The 2026 WNBA MVP race still starts with Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson.
But after the first stretch of the season, one thing has changed since our preseason rankings.
This award is not just about stats. It is about winning.
That matters because several players are posting strong individual numbers, yet their teams are falling behind in the standings.
Read on for our May 25 edition of the 2026 WNBA MVP watch.
Wilson and Clark Still Control the Race
A’ja Wilson (+125)
A’ja Wilson continues to look like the most complete MVP candidate in the league.
The Las Vegas Aces star is producing elite advanced numbers while leading one of the WNBA’s best teams:
- 21.1 PIE
- 66.0 TS%
- 9.8 NETRTG
Wilson impacts every part of the game, and Las Vegas keeps winning.
That combination is what usually wins this award.
Caitlin Clark (+210)
Caitlin Clark remains one of the league’s biggest offensive engines.
The Indiana Fever star controls the pace, creates offense for everyone around her, and forces defenses to stretch far beyond the three-point line.
That changes games before possessions even begin.
If Indiana keeps climbing the standings, Clark’s combination of production, visibility, and team success will keep her near the top of this race all season.
Bueckers Biggest Mover on the Board
Paige Bueckers (+1200)
A month ago, Dallas looked too unstable to produce a real MVP candidate.
That has changed quickly.
Paige Bueckers has brought calm, efficiency, and structure to a Dallas Wings team rising faster than expected.
The advanced numbers already stand out:
- 63.9 TS%
- 2.92 assist-to-turnover ratio
- 7.9 turnover ratio
- 110.3 offensive rating
But the biggest thing is how much more organized Dallas looks with the ball in her hands.
Earlier in the season, Bueckers looked overlooked.
Now the rest of the league is starting to notice.
The Team Success Rule Is Already Showing Up
Alyssa Thomas (+3000)
Alyssa Thomas has been excellent individually.
Her all-around production remains elite:
- 18.4 PIE
- 41.2 AST%
- 61.0 TS%
- 111.1 offensive rating
But the Phoenix Mercury sitting at 2-5 is a massive problem in this race.
Historically, MVP voters rarely reward great players on middle-tier or struggling teams.
That makes it difficult to push Thomas into the top tier of this conversation, despite the numbers.
Sonia Citron (+8000)
Sonia Citron’s breakout is real.
She has been one of Washington’s most efficient young guards while taking on a larger offensive role and continuing to impact both ends of the floor.
The talent absolutely deserves attention.
But the standings matter.
Washington sits near the bottom of our power rankings, and MVP races almost always favor players attached to elite teams and deep playoff runs.
That makes Citron one of the league’s most interesting young players without necessarily making her a realistic MVP favorite right now.
Howard is the Sleeper Still Worth Watching
Rhyne Howard (+7500)
The Atlanta Dream’s rise is quickly changing this conversation.
Rhynne Howard may not have the cleanest statistical profile yet, but winning changes how voters look at players.
If the Dream stays near the top of the standings, Howard’s visibility is going to grow fast.
And if Atlanta keeps winning, she will not stay this far down the MVP board for long.
What Actually Wins WNBA MVP?
The formula usually stays the same.
The MVP almost always comes from:
- A top-tier playoff team
- A player carrying a major offensive role
- A nationally visible contender
That is why team success matters just as much as raw production.
Right now, that keeps Wilson and Clark at the top.
But teams like Dallas and Atlanta are reshaping the race much faster than expected.
Bottom Line
This is no longer just a two-player race.
The standings are beginning to separate real contenders from great statistical stories.
And in the WNBA MVP race, winning usually decides everything.
