The Las Vegas Aces center is enjoying a season for the ages, and the rest of the top 10 is coming into focus, writes Chelsea Leite.
The 2024 WNBA season is nearing its midway point, and the action has been intense with the New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx duking it out atop the standings. Not far behind are the Seattle Storm and the two-time defending-champion Las Vegas Aces.
The Olympic break will arrive in just over two weeks as we look forward to the 20th WNBA All-Star Game, featuring Team USA against Team WNBA in Phoenix on July 20. No one wants to stew over missed opportunities over the break, so we expect to see teams playing with a sense of urgency this month.
With all that in mind, we present our updated MVP ladder below.
. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Right now, the MVP race starts and ends with A’ja Wilson, who leads the league in scoring (26.9 points per game) and ranks second in rebounding (11.1 per game). She’s on pace to break Diana Taurasi’s single-season WNBA record of 25.3 points per game set all the way back in 2006. The only blemish on Wilson’s résumé was the Aces’ slow start as a team. But after posting a 6-6 record through 12 games, Las Vegas has won four in a row since Chelsea Gray returned from injury.
. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
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If it weren’t for Wilson’s audacious stats, Napheesa Collier would be getting a lot more attention this season. The three-time All-Star ranks fourth in the league averaging 20.9 points per game and third with 10.4 rebounds per game. Collier scored 22 points as the Lynx knocked off the Liberty to capture the Commissioner’s Cup last week, and she was named MVP of the league’s in-season tournament.
3. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
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The New York Liberty brags in being the WNBA’s best record at 16-3, and Breanna Stewart is a huge part of her team’s success. it happens to be the current holding league MVP is averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Stewart’s scoring is down from last season’s 23.0 average, as the Liberty rely more on Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones on the offensive end of the floor. Nevertheless, Stewie scored in 33 points in New York’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks on June 22.
4. Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
The Storm committed to building their team around Jewell Loyd by acquiring Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith to complement their standout point guard. The Storm have won five of their past seven games, and Loyd is coming off her two best performances of the season
5. Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
Kahleah Copper ranks third in the league at 21.8 points per game in her first season with the Mercury. Copper’s scoring average is a career high, as is her 31.7-minute average playing time per game.
6. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Sabrina Ionescu is making the best of her season in her pro career with career highs in scoring average (18.8 points per game), assists (6.5 per game) and playing time (33.2 minutes per game). She’s been even better of late, averaging 20.8 points, 8.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds in her past six games. The Liberty (16-3) stays on the top of league standings, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Connecticut Sun, as they seek the first championship in franchise history.
7. Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks
. Her previous bests were 13 points per game in 2020 and 7.6 rebounds per game in 2019. Hamby has been named a member of Team USA’s 3×3 women’s basketball squad for the Paris Olympics, replacing injured Sparks teammate Cameron Brink.
8. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
When it comes to coordinating a team no one does it beeter than Jackie Young is going to play a key role if the Aces are to win their third consecutive championship. The No. 1 pick in the 2019 WNBA draft is averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, all career bests. It remains to be seen whether Young’s stats will dip now that point guard Chelsea Gray is back from injury. But the Aces, winners of four games in a row, are playing their best basketball of the season.
9. DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun
DeWanna Bonner has been remarkably consistent this season, scoring in double figures 15 times in 18 games. Unfortunately for the Sun, two of those three single-digit performances occurred in recent losses to Las Vegas and Seattle. Despite a 1-3 skid since June 21, the Sun still boast the WNBA’s second-best record, 14-4. This week will be important if Connecticut is to right the ship. The Sun play on the road against the Mercury (9-9) on Monday and the Lynx (14-4) on Thursday.
