With the playoffs approaching, the WNBA MVP race remains neck and neck. The 2022 reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson looks to defend her title in a three-legged race with Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas. Who will get the nod on Sunday? Let’s take a look at the odds to win this year’s WNBA Most Valuable Player for Breanna Stewart.
The WNBA 2023 season is winding down, which has been full of record-shattering performances. With history broken numerous times by consecutive players, only one will be crowned most valuable player on Sunday. Currently, the chase for the award is close between Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Alyssa Thomas.
All three players are incredibly talented, breaking historic records with their respective franchises. With few matchups left in the regular season, is there a possible sleeper for MVP?
In this article, let’s break down Breanna Stewart’s odds and stats for the 2023 WNBA Most Valuable Player. If you are looking for the best betting odds and stats, here is information to know.
Former No. 1 overall pick and UConn Husky, Breanna Stewart shocked the basketball world, former No. 1 overall pick and UConn Husky, when she signed with the New York Liberty this past offseason. A 2x WNBA Champion, Stewart spent her first six seasons with the Seattle Storm, in which she was crowned Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2018.
Five years later, Stewart finds herself on a loaded roster, which includes Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Vandersloot, Betnijah Laney, and several important role players.
Having covered the Liberty this season, Breanna Stewart has risen her game to new heights, and in ways we’ve never seen before. Prior to the season, there was some ambiguity surrounding player roles, and as a free agent, No. 30 took a pay cut to sign with New York.
With that said, it was expected Stewart’s personal statistics could possibly decline. However, the storyline this year has been the evolution of Breanna Stewart, and her continuous record-breaking performances.
Breanna Stewart is an elite scorer
Through 38 games this season, Stewart is averaging career-highs in several statistical categories. That includes points (23.3), minutes (34.2), assists (3.8), and offensive rebounds per game (1.6). Throughout her WNBA tenure, the MVP candidate is scoring the highest points off turnovers (4.4), second-chance points (2.9), and fast break points (2.9) in her career.
In 1,299 minutes played on the court, Stewart is scoring the highest percentage of points (3-pointers, mid-range, and fast break points) than she ever has before. Most impressively, the Liberty forward is shooting the highest percent of three-point field goals made, which are unassisted.
She has the ability to create her own shot, pick and pop, and attack the basket, as well as in the paint.
Overall, No. 30 has been impactful all season long. Furthermore, her production in September has been tremendous. Through three games, Stewart is averaging 26.7 points per game, 19.3 field goal attempts, 11.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, in just 31.2 minutes. Stewart, 29, ranks second in the league, behind Jewell Loyd in points per game, second in field goals made, and third in field goal and free-throw attempts per game.
This season, 50.6 percent of her shots are two-pointers, and her mid-range shots are up four percent from last season. Additionally, there’s been a five percent increase in points in the paint, as well as a momentous increase in three-pointers unassisted. Her post moves are strong and prodigious.
Stewart now holds the record for most points in a single season
Overall, the New York Liberty ranks second in points scored (3385), directly below the Las Vegas Aces. Since the All-Star break, Breanna Stewart leads a Liberty team that has the best record (17-3), and highest field goal percentage (46.5). In pre-game warmups, Stewart can often be seen locked in and ready for each and every matchup.
She leads New York in 17 field goal attempts per game, which can be presented from anywhere on the court. Elite inside the paint, Stewart is known for her fadeaway mid-range shots and is often a force beyond the perimeter. The fellow UConn star leads the league in points scored (885), and recently broke the record for the most points in a single season. In addition, Stewart broke the record for the most 40-point games in a season (four).
The success of the Liberty, especially in the backend of the season, shows how impactful Breanna Stewart is. Her high IQ and ability to read defenses and screens is remarkable. Her capacity to set screens opens the floor for teammates, as well as spacing.
No. 30 is a force on the defensive end
Since the All-Star break, the New York Liberty have the best defensive rating, only trailing the Los Angeles Sparks. In addition, New York has the best net rating since July, in which they lead by a large margin. Although the Liberty have a multitude of talented players, Breanna Stewart remains a concrete staple on the defensive end.
Since 2022, the forward is averaging 9.4 rebounds, which is nearly two points more than the previous season. Less than .6 rebounds away from averaging a double-double, Stewart averages 1.6 blocks, .7 higher than 2022. Moreover, she currently has 60 blocks, which is on pace to shatter her rookie year record of 64.
With three games left in the regular season, Stewart has 57 steals, the most in her career, along with 359 rebounds. Her 297 rebounds rank second in the league, just three boards short of Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas. In the month of August, she had 9 blocks in three matchups against the Aces, in which the Liberty won the Commissioner’s Cup on August 15.
