Caitlin Clark has starred in her rookie WNBA season and the Indiana Fever has turned its fortunes around, leading to speculation that the first-overall pick could be in the MVP conversation.
Clark entered the WNBA with the same hype as NBA legends LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, due to the noise already surrounding her before going pro. Clark left Iowa as the all-time leading points scorer in NCAA history across both men’s and women’s competitions and is averaging 18.9 points in her first season with the Fever.
The Fever is 18-16, the first time they’ve been over .500 for five years and it’s down to an active five-game win streak, the current best in the WNBA. Clark has been leading the Rookie of the Year conversation, but Undisputed host Skip Bayless believes she could be considered for an even higher honor.
Former MVP winner A’ja Wilson is leading the race with an average of 27.5 points this season at the Las Vegas Aces. Wilson is a two-time MVP winner and two-time WNBA champion, but Bayless has sent the 28-year-old a warning.
“Caitlin Clark’s Fever have won 9 of the last 11 – 10 of 11 at home with the next 6 at home. Fever was 13-27 last year,” Bayless wrote on X. “Does she have a chance to catch/pass A’ja for MVP? You better believe it. Despite the record turnovers, nobody takes over games and orchestrates wins the way she does.”
Wilson was also the first-overall pick back in 2018 and won Rookie of the Year. The center out of South Carolina has been dominant in the WNBA since her arrival, but Clark has captured all of the attention.
The beef between Clark and Angel Reese has also carried over to the WNBA, with their original altercation coming during the national championship game two years ago. Reese and LSU beat Clark and the Hawkeyes back then, and Iowa failed at the final hurdle again last season after being outclassed by the unbeaten South Carolina.
Although Reese has enjoyed a breakout rookie season of her own, Clark could have the last laugh if she’s awarded Rookie of the Year over her college rival. However, Clark showed her class when finally responding to the ongoing ROTY debate.
“I think me and Angel would both give you the same answer,” Clark said. “You don’t wake up and think about individual awards. I know that’s what all of you think we do. I know we don’t. That’s what everybody wants to make this about.
“Both of our teams are competing for playoff spots, that’s our main focus. That’s a selfish thing to just care about an individual award. And she would give you the same exact answer. I’m sure she has given you the same exact answer. If you’re playing basketball to win individual awards, no matter what level you’re at, you’re doing it wrong.”
