Caitlin Clark’s rookie campaign was the kind of story that Hollywood would be eager to make a movie about: a No. 1 draft pick who broke rookie records for assists and three-pointers, spearheaded Indiana’s return to the playoffs after an eight-year drought. Even the most ardent doubters were left scrambling to adjust their betting boards, penciling her name alongside the league’s pillars. Yet, when the MVP results were announced, Clark found herself sidelined in the conversation. While for her fans, it was surely disappointing to see her not win, they just could not stomach that she had been dropped to No.4 in MVP voting. Well, well, after how this season has kicked off, the MVP conversation might not be too different this time as well.
Last season, Clark’s breakout earned her fourth place in MVP voting, racking up 130 points — yet not a single first- or second-place vote. And when you consider who won it, it made perfect sense. “When you look at the MVP conversation, of course, A’ja Wilson is the frontrunner there,” Rebecca Lobo said on X. And rightfully so — Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to score over 1,000 points in a season and earned 67 first-place votes to take home her third MVP honor. But this time, it’s not just Wilson standing in the way of Clark’s MVP dream.
Instead, Napheesa Collier and Kelsey Plum have emerged as serious contenders. And while it might feel too early for bold predictions, their Day 1 performances say otherwise. Last season, Collier was in second place in voting, while Plum’s name was nowhere to be seen. However, it seems like both have entered 2025 with a clear purpose, and it is something that might tip the scales in their favor. While most players across the league were still shaking off the offseason rust, these two vets opened their 2025 campaigns with historic statements.
First up, it was Lynx standout Napheesa Collier, who dropped 34 points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished four assists in just 32 minutes of play. Now, you might be thinking — what’s the big deal? She’s a six-year vet with over 160 regular-season games under her belt. But, you see, she tied the record for the most points ever scored in a WNBA season opener. When you start the season like that, it’s no wonder people are already calling her this year’s MVP favorite. In fact, WNBA GMs agree — 67% of them voted Collier as the top choice for the 2025 MVP award. And yes, these are the same GMs who fully understand the kind of impact Wilson and Clark had last season.
Wilson still received 25% of the vote, while Clark got just under 8%. Why? Because historically, MVP voters reward players who drive their team’s success. That’s exactly what Wilson did in 2024 with a 27–13 run with the Aces. And with the Lynx off to a hot start, Collier’s case for MVP is only getting stronger.
But she’s not the only one. Even though Kelsey Plum parted ways with the Aces, she clearly took some lessons from Wilson along with her, and it’s already showing. You don’t need to take our word for it, just look at her regular-season opener for the LA Sparks. The same record Collier tied? Plum broke it.
She hit 4-of-6 from deep and went 11-of-19 from the field to rack up 37 points, setting a new record for the most points scored in a regular-season opener. And she didn’t stop there. Plum also added six assists and five steals, rounding out one of the most impressive all-around performances to kick off a season. But honestly, this isn’t a surprise. In 2024, she averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists per game. This is just Plum doing what Plum does.
If she keeps putting up numbers like this — and if she can help lead the Sparks to a playoff run — her MVP case will be hard to ignore. No doubt.
But if you ask the fans? Well, the jury’s still out.
Caitlin Clark is all out to steal the MVP crown!
While Caitlin Clark might not be the GM’s favorite to win the award, the betting odds tell a different story. According to the latest odds published by BetMGM, the Indiana Fever sensation is the frontrunner with +195 odds. A’ja Wilson follows closely with +200, Napheesa Collier is third at +250, and Kelsey Plum stands at eighth with +3500. That ranking makes sense when you consider the performances the former Iowa star delivered this preseason.
Remember her 36-foot logo three? A not-so-casual shot she buried effortlessly. And if that wasn’t enough, consider her 16-point contribution against Brazil — all in just 19 minutes. She then followed that up with another solid preseason game versus the Atlanta Dream, putting up 13 points and dishing out seven assists. All this, and the season opener is only just arriving. So, does this mean she could deliver the same kind of performance as the W’s seasoned vets? Maybe. But that’s not her focus.
“Obviously I want to play good basketball, but I think winning is my overriding objective for the season,” she said. “Winning is the most fun part of this game that we get to play. So, that’s what it is for me.”
And she’s right. With a new approach and a new head coach, the Fever seem more determined than ever to chase their first championship in 13 years. And who better to lead the charge than their All-Star pick? She’s the point guard, a game-changer, and one of the strongest presences on the floor.
So what do you think? Will she live up to the expectations? And if she does — could an MVP title follow?
Stay tuned to find out!
The post Caitlin Clark’s MVP Chances Take Major Hit as Kelsey Plum & Napheesa Collier Wreck WNBA Records in Season Opener appeared first on EssentiallySports.