- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,210,949
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
WNBA MVP Ladder: Where A'ja Wilson, Olivia Miles and Caitlin Clark rank at midpoint of 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 WNBA season is practically half over, which makes this an ideal time to peg the MVP candidates in the league's historic 30th season.
With most teams having played at least 20 games out of the 44-game season, there is one firm favorite to win the league's top individual honor.
The field is fascinating nonetheless. Two veteran champions and two young guards are among those trying to muscle their way into contention on a ladder that is changing slowly but gradually.
Without further ado, let's hop on the MVP ladder and rank the top candidates.
First, some honorable mentions, players who are on the outside looking in after the first two months.
Honorable mentions
Kelsey Plum, Rhyne Howard, Paige Bueckers
Bueckers has spearheaded the Dallas Wings' turnaround from a dismal 10-34 season in 2025. The second-year guard now runs point for a 13-8 team that looks ticketed for the postseason. This award will be Bueckers' to win someday, and someday soon; she is averaging 20.3 points on ridiculous 52/39/85 shooting splits.
Howard was snubbed as an All-Star Game starter as she enjoys a superb season with the Atlanta Dream. In addition to ranking top-10 in scoring at 18.9 points per game, Howard has become an elite defender and leads the WNBA in total steals (49) and thefts per game (2.5). Her candidacy hinges on Atlanta (12-9) catching fire in the second half of the season, and probably an injury or two along the way.
Plum's leg injury likely has halted her bid for a first career MVP. Her season to date has been so good that keeping it up for another couple of months would have lifted the mediocre LA Sparks into the playoffs. The star guard is averaging 23.9 points, a career-best tally that is good enough for second in the WNBA.
The Caitlin Clark tier
Clark gets a tier of her own as someone who is undeniably one of the WNBA's most talented individual players, but someone whose impact on winning still is unclear in her third professional season.
Clark is averaging a career-best 21.2 points in her return to health after an injury-plagued 2025 season. The 24-year-old ranks second in the league with 8.2 assists per game, and she is one of only 13 players with 40-plus made 3-point field goals.
However, Clark's defense remains a weakness, as does her efficiency and her proclivity for turnovers. Clark has missed three games this season and still comfortably leads the WNBA with 79 turnovers, an average of 4.6 per game.
In addition, the Fever (12-8) are 3-0 in games that Clark doesn't play. All three wins have come by double-digits. Indiana's 84-68 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday saw the Fever turn the ball over a season-low seven times as Clark recovered from back tightness.
On the strength of her counting stats alone, Clark will probably receive MVP votes, just as she did when she placed fourth in 2024 voting. But shorn of Indiana finishing with the league's best record, Clark's candidacy all told is fairly weak.
You must be registered for see images attach
Imagn Images
WNBA MVP Ladder
3. Breanna Stewart, Liberty
Stewart is a two-time winner of this award. But the season she is having to date is her best since the 2023 campaign -- her first in New York -- and would be worthy of a third MVP trophy.
Stewart has played 20 of the Liberty's 21 games to date, and she is averaging 20.1 points to go with 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 stocks (steals and blocks) per game. She is one of two players -- the other is on this list -- to rank top-10 in scoring and in defensive efficiency. The Liberty allow just 101.9 points per 100 possessions when Stewie is on the floor.
The Liberty haven't been fully healthy yet this season, but New York ranks top-five in offensive and defensive efficiency anyway. Even with Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally not available consistently, Stewart and Jonquel Jones -- both former MVP winners -- are keeping the Liberty in the mix
2. Olivia Miles, Lynx
No rookie has been named Most Valuable Player since Candace Parker in 2008, who remains the only first-year player in WNBA history to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.
Miles will need some good fortune, but she could become the second thanks to her immediate and substantial impact on the league-best Lynx.
Even without incumbent superstar Napheesa Collier, Minnesota is 15-5 entering Monday's action. That record is largely attributable to Miles' seamless adaptation to the WNBA after the Lynx took her second overall in April's draft. The former TCU standout is averaging 18.5 points and 5.7 assists while playing top-flight defense: the Lynx have a 101.0 defensive rating when she's on the court.
Miles' individual stats might take a small hit with Collier set to return soon from offseason ankle surgery. But the 23-year-old's poise and decisiveness have ensured she is already one of the WNBA's most valuable players -- and for some time to come.
1. A'ja Wilson, Aces
Wilson is well on course to extend her record of MVP wins. Last year, she became the first player in league history to win the honor four times. In two months, she probably will become the first player to win it five times.
Wilson leads the WNBA in points (489), points per game (25.7), blocks per game (2.0), field goals made (174), free throws attempted (149) and free throws made (123) -- all while ranking a modest 13th in minutes per game. She is still one of the league's most dominant defenders, and offensively, she is just about unstoppable.
The Aces are a half-game worse than the Lynx at 15-6, and all that's really stopping Wilson from storming to a third consecutive MVP is Wilson herself. She has missed the Aces' past two games with an ankle injury, but it is not expected to keep her out much longer.
More WNBA news:
- Kate Martin's contract update is big news for Caitlin Clark's former teammate
- Wings' Paige Bueckers shows off NBA Street handles in big win over Tempo
- Fever in familiar spot without Caitlin Clark after Aces blowout
- Slow-motion replay of Angel Reese's controversial foul has WNBA fans saying the same thing
Continue reading...
