The first-ever 40-game season of the WNBA regular season is halfway completed. 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 but is not quite the favorite.
Who Will Win The 2023 WNBA MVP?
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | -300 |
| A'ja Wilson | +300 |
| Alyssa Thomas | +1400 |
| Arike Ogunbowale | +6000 |
| Kelsey Plum | +6000 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | +6000 |
| Jackie Young | +7000 |
| Elena Delle Donne | +7500 |
| Brittney Griner | +8000 |
| DeWanna Bonner | +8000 |
| Nneka Ogwumike | +8000 |
Odds as of July 13
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. She can do it again this year, too as her 23.1 average falls just short of league-leader Jewell Loyd's 25.7 PPG.
The former first-overall pick has drained 25 points or more seven times so far this season, including a historical 45-point night against Indiana in May.
In just her second game with the Liberty, Breanna Stewart sets a career-high and franchise record with 45 points. 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/Zx7LNBvkYn
— theScore (@theScore) May 21, 2023
The former UConn Huskies product averaged a whopping 27 PPG and 9.5 rebounds per game throughout the playoffs in 2022. With the Liberty already clinching a spot in the postseason, she'll look to capitalize in the playoffs again.
CLINCHED👏🏾 See y’all in Vegas for the #CommissionersCup Championship August 15th 😈 pic.twitter.com/dWSW9lODuo
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 12, 2023
Value Pick: A’ja Wilson (+300)
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 could pickup 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.
Now, she sits sixth in the WNBA averaging 19.7 PPG. The 26-year-old was honored at the ESPY Awards by taking home the Best WNBA Player accolade and getting massive praise by LeBron James.
this is why LeBron James will always be my fav because he supports the WNBA players like Aja Wilson and encourages people to watch🤝 pic.twitter.com/39hV10cuhj
— Grace (@gracesporttakes) July 13, 2023
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.
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