It is no surprise that A’ja Wilson is once again having a great season. She has been one of the best players in the WNBA for quite some time now. 4x MVP has won 3 WNBA championships along with 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards and 2x Finals MVP. Her resume is stacked with achievements, and she is not stopping any time soon.
She is averaging 26.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3 assists in 24 games this season. The Las Vegas Aces stand 3rd in the league as of now with a 18-8 record. During an ESPN segment on Monday, former WNBA pros-turned analysts Chiney Ogwumike and Monica McNutt talked about who can dethrone Wilson from multiple WNBA awards.
They discussed the Defensive Player of the Year, the MVP and the WNBA championship.
Defensive Player of the Year – Gabby Williams
McNutt picked Golden State Valkyries’ star Gabby Williams as a candidate to fight for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
“She is one of the most versatile defenders in the league. And when she is the primary defender, she is holding folks to the league lowest in terms of percentages,” she said (0:17).
She highlighted her versatility with how she made sure to secure the ball after defending and then driving with it towards the basket. She broke down how the Valkyries play with a clip from their game vs A’ja Wilson’s Aces. She praised the Valkyries for being one of the best defensive teams in the league. She believes that because of that, Gabby Williams has a fair chance at the DPOY.
MVP – Paige Bueckers
A no-brainer from Chiney Ogwumike, who picked the Dallas Wings star to be a candidate for winning the MVP this season.
“Paige Bueckers currently number 2 in the odds. And this is what she does. She is a certified closer. And you look at the time and scores, under a minute or so. They needed a bucket, she hit the three but here’s the money shot right here,” Ogwumike narrated the highlight clip (1:50).
Both Ogwumike and McNutt were impressed by the numbers that Bueckers had been putting up all season. She is averaging at least 4.5+ points in each quarter, with her fourth quarter average going up to 6.7. Ogwumike shared how insane her shooting percentages.
WNBA champions – Olivia Miles’ Minnesota Lynx
McNutt advocated the Lynx as the top team to clinch the WNBA title if Aces fail to do so. She said that Olivia Miles has already locked up the Rookie of the Year award. She praised Miles for being the main focal point of the team. The Lynx are first in the table with a 22-6 record.
Miles’ quick growth and her rise to stardom in her rookie season have been a major reason for Lynx success. Moreover, Napheesa Collier’s return from a long-term injury has added another boost to their season. Some might say that they have been the best team in the WNBA so far.
Read more:
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