The WNBA is close to its halfway point in the season and will resume play on August 15 after the Olympics have concluded. The break provides an excellent opportunity to assess midseason awards and who is standing out so far in the 2024 season. Some awards, like MVP, are clear-cut, but the majority are contested races to watch closely in the second half of the season.
Predicting the 2024 WNBA awards
MVP: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
A’ja Wilson’s MVP is currently the easiest award to pick; this would be her third MVP trophy. Wilson is putting up unprecedented numbers even by her standards, averaging 27.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.8 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game on efficient 53/39/87 shooting splits.
Wilson is due for a bit of regression at some point this season, as she currently has career highs in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and three-point percentage. But Wilson is so far in front of everyone else that, even with some regression, she could be a unanimous MVP, or at the very least, close to it.
Rookie of the Year: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Rookie of the Year: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Earlier in the season, the ROY race was more of a toss-up between Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese. However, it has drastically shifted in Clark’s favor with her elite play as of late. She even broke the record for assists in a game, recording 19 against the Dallas Wings. Many expected a breakout to happen at some point in her rookie season, given her level of success at Iowa. The ROY award is now Clark’s to lose.
Defensive Player of the Year: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
After the MVP and ROY, the awards get more complicated. Seattle Storm’s Ezi Magbegor, arguably the biggest All-Star snub, has an excellent case for Defensive Player of the Year as one of the best rim protectors in the WNBA. But Wilson gets the slight nod so far this season; she’s leading the league in blocks per game (2.9), rebounds per game (12.0), and is tied for fourth in steals per game (1.9). If Wilson were to win, it would be her third consecutive DPOY award.
Sixth Player of the Year: Sophie Cunningham, Phoenix Mercury
If the season ended today, the pick would be Chennedy Carter. However, she may not be eligible if she stays in the Chicago Sky’s starting lineup for the second half of the season. Several other options are here, including Aces’ Tiffany Hayes and Fever’s Temi Fagbenle. But as of now, Sophie Cunningham gets the edge, with her shooting ability as the tiebreaker.
