A'ja Wilson favored for fifth MVP; Clark, Bueckers in chase - ESPN

Bettors are buying into the next generation of WNBA superstars, but sportsbooks are standing by the reigning MVP as the season gets underway.

A'ja Wilson is the consensus preseason favorite to win her fifth WNBA MVP award in 2026, showing +220 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Friday morning. Fan favorite Caitlin Clark comes in next at +240 before a sizable gap to Napheesa Collier at +800.

Clark, who has perennially been the top attraction in awards futures since her debut in 2024, is drawing action once again, garnering a leading 29.5% of the MVP tickets at BetMGM. By keeping her odds short, bookmakers are looking to limit their exposure on Clark.

«People will bet it regardless of what the price is. They just want to have a piece of the Caitlin Clark action,» Caesars Sportsbook pro basketball lead David Lieberman told ESPN. «So it's just sort of a game that all the sportsbooks are playing, of how low can you go where people will still bet it and balance out your book a little bit.»

Sportsbooks start to get into serious liability trouble with reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, who checks in with fifth-best odds for MVP at 14-1 at DraftKings and is as long as 20-1 at other sportsbooks. DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello said Bueckers is «the public's most popular choice,» which includes a $1,000 bet at 20-1 odds that would net $20,000 if successful. BetMGM reports an overwhelming 85% of handle backing her, possibly owing to one or several large wagers, to be the sportsbook's largest liability.

Even with the large amount of support for Clark and Bueckers, though, Wilson actually moved into the odds lead the week before the season. As recently as Wednesday, Clark topped the odds board at +245, with