record in 2023, but Jewell Loyd did what she could in a season where the veteran averaged a career-high 24.7 points.

She’ll almost certainly finish with a lower total in 2024 when everything is said and done, but she’s definitely been the MVP for Seattle while helping them bounce back in a big way.

Sabrina Ionescu—New York Liberty

STATS:  19.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1 steal per game

TEAM RECORD: 27-6

Sabrina Ionescu may be slightly overshadowed by Breanna Stewart, but as I mentioned above, she’s still a force to be reckoned with.

The sharpshooter remains as deadly as ever from behind the arc, and while she may not end up winning the MVP, she’ll deserve a good chunk of the credit if the Liberty are able to win their first title after coming up short in their five previous WNBA Finals appearances.

Alyssa Thomas—Connecticut Sun

STATS: 10.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game

TEAM RECORD: 24-9

Thomas’ stats may not jump out as much as some of the other names on this list, but she’s also one of the most well-rounded players in the league and has been instrumental in helping the Sun put together a stellar season.

She finished second to Stewart in the MVP voting last year, and while it’s a bit hard to imagine that will be the case in 2024, she’s quietly put together a very solid campaign.