Welcome to For The Win’s 2024 WNBA mid-season awards.
What an amazing season it’s been for the WNBA. Followers have been completely spoiled by some large basketball from Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the 2024 rookie class.
However the veterans are nonetheless hanging round and gamers like A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier proceed to show why they’re a few of the finest on this planet.
Incredible athletes deserve recognition, and we can not go into the forthcoming Olympic break with out mentioning gamers who’re actually in a league of their very own.
Let’s dive into For The Win’s six WNBA mid-season awards:
All odds through BetMGM
Most Beneficial Participant: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces middle A’ja Wilson (22) reacts in opposition to the LA Sparks within the second half at Crypto.com Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities
The MVP Candidate pool is A’ja Wilson, a HUGE drop-off, after which all people else.
That is no disrespect to Napheesa Collier, who’s having a mind-bogglingly good season, however A’ja Wilson nonetheless has THAT one fourth-place vote on her thoughts, and I really feel sorry for no matter poor souls are on the opposite finish of her present MVP marketing campaign.
Wilson is presently averaging a (WNBA-best) 27 factors and 11 rebounds per sport sport on 52.6% capturing. She can also be among the many high 5 in rebounds, steals and blocks. EXCUSE ME, A’JA WILSON?!
A’ja received the WNBA MVP award in 2020 and 2022, and I concern the competitors is COOKED for 2024. Go forward and pack it up.
Defensive Participant of the 12 months: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
(Picture by Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos)
The Defensive Participant of the 12 months is one other class wherein A’ja Wilson makes such a strong case that it was laborious to not put her on this spot. However there’s one thing totally different concerning the product Napheesa Collier is placing on the ground.
Her defensive effort can’t be denied, and Minnesota’s protection is healthier for it. The Lynx not solely lead the league in defensive score, however Phee can also be within the high seven or higher in defensive rebounds, steals and blocks. She can also be one of the best participant within the WNBA when factoring in defensive win share proportion and defensive score.
Merely put, Collier is the engine behind Minnesota’s defensive identification.
Rookie of the 12 months: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese
(Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Photos)
Earlier than both fanbase begins raging on the considered each Caitlin Clark AND Angel Reese sharing Rooke of the 12 months (for now), hear me out.
Caitlin Clark was off to a rousing begin, profitable Rookie of the Month in Could and breaking information. Then, Angel Reese got here storming again with Rookie of the Month in June and breaking information. Reese’s ridiculous consecutive double-double streak was beginning to assist her draw back from Caitlin within the ROY race till Clark dropped the solely rookie triple-double in WNBA historical past, and we’re proper again the place we began. WHEW.
They’re each BALLING at their respective positions.
To be truthful, this was all the time going to be the case for Caitlin Clark. She’s a generational expertise who took a second to regulate to the WNBA however appears to have settled down. That’s sometimes what most individuals, followers included, anticipated of her. Report-breaking? YEP. Brand 3-point pictures? YEP. Filthy assists? YEP. ALL OF THAT.
However for Reese, not many anticipated that she would discover success within the WNBA. There have been a variety of query marks associated to how her sport would translate and if she may make an affect in opposition to most elite skilled expertise. She’s greater than answered the doubts. Each time you suppose you have got her found out, she simply retains re-writing WNBA historical past books.
Additionally, let’s simply say the factor out loud. Submit gamers don’t sometimes get credit score for the work they do as a result of it’s not electrical like a emblem three, and bigs aren’t often meting out filthy assists at will (until they’re Alyssa Thomas).
So, the truth that a guard AND a ahead are each difficult for Rookie of the 12 months makes this 2024 race so intriguing and a lot enjoyable. It’s giving Arike Ogunbowale versus Napheesa Collier in 2019 vibes, and I’m so right here for it.
Most Improved Participant: DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Solar
David Butler II-USA TODAY
DiJonai Carrington was not a starter for the Connecticut Solar final season, and also you wouldn’t know that by her play.
Her motor is out of this world, and she or he’s received profession highs in almost each main class, together with factors, rebounds and assists. If that wasn’t sufficient, essentially the most spectacular trait to witness this season has been her defensive prowess.
Carrington has been a lockdown defender, and that’s not straightforward to do while you’re in new territory going through gamers you wouldn’t sometimes guard.
Sixth Girl Of The 12 months: Chennedy Carter, Chicago Sky
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
Regardless of now being a starter, Chennedy Carter nonetheless *technically* qualifies for this award as of this posting. (She’s began eight video games and are available off the bench for 12 video games.)
Throughout her time on the bench, she was averaging a really strong 12 factors, however since being inserted within the beginning lineup, Chennedy is as much as almost 22 factors a sport, and that’s some otherworldly stuff. The Sky are 4-4 within the video games she’s been a starter and 4-8 in any sport she got here off the bench.
I feel that Chennedy is enjoying so properly that she’s going to play her approach proper out of this award, which is an excellent factor.
Coach of the 12 months: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
(Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Photos)
Final season was not very sort to Minnesota, with accidents and a bitter exit from the playoffs. However head coach Cheryl Reeve has elevated the Lynx’s talents by way of some spectacular offseason strikes (Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith), which has helped Minnesota rise atop a number of classes throughout the league.
The crew not solely has the league’s finest defensive score, however it additionally leads the WNBA in 3-point capturing and assists per sport. Moreover, Minnesota is fifth or higher in area objective proportion, rebounds, steals and blocks.
By all accounts, The Lynx have exceeded any expectations for the season.
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