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
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.
