When the initial WNBA MVP odds favored Caitlin Clark, not everyone bought it. Many doubed Clark’s ability to come back from an injury-riddled season. Veteran broadcaster Meghan McPeak called it a “level of disrespect” to the likes of A’ja Wilson and others. Now, after one week of WNBA, an analyst has given her take on this year’s MVP race.

“A’ja Wilson, reigning MVP and reigning WNBA champion, is still in the lead if we’re talking about the MVP race this year,” Rachel DeMita said on the Courtside Club. It’s also going to be interesting because Napheesa Collier may not be in these conversations if she misses significant time with injuries. Last year, it was a head-to-head race between Napheesa and A’ja. Now a lot of people are throwing Caitlin Clark into that mix, saying this could be her year to win MVP.”

Over her first few games, Clark has averaged 24.3 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds while delivering memorable performances, including a 32-point, 10-assist game against the Mystics. However, A’ja Wilson has continued her dominant form as well, recording the most efficient 45-point game against the Sun, shooting 85% from the field.

Wilson has averaged 25 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2 blocks per game so far this season. Her defensive impact has been immense, holding Angel Reese to one of her worst WNBA performances, where she shot 1-8 from the field. The defense of Wilson is the differentiating factor between Clark and her.

The Fever point guard is still lacking on that side of the court while providing immense value on offense. Wilson is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, which is not expected to change. In addition, the Aces have added Chennedy Carter to their championship-winning team, making them favorites for the title as well.

DeMita also considered the possibility of other standout players, such as Kelsey Plum, who leads the league in scoring, or Breanna Stewart, who has a rejuvenated Liberty team. The one thing that can bring Wilson down is voter fatigue.

She has won 4 MVPs in 6 years, and the voters might favor other standout players over her. However, that is if the conversation gets close, as her competitors need to keep up. For Caitlin Clark to be in this race, she needs some support, too.

The Fitness Factor Could Decide The MVP For Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark has already shown she is more than fit. Early concerns arose this season when she returned to the locker room for back work during a game. Since then, she has played every game, shooting the lights out. However, one of her partners has gone down in Aliyah Boston. Her fitness could dictate many things for the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark.

Scott Agness reported that it was originally a meniscus injury for Boston. “It’s been kind of unpredictable with Aliyah Boston. In that game when she went to the back to check on her injury, we didn’t really see anything happen,” DeMita said. “It wasn’t like she fell down or collided with anybody. Nothing obvious happened on the court, so it could just be something getting aggravated.”

Currently, she is listed as day-to-day. But if Boston is out, it has a cascading impact on the roster. The Fever don’t have a proper backup for Boston, which means they are outsized for the majority of the games moving forward. It means that there is more pressure on their shooting and essentially on Caitlin Clark.

With Boston out, Clark does not have a proper target in the paint or someone who can dictate the play beyond her. Boston’s creativity proved essential to this team. Clark now becomes even more important to winning, as Clark has a positive 16 net points per ESPN. For context, the next best is Sophie Cunningham at 7.

It could also lead to an uptick in high-intensity games and more minutes for Clark. Just look at the game against the Mystics, where she played 37 minutes, possibly impacting her fitness.

So, there are a lot of hurdles for Caitlin Clark in order to become a true MVP contender. For now, Wilson has the best conditions to retain that award, but the tide can change at any time.