Top Picks for WNBA Season Awards: Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson Take the Lead | Sports

This was a monumental WNBA season. Obviously a giant a part of that was the unprecedented consideration the league acquired, however one other facet was the on court docket play.

Which makes choosing awards an arduous activity, notably when maybe the two most notable gamers in the league had historic seasons concurrently.

Here is how I might forged my vote for MVP, Rookie of the Year and all the WNBA awards.

This decide was far more troublesome than it ought to have been. That's as a result of Wilson had maybe the most dominant season in WNBA historical past for the Las Vegas Aces. A'ja turned the first participant to attain 1,000 factors in a season, topping the league in scoring extra factors than anybody ever has. She additionally led the W in blocks and was second in rebounds per sport. The solely purpose it wasn't an entire no-brainer is that Caitlin Clark did issues no participant had earlier than as nicely, main an entire turnaround of the Indiana Fever. While Napheesa Collier deserves point out for the throughout yr she had with the Minnesota Lynx. The prime three picks for MVP ought to be Wilson, Clark, and Collier in some order. However, A'ja will get my vote for first in a range which will find yourself unanimous, talking to the staggering season she had.

Despite being debated for a lot of the season, this was a straightforward name. Clark set the rookie file for scoring, the all-time mark for single season assists, and generated extra factors than any participant ever has. Caitlin created for herself greater than anybody else, and additionally created for others greater than anybody else. This as the Fever went from backside dweller to at the very least .500 and a playoff look. Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky deserves a shout out for her stellar rookie marketing campaign, however the alternative was not shut.

Wilson had a case for this award as nicely. But I'm going with Collier primarily based on her versatility. The Lynx have a greater protection than the Aces total and Collier is adept at defending the rim and rotating out to the perimeter. She is tied for second in steals per sport, tied for fifth in blocks, and leads the W in Defensive Rating. So Napheesa will get the nod for Defensive Player of the Year.

Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty deserves consideration, however given New York was in the Finals final season, the slight disparity in file was not sufficient to place her above Cheryl Reeve. The Lynx look each little bit of a championship contender this season, whereas enjoying unselfish basketball and defending. They additionally withstood a little bit time Collier missed with damage. Making Reeve the league's prime coach this season.

DiJonai Carrington had by no means been a starter in her WNBA profession till this season, however she was an integral one for the Connecticut Sun. Carrington averaged 12.7 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals for the Sun. She contributed sufficient offense to go together with elite perimeter protection to obtain Most Improved Player honors.

The New York Liberty deserve some recognition for being the league's prime staff and a part of the purpose they had been capable of maintain that standing was due to the 24-year-old rookie out of Germany. Fiebich not solely gave the squad protection and three-point capturing off the bench, however she truly began 15 video games, giving her the edge over Tiffany Hayes of the Aces.

I beforehand revealed my picks for All-WNBA groups. The picks for first staff had been Wilson, Clark, Collier, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.

All in all it wasn't straightforward to make these selections in a WNBA season that can wind up as one for the historical past books.