rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
A’ja Wilson will be a topic of interest next season. Last year, she became the first player to eclipse the 1,000-point mark, a remarkable feat given the games in the WNBA are shorter. She also averaged 26.9 points, 2.3 assists, and 11.9 rebounds en route to being the unanimous MVP. The 28-year-old’s defensive exploits led to her finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Napheesa Collier. Despite having a historic season last year, she still should work on her game this offseason. Many players will be motivated by her achievements and strive to be better than her next campaign. These three players could compete with A’ja Wilson for the MVP award next season. Let’s explore who these three players are and why they could challenge Wilson for the MVP award.
A’ja Wilson Has Stern Competition For Her MVP
Napheesa Collier
In many other seasons, Napheesa Collier would have won the MVP. She averaged 20.4 points, 1.4 blocks, 3.4 assists, and 9.7 rebounds in what will go down as an outstanding campaign. She continued where she left off in Unrivaled, averaging 25.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks. Collier also defeated Aaliyah Edwards in the 1v1 tournament final. Last season, she won Defensive Player of the Year. The 28-year-old fully deserved it, as she is one of the best two-way players in the league. The Olympic gold medalist will be determined to win the championship next season after heartbreak in the finals against the New York Liberty. Last season’s heartbreak may spur her to be an even better version of herself.
Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart will want to kick off next season after winning the championship with the New York Liberty. She has been one of Wilson’s most fierce rivals throughout her career. The 30-year-old has competed against Wilson in playoff finals with the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty. She had to beat Wilson and the Aces in the semifinals for her championship last year and triumph with the Seattle Storm in 2020. Likewise, Wilson has needed to beat Stewart for her triumphs in 2022 and 2023. They also trained with each other at the Paris Olympics with Team USA women’s basketball squad.
Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark is the youngest out of the three players listed (herself, Collier, and Stewart) who could compete with Wilson for the MVP award. In her rookie season, she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds en route to winning Rookie of the Year. The 23-year-old’s stats are not a surprise since she was seen as a generational talent when she came out of the draft last year.
It is scary to think what she could do after having a break this offseason with the Indiana Fever. If Clark had not had an underwhelming start to the campaign, she could have had more MVP talk surrounding her last year. The guard can’t get complacent because many players in the league will put in extra effort when they play against her. The veterans in the league will want to show she is not a finished product and won’t just have everything go her way in this league.
Photo credit: © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
