A’ja Wilson appears to be cruising toward her third WNBA Most Valuable Player honor, but the Las Vegas Aces’ star has an interesting challenger emerging in the rearview mirror.
Caitlin Clark won’t be joining Wilson in Paris to help the U.S. national team chase gold at the Summer Olympics. The Indiana Fever rookie isn’t even participating in this week’s 3-point contest during the All-Star break.
But Clark has pulled even in second place behind Wilson at +7500 by DraftKings to win WNBA MVP honors this season. That is equal to New York’s Sabrina Ionescu and Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas. No other player has shorter than the +15000 longshot odds shared by former MVP Breanna Stewart of New York and Seattle’s Jewell Loyd.
It took Clark only 19 games to record 300 career points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists — easily the fastest to that feat in WNBA history. At the break, she is averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game to go along with 1.5 steals.
That has contributed to Clark drawing 36 percent of the MVP money wagered at DraftKings along with 15 percent of the bets.
Both figures are second only to Wilson, the -3000 favorite to win the award. She leads the WNBA in scoring and rebounding this season with 27.2 points and 12 boards per game. Wilson has been backed by 43 and 70 percent of the action, respectively.
No one else is generating much attention from the public, with Thomas drawing 4 percent of the money and 2 percent of the bets.
While chasing down Wilson for MVP honors may be a massive longshot, Clark is the clear favorite to take home Rookie of the Year honors as she’s currently -1000 at DraftKings.
That’s well ahead of rival Angel Reese, although Chicago’s rookie phenom has been backed by 68 percent of the money and 53 percent of the bets at DraftKings.
Clark also has received the most support to win All-Star Game MVP honors, with the public backing her with 70 percent of the money and 75 percent of the bets at +1000. Wilson, who will play for Team USA, is the +475 favorite and has drawn 18 and 16 percent of the action, respectively.
With Clark and Wilson combining for 88 percent of the All-Star Game MVP money, it hasn’t left much support for others. Ionescu is third with 6 percent of the money backing the sharp-shooter at +700.
For Clark and Reese, it’s the first time the pair will be teammates. Additionally, it’s the first time since 2014 that two rookies were voted to the all-star squad.
“I’m pretty excited. I think it’s cool. It’s obviously rare to have two rookies in the all-star game. So, I think, just enjoy that,” Clark said. “She’s certainly probably going to lead the game in rebounds. I expect that out of (Reese). That’s just what she does.”
The All-Star Game will air live on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
–Field Level Media