Although the box score doesn’t always reveal the value of a player, Stewart has been a defensive juggernaut in critical games. In two games against the Aces, Stewart held A’ja Wilson to 9 points, each on 4-24 shooting. It speaks volumes that Wilson, one of the most dominant players in the league, was held to 16 percent shooting through two of those meetings.
Ranking third in total blocks this year (60), Stewart has been the defensive anchor in several matchups. With stretch fours becoming more prevalent, she has the task of guarding both the outside and inside of the perimeter. Oftentimes, Breanna does an incredible job of switching on screens, especially when the opposition plays a small lineup.
Over the course of the season, No. 30 broke the record for the most 40-point/10 rebound games in history with three and ties the franchise record for 20 double-doubles in a season.
Stew York City
Through the course of the season, the Liberty have continued to create chemistry and trust one another. No matter how considerable the victory or loss, several Liberty players have vouched for Stewart, and often refer to the campaign as “Stew York City.”
Prior to the matchup against the Connecticut Sun, Liberty forward Jonquel Jones had some meaningful words for her teammate. ” I think the things that you see are some of the things that make her special– Her ability to be able to score on different levels, defensively, being in the right places, or time, and blocking shots, ” Jones told the media. “Multiple 40-point games, and all of that, so I mean, she’s our MVP, and I would love to see her win the MVP at the end of the season.”
Stewart’s impact on her team is colossal
On nights when the shots aren’t falling, Stewart still finds a way to contribute to all aspects of the court. Following the victory against the Aces on August 28, coach Sandy Brondello emphasized why Stewart should be this year’s MVP.
“I think that’s a stature of who she is. It’s not all about scoring big. Stewie can do everything, ” said Brondello. She’s impactful because she’s changing shots— guarding the best player on the other team. She’s rotating, rebounding, she’s running, creating for others. It’s not always about scoring.”
The former UConn star can do it all
Following New York’s recent victory over the Connecticut Sun, Betnijah Laney spoke on the impact of Stewart on the court. ” I don’t think it’s just been tonight. You know, I think it’s been all season long,” said Laney. “I’m not just saying that because she’s my teammate, and not biased. Just everything that [Stewart] has been able to do. She hit’s every mark on the set. For her to be able to do that and lead us. I think she’s already made a strong case for herself, and it wasn’t just tonight.”
In addition to scoring, rebounding, and defending, Stewart is averaging the most assists in her career. For example, often times the forward is double-teamed, which creates an open lane or shot.
As a result, fellow Storm star is averaging the highest turnover ratio in her career (2.64). Stewart ranks 13th in overall assists (62), which is a considerable indicator of her high IQ and vision of the court, as well as her incredible unselfish ball movement by the Liberty.
Her teammates back her MVP Campaign
Prior to the last matchup against the Aces, Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu commented on the importance of Breanna Stewart, and her work ethic, both on and off the court.
“I think it’s a standard that she set for herself, and one that we’ve been able to witness, from, obviously, her in Seattle, but obviously as a teammate just being able to see what she does game in and game out, “Ionescu told the Media. ” Starting in training camp and practice. For me and for us, as a teammate, is just wanting to continue to help her be the absolute best player she can, and understanding how that helps us as a whole.”
Coach Brondello stepped in and had a few words. ” MVP, what are you talking about? Right there.”
The Liberty forward’s list of accomplishments this season
Over the course of the season, Breanna Steward is a 6x Eastern Conference player of the week, and 3x Eastern Conference Player of the Month. In the midst of witnessing greatness, Stewart is arguably in the prime of her career and poised to make another playoff run. She joins Sheryl Swoopes and Sylvia Fowles as the only players in the history of the WNBA to lead in every single win share category.
Stewie’s historic season continues, joining Sheryl Swoopes and Sylvia Fowles as the only players in @WNBA history to lead in all win share categories in a single-season!
After reading this, the stats speak for themselves. In other cases, the box score doesn’t show her impact, and how much she means to her teammates and coaches. It’s remarkable the influence that Breanna Stewart has on her teammates, and the contributions she’s made to the organization’s success.
Her hard work ethic and talent have not gone unnoticed in New York, which have been waiting for their first-ever WNBA Championship. She’s always making plays for teammates and contributes to every aspect of the floor. With the volume of talent on this team, her unselfish performance is advertised nightly, yet she devotes her best in every category. Being an MVP candidate on a highly talented team speaks volumes.
Breanna Stewart was right all along. The key to success is “trusting the process.” All around Stewart, are her teammates making history, and breaking records right beside her.
**Angel Reese, selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, stands out as the lone rookie averaging a double-double this season.**
For those who questioned Angel Reese’s fit in the WNBA, her performance has silenced skeptics and affirmed her status as a rising star in the league. Today, she made history that underscores her potential to become one of basketball’s all-time greats. Beyond her dominance on the court, Reese is also turning heads with her fashion sense, undeniable charisma, and unwavering self-assurance, which translate beautifully into her gameplay.
