RGIII names Caitlin Clark WNBA MVP favorite over A’ja Wilson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Robert Griffin III is backing Caitlin Clark in the increasingly crowded WNBA MVP race. The former NFL quarterback and current media personality shared his top five candidates on social media Friday, placing the Indiana Fever superstar ahead of Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson.
Griffin ranked Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles third, followed by Clark’s Indiana teammate Kelsey Mitchell and Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers.
“The WNBA MVP race,” Griffin wrote before revealing his ballot.
Caitlin Clark
A’ja Wilson
Olivia Miles
Kelsey Mitchell
Paige Bueckers
The list will generate plenty of debate. Wilson is producing another statistically dominant season, while Griffin did not include Napheesa Collier despite her return helping the Lynx build the WNBA’s best record.
Still, Clark has a legitimate case after leading Indiana to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Caitlin Clark Strengthens MVP CaseClark continued her spectacular season Friday with 29 points and 10 assists in the Fever’s 98-87 victory over the Wings. It marked her 30th career double-double and 11th of the season. Clark scored 16 points during a critical third-quarter surge before Indiana took control in the fourth.
The WNBA MVP race:
1. Caitlin Clark
2. A’Ja Wilson
3. Olivia Miles
4. Kelsey Mitchell
5. Paige Bueckers pic.twitter.com/JkWTRKIh8V
The performance came three days after Clark recorded 22 points and 11 assists in a 106-92 victory over the New York Liberty. She became the fastest player in league history to reach 1,600 points, 600 assists and 400 rebounds during that win. Clark also surpassed Sue Bird for the most double-doubles by a guard in WNBA history.
Indiana has won three consecutive games and eight of its last 10 to improve to 22-12. The Fever sit first in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the overall WNBA standings. Clark’s combination of scoring, passing and team success is the foundation of Griffin’s argument. She entered August averaging more than 21 points and nearly eight assists while directing one of the league’s most explosive offenses.
Her high turnover total remains the clearest argument against her candidacy, but her ability to create shots for herself and her teammates is difficult to match.
A’ja Wilson Remains Formidable FavoritePutting Clark ahead of Wilson is the most debatable part of Griffin’s ranking. Wilson is chasing the fifth MVP award of her career and continues to produce overwhelming numbers for Las Vegas. She entered the month averaging more than 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game.
The Aces star delivered another reminder Saturday, finishing with 32 points in a 92-87 loss to Minnesota. Wilson combines elite offense with game-changing defense, giving her a two-way advantage over every guard on Griffin’s list. Las Vegas also remains firmly positioned near the top of the playoff field.
Clark could close the gap by leading Indiana through a difficult late-season schedule. Wilson, however, remains the standard every other MVP candidate must overcome.
MORE: Indiana Fever schedule: Next five games, standings and latest team update
Olivia Miles Leads Two Notable Rookie CandidatesGriffin placed Miles third after the Minnesota rookie immediately became an essential contributor for the WNBA’s best team. Miles scored 23 points and handed out eight assists in Saturday’s win over Las Vegas. Minnesota improved to 29-7 and strengthened its hold on the No. 1 seed.
The No. 2 overall pick has averaged close to 20 points while shooting efficiently from the field. She also has carried a significant playmaking role alongside Collier, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams.
Bueckers, meanwhile, has remained outstanding during her second season with Dallas.
The Wings guard matched Clark with 29 points Friday, giving her another strong performance in a season in which she has averaged more than 20 points and six assists. Dallas’ position near the bottom of the playoff field likely hurts her MVP case compared with the other candidates.
Mitchell’s inclusion at No. 4 recognizes her consistency for Indiana. She has been the Fever’s leading scorer for much of the season and entered August averaging more than 23 points while shooting better than 43% from 3-point range. Having Clark and Mitchell on the same team could split some votes, but Griffin believes both deserve top-five consideration.
The biggest omission is Collier. She missed the opening portion of the season while recovering from surgery on both ankles, but her return helped Minnesota maintain the league’s best record. With several weeks remaining, the MVP race is far from settled. Griffin has made his preference clear: Clark currently sits at the top.
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