The first-ever 40-game season of the WNBA regular season is about to tip off. With an extra four games, there's even more opportunity to showcase skill.
The W IS BACK!
— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) May 17, 2023
Tipoff for the much anticipated WNBA season is this Friday, with 40 games for each team, marking the biggest season in league history.#WNBA #NBAAfrica #MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/rjIb3m6nHH
On their way to winning the championship, Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson also picked up the award. The 26-year-old averaged 19.5 PPG and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Wilson stays near the top of the oddsboard ahead of season but is not quite the favorite.
Who Will Win The 2023 WNBA MVP?
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | +250 |
| A'ja Wilson | +320 |
| Elena Delle Donne | +680 |
| Kelsey Plum | +820 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | +870 |
| Brittney Griner | +1600 |
| Alyssa Thomas | +3200 |
| Rhyne Howard | +3800 |
| Nneka Ogwumike | +4000 |
| Jonquel Jones | +4300 |
| Skylar Diggin-Smith | +4300 |
Odds as of May 18
Why Is Breanna Stewart Favored To Win WNBA MVP?
Stewart made headlines during the offseason after signing as a free agent with the New York Liberty. She joined Jonquel Jones, the 2021 MVP, and Courtney Vandersloot, who led the league in assists from 2017 to 2021. Big things are coming to Brooklyn.
Breanna Stewart's resume at age 28 🏆
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2023
- 2x WNBA champion & Finals MVP
- 2018 WNBA MVP
- 2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year
- 2x Olympic gold medalist
- 4x NCAA champion
- 4x NCAA Tourney MOP
- 3x NCAA National POY
- 2x EuroLeague Champion & Final Four MVP
- 2019 Euro MVP
UNREAL. pic.twitter.com/45B1hArxIe
Not to mention, the 28-year-old led the league in points last year, dropping 741 across 34 games. Which was a 15-point lead over Aces' Kelsey Plum, who played a full season.
The former UConn Huskies product averaged a whopping 27 PPG and 9.5 rebounds per game throughout the playoffs in 2022.
All this to say, she's continuously one of the best and with fresh, top-notch teammates helping her out on the court, I expect her stats to inflate even more.
Value Pick: A’ja Wilson (+320)
A’ja Wilson was at the forefront of Las Vegas's success. Since being drafted by the Aces in 2018, Wilson has been steady and last year she had her best season with the team, shooting a career-high 50.1 percent from the field.
The University of South Carolina product is currently favored to win her third Most Valuable Player award. She won the MVP award back in 2020 when she averaged 20.5 points per game and led her team to the No. 1 spot at the end of the 36-game slate.
Last season, she stayed consistent with those numbers by averaging 19.5 PPG, 9.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists. But, she didn't have two-time MVP Candace Parker to help her out.
Even A’ja Wilson is still getting used to playing with Candace Parker 😂
— espnW (@espnW) May 14, 2023
(h/t @_ajawilson22) pic.twitter.com/BCJCQFFjKg
I'm thinking this year looks like clear and stiff competition behind the Liberty and Aces. With Wilson entering her sixth year in the league, she'll continue to be the face of women's basketball. But, if New York's group takes off, it might be snagged from her. We'll see once the season is underway.
A’ja Wilson in the @LVAces preseason win vs the New York Liberty ⤵️
— WNBA Fans Only (@WNBAFansOnly) May 13, 2023
17 PTS | 7 REB | 6-8 FG pic.twitter.com/6CRuyst9pL
Last 10 wNBA MVP Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2022 | A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas) |
| 2021 | Jonquel Jones (Connecticut) |
| 2020 | A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas) |
| 2019 | Elena Delle Donne (Washington) |
| 2018 | Breanna Stewart (Seattle) |
| 2017 | Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota) |
| 2016 | Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles) |
| 2015 | Elena Delle Donne (Chicago) |
| 2014 | Maya Moore (Minnesota) |
| 2013 | Candace Parker (Los Angeles) |
How To Read WNBA MVP Odds
At an online sportsbook that would list WNBA MVP odds, they would look similar to this:
- A’ja Wilson -200
- Breanna Stewart +200
- Kelsey Plum +1400
The minus sign (-) indicates who the odds consider the favorite. In this case, it’s the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson at -200. Every other player who’s listed is considered an underdog.
If you believe Wilson will win the WNBA MVP and you bet $100 and it happens, you would win $150 – your $100 is returned and you would gain $50 in profit.
Check out our Odds Calculator to see how much you’d win based on the odds and amount wagered.
If you’ve never bet on WNBA basketball before, be sure to check out our How To Bet WNBA guide to get you up to speed.