In the Chicago Sky’s camp day victory, a score of 83-72 against the Dallas Wings, Reese recorded a career-high 18 rebounds alongside 16 points. With two steals added to her stats, the player dubbed “Chi-Town Barbie” achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first rookie ever in WNBA history to notch seven consecutive double-doubles. Eight of her rebounds were on the offensive glass, contributing to Chicago’s impressive 48-22 advantage in points scored in the paint. Just a week prior, she had set a new personal best with 20 points against the Connecticut Sun, finishing this latest game at a +17 efficiency while shooting 7-for-13 overall.
Although the Dallas Wings faced injury challenges, their head coach, Latricia Tramell, opted for a larger lineup. With Natasha Howard returning under a minutes restriction, Reese took full advantage of the matchup, showcasing her talent against formidable opponents like Howard, Monique Billings, Teaira McCowan, Morgan Bertsch, and Stephanie Soares—none of whom are shorter than 6 foot 2. Her extraordinary performance is a testament to her skill set, particularly against a Dallas team that ranks second in the league for points scored in the paint. Winning in the WNBA is no small feat, particularly when competing against players towering 6 foot 5 and taller.
In a post-game interview, Reese revealed that she had studied extensive film on Dallas, emphasizing her willingness to do the hard work for her teammates. “I’ll step in, I’ll mess up my nails, lashes, and stuff like that, just for my teammates,” Reese shared in a social media post from the Chicago Sky. She embodies the qualities every franchise covets in a cornerstone player: heart, grit, and hustle.
Reese’s impressive statistics now place her among the legendary figures who paved the way for women’s basketball, such as Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Donne, and Candace Parker. With ambitions to surpass Fowles’s season offensive rebounding record, Reese is already third in the league in rebounds, leading all rookies with a total of 68 offensive boards, outpacing elite players such as A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Alyssa Thomas.
During the broadcast, Reese emphasized her close relationship with Fowles, reiterating her commitment to victory. “I just want to do whatever it takes to win, and rebounding is what I do to win,” Reese expressed following the game.
With her seventh consecutive double-double, Reese is having a historic rookie season and is on track to break Fowles’s records as she continues to excel at just 22 years old. At halftime, she had already secured 11 rebounds and eclipsed previous records held by Cindy Brown and Tina Charles. Currently, she boasts averages of 12.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, making her the only rookie to reach double figures this season. Following the unfortunate injury to Cameron Brink, Reese has distinguished herself in her rookie class.
The Sky entered this game on a rough stretch, having lost four consecutive outings against the Dream, Sun, Mystics, and Fever. However, Reese and her teammates delivered an electrifying performance at Chicago’s annual Camp Day, where many young fans experience their first WNBA game. Engaging with thousands of children in the crowd, Reese expressed her joy in clinching a victory. “Man, I’m just happy we finally won,” she told ESPN. “I’m excited to be in this league, and win some more.”
Currently second overall in points behind Caitlin Clark, Reese leads all rookies in rebounds per game, free-throw attempts and makes, field goals attempted and made, and steals. Her accomplishments make a strong case for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award.
While other players also earn attention, it’s essential not to overlook Reese, a bona fide national champion and standout during her four years at LSU under the guidance of coach Kim Mulkey. Drafted alongside fellow Gamecock legend Kamilla Cardoso, there were questions about how the two would fit into Teresa Weatherspoon’s front court. Despite some media controversies, Reese consistently puts up impressive numbers.
Standing at 6 foot 3, Reese has recorded double-doubles against notable teams like the Fever, Mystics, Sun, Dream, and Liberty. Out of those seven games, three teams rank among the top five in rebounding. Today, she exhibited relentless aggression, creating numerous second-chance opportunities. Developing her mid-range and outside shooting game would elevate her to a true triple threat.
Eager to continue improving, Reese is a legitimate contender for Rookie of the Year, thriving by consistently making winning plays.
With a season record of 5-9, Reese and the Chicago Sky look ahead to their next challenge against the Indiana Fever at home this Sunday evening.
Introducing the 2024 US Women’s 3×3 Olympics Team: Brink, Burdick, Howard, Van Lith
Introducing the USA Basketball 3x3 Women's National Team
The American Basketball organization has announced the starting lineup for the 2024 Women’s National 3×3 squad.
Featuring the talented Cameron Brink as a standout, the team will also boast the skills of Rhyne Howard, Hailey Van Lith, and Cierra Burdick. Chosen by a selection panel, the Olympic Games are set to be held in Paris, showcasing what promises to be an exceedingly powerful, adaptable, and all-rounded team.
