A’ja Wilson is a heavy favorite to snag her fifth MVP trophy, and her third in a row. Even a battle with back soreness couldn’t slow her down enough for anyone else to grab that mantle after the All-Star break, cementing her status as one of the best in the game. It’s official: CBS Sports’ experts, including an actual league voter, just dropped their end-of-season award picks, and Wilson’s name is at the top of every single MVP ballot.
The MVP and Rookie Race That Wasn’t Really a Race
Seriously, the MVP discussion for Wilson was pretty much a formality, even with other stars in the league. She was averaging 26.1 points and 9.5 rebounds before the All-Star break. After spending time with President Obama in Chicago and dealing with some back issues, her numbers barely dipped, still putting up 25.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. Those are simply ridiculous stats for someone supposedly slowing down. Jack Maloney, who actually voted for the official awards, nailed it: Wilson deserved that fifth trophy over Olivia Miles and Caitlin Clark. And speaking of Olivia Miles, it’s pretty much unanimous for her to take home Rookie of the Year. All three experts agreed: she’s the one.
The Real Dilemmas: DPOY and Beyond
While MVP and ROY felt like consensus picks, things got interesting when it came to Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Coach of the Year. The DPOY race had some real debates. Gabby Williams, who leads the league in steal percentage at 3.5%, got the nod from Lindsay Gibbs, who almost went with Angel Reese. But Isabel Gonzalez and Jack Maloney both threw their weight behind Angel Reese for top defender. That’s a pretty big split for such a crucial award, showing just how tight that defensive battle was all season. For Sixth Player of the Year, Janelle Salaün was another consensus pick, with all three experts agreeing she earned it. Most Improved Player, however, brought back the debate. Shakira Austin was picked by Gibbs and Gonzalez, but Maloney went with Carla Leite. And for Coach of the Year, Sydney Johnson was favored by Gibbs and Maloney, while Gonzalez had Natalie Nakase. The official voting deadline was Friday, so these picks are hot off the press.
What a finish to the regular season, right? The Golden State Valkyries even pulled off a wild 13-point fourth-quarter comeback against the Los Angeles Sparks to lock up the No. 2 seed. Now, all eight playoff seeds and four first-round matchups are set. The real action kicks off this Sunday with a quadruple header, Game 1 from all four series hitting the court. Get ready, because it’s about to get wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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