WNBA’s 10 leading MVP candidates in 2026, ranked by odds of dethroning A’Ja Wilson

The WNBA MVP award is entering year seven of the A’ja Era. Since 2020, A’ja Wilson has claimed four MVP trophies (plus two Finals MVP awards), and voting patterns reveal a clear tier of superstars below her. Napheesa Collier has finished second the past two seasons, and Alyssa Thomas has been a mainstay in the top five, while Liberty teammates Breanna Stewart (2023) and Jonquel Jones (2021, then with the Sun) earned the two odd-year MVPs.

There’s reason to believe 2025 could be a season of change. Is this the year Caitlin Clark makes her first MVP run? The Indiana Fever are projected to be one of the best teams in the league, and their superstar guard has plenty of motivation coming off an injury-plagued second season. With the league’s popularity blossoming and with a new collective bargaining agreement in place, more fans are rallying around the emerging stars like
Clark and others who are charting a new course for the league.

FanDuel’s odds on 2026 WNBA MVP winner provide an early look at who’s best positioned and primed for a dominant season.

Wilson is not only the defending co-Defensive Player of the Year, she also shot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 80 percent from the foul line last year.

Clark is finally healthy and ready to lead a potent and reloaded Indiana Fever squad. In her one healthy season, Clark was named first-team all-WNBA and Rookie of the Year.

Collier will miss at least the first month of the season after undergoing surgery to repair an ankle injury, but she scored career highs in points, blocks, and FG% last year.

Stewart is coming off of championship seasons in Unrivaled and EuroLeague, showing she’s healthy and ready to repeat her MVP performance.

Ionescu will get the keys to the Liberty’s attack under first-year coach Chris DeMarco, and can post elite shooting and assist numbers while driving the league’s most potent roster.

Bueckers won Rookie of the Year last year while being named second-team all-WNBA, and already looks comfortable as a scorer, playmaker, and defender.

Thomas finished third in MVP voting last season by averaging nearly a triple double with 15.4 PPG, 9.2 APG, and 8.8 RPG. She’ll take on even more responsibility in the post this year with Satou Sabally departing for New York.

Plum won two championships in Vegas as an electric scorer before moving to Los Angeles last year and increasing her assists and rebounding numbers – and the Sparks reload around her this offseason.

Howard is a defensive force, with 1.5 steals per game and 27 blocks on the season, but she also led the W with 3.1 threes per game. If she improves her efficiency, the 2022 No. 1 pick could take over MVP discussions.

Gray finished fourth in MVP voting last season after powering the Dream to 30 wins while posting career highs in points, rebounds, and assists.

Nneka Ogwumike (+4000) returns to the Sparks this season with the hopes of competing for another title. The 2016 WNBA MVP has shot better than 51% from the field in all 14 seasons.

Satou Sabally (+4000) stepped up her scoring in last year’s playoffs to 19 pts/game before suffering a concussion that ended the Mercury’s run. With New York, Sabally will benefit from defenses spacing out on her sharp-shooting teammates.

Aliyah Boston (+5000) took her game to another level during last season’s playoff run, and she’s an elite rebounder with a well-rounded offensive arsenal for a Fever team that will get excessive media attention.

Jackie Young (+7500) increased her scoring on the way to her third WNBA title with the Aces, and her two-way impact is among the best in the league as she enters her prime.

Marina Mabrey (+7500) will be leading an up-tempo Toronto attack that will showcase her advanced shot-making and playmaking in fastbreak.

Kahleah Copper (+7500) should be the primary scorer and top wing defender for a Mercury team hoping to remain competitive at the top of the league.