Just a year prior, Brink, Van Lith, and Burdick guided the USA team to victory at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, securing the gold medal. With a mix of experienced and emerging talents, team cohesion is expected to be even stronger. Van Lith and Burdick, in particular, have been playing alongside each other since the 2022 World Cup.
The announcement of the players selected for the team was met with profound emotional displays across various social media platforms.
At 22, Brink, who was the Los Angeles Sparks’ second pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has consistently performed during her freshman season. With Stanford as her alma mater, Brink’s averages include 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Renowned for her defensive capabilities, her professional performance has lived up to expectations.
Ranking second in the WNBA for total blocks (21) and leading new recruits in that domain, Brink also stands third among her rookie peers for rebounds. As a highly regarded defensive anchor in the league, she excels in defensive boards per contest. With an average of 2.6 blocks per outing, her defensive acumen will be pivotal in the 3×3 format.
After achieving a personal best of 21 points in a recent game against the Fever, the Stanford graduate was honored as the MVP of the 2023 3×3 FIBA World Cup, having steered her team to the top podium. She also played in the 2018 FIBA U17 and 2019 U19 Women’s World Cup teams.
Expanding her team’s offensive options, Brink offers spacing on the floor and can both shoot from the distance and engage in post-up moves. A crucial element will be her prowess in seizing the offensive rebounds.
Introduced at the Tokyo Games in 2021, the 3×3 basketball format promises a riveting yet demanding style of play. Rizzotti and the team are gearing up for their inaugural run in Paris, with the events slated to commence at the twilight of July, stretching into early August.
WNBA Players of the Week: A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu
Week 3 Western Conference Player of the Week: A'ja Wilson
MVP Periodt and the Sovereign of Brooklyn are dominating WNBA news.
A’ja Wilson from the Las Vegas Aces and Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty have undeniably made an impression, influencing the game within and outside the bounds of the court. Formerly competitors in the 2023 WNBA Finals, they have now claimed the titles of Eastern and Western Conference players of the week.
Ionescu is partnered with Nike and recently unwrapped the Sabrina 2s just last month. Around this coinciding period, Wilson disclosed her inaugural shoe, the Nike A’One, slated for a 2025 launch. Wilson now stands alongside Ionescu as one of the trio of active WNBA athletes boasting their own exclusive footwear lines.
Not even a full two months into the current season and Wilson as well as Ionescu are exerting considerable influence on their respective squads’ performances.
Despite Wilson’s impressive credentials as a two-time WNBA Champion, MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year, she hasn’t overlooked that one time she was ranked fourth by an MVP voter. And with reason, she perpetuates her response to the skeptics with stellar displays on the basketball court.
A’ja Wilson is once again performing at an MVP level
Off to a blistering start, the Aces star added eight blocks and three steals in both matchups against the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx.
4-2 on the season, Becky Hammon and the Aces suffered a rare 78-74 against the Dream on the road. However, how can we forget Wilson’s unforgettable block on good friend Allisha Gray? It may not have traveled into the concession stand but was a statement block.
On pace for another historical season, Wilson started off the season with five straight double-doubles, owning the longest streak of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in WNBA history. The league leader in blocks with 12.4, Wilson boasted 29 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and four blocks against the Lynx. And a few days later, she put up 28 points, three assists, one steal, and four blocks against the Dream. Over the two games, Wilson shot 46.1 percent from the field.
Earning the weekly award for the 17th time in her career, Wilson has elevated her game significantly. Through six games into the 2024 season, the Aces star is averaging career-highs in points (26.5), rebounds (12.5), and blocks (2.8). Leading the league in player-estimated impact, Wilson is already poised as one of the all-time greats ever to grace the game.
Sabrina Ionescu’s game has evolved beyond the three-point shot
Nearly 21 percent (31) of Ionescu’s 146 field goal attempts have been delivered as driving layups and floating bank shots. Compare this to last year, where she only attempted 17 floater shots. More confident than ever, the California native averages the most points since her rookie season, with 17.9 points per game. Given she only played three games in her first season, it’s a testament to the dedication, growth, and evolution of her game.
Ionescu started off the week with a game-high 22 points, six rebounds, and nine assists against the Phoenix Mercury at home. According to Liberty PR, Ionescu became the first player in franchise history to record double-digit points with at least five assists in a single quarter (10 points and five assists).
Just a few days later, No. 20 poured in 24 points, one rebound, three assists, on 50 percent three-point shooting against Washington at the Barclays. To end the week, the former Oregon star put up 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists in front of 17,000+ fans against the Indiana Fever.
The Las Vegas Aces (4-2) are set to match up against the Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks this week. The New York Liberty defeated the Chicago Sky 88-75 on Tuesday night, and will matchup with Atlanta, Connecticut, and Washington later this week.
