With the WNBA season past its the midway point and All-Star Weekend one week away, the conversation surrounding midseason awards has begun, including the Most Valuable Player title.
Per FanDuel, two-time reigning MVP A’ja Wilson is a runaway favorite, at -360. That should come as no surprise, as she leads the league with 25.5 points per game on .515 shooting and is also grabbing 9.8 rebounds per game.
Wilson, who’s won the MVP award in four of the last six seasons, is also averaging 2.9 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals per contest. Her play has the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in third place at 17-7 in the final week before the All-Star break.
While there’s no question Wilson should be the favorite, the biggest question is whether or not there are legitimate contenders to unseat her as the MVP. Several others, six below in particular, have warranted extensive consideration …
Paige Bueckers continues to prove she is the most dynamic guard in the WNBA pic.twitter.com/Jhq9hT1Zih
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 12, 2026
Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (+700)
Bueckers is undoubtedly Wilson’s closest challenger, as her impact with the Dallas Wings has been felt during the team’s 16-8 start this season. Their fourth-place standing entering this week is quite an improvement from the league’s worst 10-34 mark last season. Bueckers has played the biggest role in the rise to prominence, pacing the Wings with 20.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. She’s also hitting a blistering .516 from the floor, including .381 from three-point range.
Bueckers won her career first Player of the Week honor for the Western Conference earlier this month, averaging 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game during a 5-0 roll to help the Wings secure their longest winning streak since the 2023 season. Her clutch play has been equally evident, as she leads the league in fourth quarter scoring with 138 points entering this week.
Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx (+1000)
The second overall pick from April’s draft is a major reason the Minnesota Lynx are sitting atop the league standings at 19-6 without star forward and annual MVP-candidate Napheesa Collier. Miles is averaging 19.3 points and 5.7 assists to lead all rookies while her 4.7 rebounds place third.
She’s making in impact on both the past and present ledgers: Miles, who has scored 19 or more points in 12 of the 23 games she’s played, currently ranks sixth all-time among all rookies with her scoring average. Miles will look to join elite company, as Candace Parker is the only player to sweep the Rookie of the Year and MVP titles, doing so back in 2008. Just being in the conversation is an impressive accomplishment and Miles is deserving.
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty (+3500)
It’s unlikely Stewart is going to win the award considering the contenders in front of her, but she deserves the respect of a mention. The two-time MVP has missed just one game this season and is putting together another MVP campaign for the Liberty.
Stewart, one of eight players averaging 20 or more points this season, placing seventh in the league with 20.4 a game next to 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks. All due respect to Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, but if New York makes a deep run into the postseason, it’ll be on the strength of Stewart’s play.
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (+10000)
Howard doesn’t get enough respect when the MVP conversation comes around, but she’s a big reason the Dream (15-10) are in fifth place. Atlanta sat atop the league standings not too long back, but hit a rough patch and dipped as low as seventh. Howard’s consistency has the Dream back on track.
Heading into a Sunday showdown with the Chicago Sky, Howard is averaging career-highs of 18.2 points and a league-best 2.6 steals per game. She’s also contributing with 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Howard finished ninth in the MVP voting last season, and would be receiving votes if there were a call for ballots now.
ARE YOU KIDDING, KELSEY MITCHELL
pic.twitter.com/VYYCq9yHFj
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 19, 2026
Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever (No odds available)
This should generate some conversation, but Mitchell has been much more valuable to Indiana this season, than Caitlin Clark. The veteran playmaker ranks third in the league with 22.6 points per game, carrying on the momentum she generated when she took over headlining duties for an injured Clark last year.
Clark’s odds at FanDuel are +1300, but oddsmakers know she’ll generate wagers and don’t want to miss out on easy square money. Clark’s not winning the MVP award, because she not only doesn’t belong in the conversation right now, she hasn’t been the most valuable to her team. That’s been Mitchell, the only one to start all of Indiana’s 26 games this season.
Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries (No odds available)
It’s criminal that the No. 2 team in the league standings with an 18-7 mark doesn’t have a player in anybody’s conversation. The ignorance is wild, and could be because Williams is in everyone’s Defensive Player of the Year conversation. That’s fine, but if she’s been Golden State’s best player, then she deserves to be in the MVP chatter.
Williams leads the team with a career-high 15.0 points, while also averaging 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. The sportsbooks may not want to align a number with her, but she deserves the recognition.
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
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