The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is back in action following the Olympic break, with odds shifting for the league MVP. Las Vegas Aces player, A’ja Wilson, remains a solid favorite despite odds moving from -5000 to -3000 in the past month. She’s been tearing up the court, averaging 27.2 points and 12 rebounds per game. At BetMGM, she was also the early favorite odds to win the award swinging from +175 to an even +100 by late May.
Another player to watch is Indiana Fever’s rookie, Caitlin Clark, who has also seen her odds shorten moving from +9000 to now +8000. As of August 16, the MVP odds at FanDuel Sportsbook for the top contenders were: A’ja Wilson at -3000, Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) both at +8000, Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty) at +9000, and Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun) at +15000.
This list displays the payout potential for a $10 bet on each player. A win on Wilson would pay a total of $10.33, while Clark and Ionescu would both pay $810, Stewart would pay $910, and Thomas would pay $1,510.
Clark in particular is making waves in the WNBA, recently finishing a game with an impressive 29 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. Despite Wilson’s favorability with oddsmakers, sports commentator Colin Cowherd highlighted Clark’s impact, claiming “If you want to see the Caitlin Clark effect, here it is…Caitlin Clark, to some degree, is saving the WNBA.”
He goes on to highlight the re-energizing effect Clark has had on the league, notably increasing the value of her Indiana team. He adds, “Bad team, small market, and [Indiana is] worth more than the Los Angeles Sparks, the Dallas, Atlanta and Washington teams, and almost equal to a team in Chicago.”
FOX Sports encourages fans to stay updated by logging into their account and follow their favorite leagues, teams and players for personalized daily newsletters. Fan follower suggestions include not only Women’s National Basketball Association for general updates about games, news and more, but also specific news and updates related to players like A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark. As the championship unfolds, the big question is: will Wilson secure her lead, or could an underdog like Clark continue on her rising trajectory and shake up the expectation?
