1 week Ago
The WNBA announced A'ja Wilson as this year's unanimous MVP on Sunday morning. While nobody had any shot at eclipsing the Las Vegas Aces star, Caitlin Clark finished noticeably high on the ballot. According to the league's final tallies , Clark finished fourth in MVP voting behind Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart.
The Indiana Fever rookie garnered six third-place votes, 26 fourth-place votes, and 22 fifth-place votes. All but one of 67 ballots had Collier second behind Wilson. Stewart finished no lower than fourth on 62 ballots, so Clark was a distant fourth behind that dominant trio.
However, the point guard's 130 points also placed her considerably ahead of Alyssa Thomas (83) and Sabrina Ionescu (35) in fifth and sixth, respectively. David Berding/Getty Images Clark garnering any MVP votes would have seemed farfetched early in her inaugural season. The former Iowa star shot 37.
7 percent from the floor as the Fever stalled to a 1-8 start in May. However, the playoff-bound Fever finished 20-20 with the league's third-most points per game behind the Aces and New York Liberty. Clark averaged a league-leading 8.
4 assists while setting rookie records for points (769) and three-pointers (122). She also became the first WNBA player to ever register a triple-double in her first season. Clark wasn't the only rookie to make the MVP ballot; Angel Reese garnered one fourth-place vote.
However, the results seemingly eliminate any suspense over who will win Rookie of the Year. Clark's strong finish -- paired with Reese's season-ending wrist injury -- will likely make the Fever star a runaway winner. The Fever start their first-round series against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.
ABC will televise Clark's playoff debut at 3 p.m. ET.
Related: WNBA Legend Rebecca Lobo Has Caitlin Clark On Her MVP Ballot.
