A'ja Wilson's MVP Race: Impact & Controversy Explored
Kevin and Coach discuss A'ja Wilson's quest for her third MVP amidst challenges like voter fatigue and injuries. Discover her unparalleled league achievements.
Video Transcript
Well, I, I think that certain superstar is something that has stood out to me early season.
The back injury was weird.
You know, people trying to, "Oh, you're making something."
No, I'm not.
She's the number one player in the league.
You didn't get her on the injury report with anywhere near enough time.
That's weird.
All right?
Now if it Listen, if it flared up late and okay, that's fine, but like it's, it should be a minus money favorite that that doesn't happen again in her career.
Okay?
With that said, she came out of the gate, couldn't make a three in the first two, and again, some people started talking a little, a little crazy.
Pick your head up, look at the numbers, 24, four, and nine.
And A'ja Wilson is the best player in the world and everybody knows it.
But does LeBron James have as many MVPs as he should?
Does Michael Jordan have as many MVPs as he should?
Both camps would say no.
A'ja already, by the way, would tell you she doesn't have as many MVPs as she should, 'cause I know how much it bothered her not winning the MVP in 2023.
But A'ja has won four league MVPs.
Just so everybody understands, just so everybody understands, that's already the most.
She's won two consecutive.
So to be very clear, she is flirting with winning a third straight.
She's the only one to ever win four, meaning she in a three-year window would match the amount that Lisa Leslie won in her entire career, and Sheryl Swoopes, and Lauren Jackson.
I say that to say A'ja's the favorite and is the woman to beat.
But voter fatigue, sometimes injuries happen.
There's a reason it's so difficult to win MVPs at that level.
It is why the Caitlin Clark price, I know a lot of people chalk up to, "Oh, because it's Caitlin."
No.
Look at the numbers.
She's going to probably end up top five in points per game, leading the league in assists on a Fever team who will have one of the better records.
And look, the only other contender that I really see, and the odds are starting to shift this way, is Alicia Gray.
Alyssa Thomas isn't gonna be in the mix.
The Mercury just aren't good enough.
Napheesa Collier is injured and not in the mix.
Stewie and the Liberty are off to a weird start.
There isn't an MVP candidate on Golden State, on the Chicago Sky.
Paige Bueckers is not there yet, guys.
The Dallas Wings are not there yet, despite everybody wanting to run and tell you that Paige is way better than Clark.
It's not there yet.
So it's an MVP race between the standard in this sport in A'ja Wilson.
But if any of the things that stop the all-time greats from winning, LeBron should've won five in a row, but instead they gave one to Derrick Rose because they were mad he switched teams.
Sometimes we find reasons, right?
Clark and Gray are absolutely in this mix, Coach, when it comes to league MVP.
I agree, and I think with the Liberty, th- those superstars are all gonna cancel each other out between Stewie, Enescu, Jonquel, and Sabally, so the, the stats will never be there for any of them.
I will say this.
If Indiana is a top four seed in the WNBA by the end of the season, they're giving her the MVP for two reasons.
One, because of voter fatigue, and two, that's the best thing for the league
