Caitlin Clark Not No. 1 on ESPN’s Top 25 WNBA Players List
Expectations are sky-high this season for Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, following a rookie year in which she set multiple records and earned several honors.
The 23-year-old guard averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game, was named a WNBA All-Star, selected to the All-WNBA First Team, earned Rookie of the Year honors and led the league in assists.
With just over a week until the WNBA regular season tips off, Clark is the current betting favorite to win MVP.
According to ESPN Bet, her odds are (+200), followed by Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson at (+225) and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier at (+300).
Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, ESPN released its preseason rankings for the top 25 players in the WNBA. Clark came in at fourth, behind Wilson, Collier and New York Liberty forward Brenna Stewart.
While some might question why Clark isn’t ranked No. 1, it’s still high praise for a player entering just her second season to be placed in the top four. And who’s to say she won’t prove she belongs at No. 1 with another superstar year?
Wilson, 28, has three MVPs under her belt and is coming off a year in which she averaged the most points ever in a single season (25.3 PPG).
Collier, also 28, was the MVP runner-up last year and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Stewart, 30, averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while leading her Liberty to a WNBA title last season.
Here’s what the full top 25 looks like:
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier
New York Liberty forward Brenna Stewart
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas
New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones
New York Liberty guard Sabrian Ionescu
Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike
Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum
Phoenix Mercury guard/forward Kahleah Copper
Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell
Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray
Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner
Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins
Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard
Indiana Fever forward/center Aliyah Boston
Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby
Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray
Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor
