Caitlin Clark’s absolutely wild second-half surge has ripped up the WNBA MVP ladder, man. Seriously, over the past month or so, she’s been on the best sustained run of her three-year career, and now she’s firmly, undeniably in the MVP discussion. We’re in the final five weeks of the regular season, and with the playoff field pretty much locked in, it’s all about seeding now, and how these voters are gonna pick the league’s most valuable player.
Clark’s Unbelievable August Has Voters Buzzing
Look, you just have to respect the grind. In her last 11 games, Clark has been an absolute force, dropping an average of 26.3 points, dishing out 9.4 assists, and pulling down 3.5 rebounds. Her shooting splits during this stretch are insane, too: 50% from the field, 41% from three-point range, and 87% from the free-throw line. Indiana’s gone 9-2 in those 11 games, and their offense is just cooking at a record-setting pace. Their 117.1 offensive rating would be a new league record if the season ended today. Plus, she’s added that mid-range game, making her even tougher to guard. She’s the ONLY player in the entire WNBA to be in the top three for both scoring (22.0 points per game) and assists (8.3). The Fever are on track for a franchise-record 29 wins, and Clark is the face of that. No question, she’s earned her spot in this MVP talk.
The Rookie Sensation and the Scoring Machine Who Are Also Fighting For It
But hold up, it’s not just Clark making waves. Olivia Miles from the Minnesota Lynx is still incredibly real for that MVP-Rookie of the Year sweep. Think about it: only one other player has ever done that! Miles, at just 23 years old, has kept the Lynx humming since Napheesa Collier got back from injury. She’s got the ball in her hands more than anyone else on the team with a 27.2 usage rate, and she’s flirting with a ridiculous 50/40/90 season. The Lynx are 29-7 and are on pace to repeat as the WNBA’s best regular-season team.
Then there’s Kelsey Mitchell, who’s been one of the WNBA’s most dangerous scorers for ages, and she’s having the best season of her career. She’s second in the league, averaging 24.2 points per game, and get this: she’s scored at least 20 points in 19 consecutive games. That’s one off the all-time league record! How crazy is that?
Shout-Outs and What’s Next
We gotta give some love to the honorable mentions too. Paige Bueckers for the Dallas Wings is still putting up serious numbers, 20.5 points and 5.8 assists on those sweet 51/38/87 splits, even with the Wings hitting a bit of a slide. She’s gonna lead them to the playoffs, and you know she’s gonna snag an MVP trophy in the near future. And Breanna Stewart? The two-time MVP and the Liberty are back on track after a little slump. She’s at 20.3 points per game and the Liberty have won nine of their last 11. She’s probably not getting a third MVP this year, but she’s still a beast.
So, with only five weeks left, every single game is huge. The seeding is gonna matter big time for those MVP votes. Who’s gonna shine brightest in the clutch and prove they’re the real MVP? This race is wide open, and it’s gonna be a wild ride to the finish line!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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