Happy Memorial Day! The WNBA season has tipped off and every team has played at least three games, so as we enter Week 2, let’s take a look at the updated race for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.
All odds are courtesy of DraftKings and subject to change.
WNBA MVP Ladder:
1. Napheesa Collier (+150)
2. Caitlin Clark (-110)
3. A’ja Wilson (+750)
More and more money continues to come in on Caitlin Clark (-110) after her third double-double in four games in a two-point home loss to the Liberty. Clark was stripped on the final play, which could have been a game-tying or winning shot, but her odds still moved from +140 to -110.
The part of that game that isn’t discussed is the 10 turnovers she had or 2-of-11 from three. For my new favorite pick as of a week ago, Napheesa Collier (+150) hasn’t had any issues to start the season.
Collier scored 28 and 34 points in the last two games on 19-of-38 from the field (50%), and 3-of-6 from three (50%), with five steals, four blocks, and four turnovers. There hasn’t been a blemish in her game or Minnesota’s 4-0 start, so I sprinkled her at +300 and +150 to win MVP and laid two units on the Lynx to win the Championship at +340.
WNBA DPOY Ladder:
1. A’ja Wilson (+280)
2. Napheesa Collier (+225)
3. Ezi Magbegor (+900)
The only news for this award was Napheesa Collier (+225) becoming the slight favorite despite A’ja Wilson (+280) putting up nine blocks and eight steals over four games.
Natasha Cloud (+6000) and Jonquel Jones (+1400) will be two names to watch over the next few weeks. Jones has been terrific for the undefeated Liberty, and Cloud had the game-sealing strip on Caitlin Clark to secure the 3-0 record. Cloud is a great defender, but her odds did not move much, so if she records another signature moment in the clutch, there could be a bet there.
WNBA ROY Ladder:
1. Paige Bueckers (-450)
2. Kiki Irafen (+1000)
T3. Janelle Salaun (+750)
T3. Sonia Citron (+1000)
The only movement worth reporting for the Rookie Ladder is the rise of Janelle Salaun (+750). She missed the opening game for the Golden State Valkyries but in the past two, both wins, she combined for 28 points, 12 rebounds, and four steals/blocks.
Sonia Citron (+1000) continued her impressive start with a season-high 19 points on 4-of-6 from three in her last start, while Kiki Irafen (+1000) recorded four-straight double-doubles to start her career.
Paige Bueckers (-450) has totaled at least double-digit points and nine combined reobunds and assists in every game, including a 12-point and 10-assist double-double versus Minnesota. Despite Dallas being 0-4, Bueckers has looked every part of legit and still leads for this award.
This Week’s Added Bets:
Aliyah Boston to win Most Improved Player (+1500)
Minnesota Lynx to win the Championship (+340)
Napheesa Collier to win MVP (+300, +150)
As mentioned over the past two weeks, I have loved almost everything I’ve seen from the Lynx and Napheesa Collier, so I bought into the MVP (+300, +150) and Championship markets (+340) after A’ja Wilson‘s decline (+275 to +750 in MVP odds the past week) and Collier’s rise (+275 to +150).
For value elsewhere, Aliyah Boston (+1500) to win Most Improved Player is gaining steam. Boston is averaging 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds through four games with three double-doubles in addition to 9 assists and 8 blocks in that span. Boston’s shot 63% or better in three games and only turned the ball over three times, so she’s been ultra-efficient.
Boston averaged 14.0 and 14.5 points in her first two seasons, plus 8.4 and 8.9 rebounds, and 1.3 and 1.2 blocks, so a jump to nearly 20 points and a double-double per game and 2.0 blocks on 60%-plus shooting -- that would put her into Most Improved territory.
Vaughn Dalzell’s WNBA Futures Bets:
2 units: Stephanie White to win Coach of the Year (+115)
2 units: Minnesota Lynx to win Championship (+340)
2 units: A’ja Wilson to win MVP (+225)
2 units: Napheesa Collier to win MVP (+150)
0.5 unit: Napheesa Collier to win MVP (+300)
0.5 unit: Angel Reese to win DPOY (+2000)
0.5 unit: Aliyah Boston to win DPOY (+3500)
0.5 unit: Kamila Cardoso to win DPOY (+5500)
0.5 unit: Aliyah Boston to win Most Improved Player (+1500)
0.5 unit: Kamila Cardoso to win Most Improved Player (+3000)
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