The race for the WNBA Most Valuable Player award usually gets complicated by the end of the summer. She made an appearance on CBS Sports to share her thoughts on the 2026 WNBA MVP race. 

She addressed the fact that A'ja Wilson has already secured four MVP awards throughout her career. Leslie made it clear that she disagrees with rewarding a different player because people want to see a new winner.

Leslie stated, “People get tired sometimes of seeing the same person win [MVP], but I think we should give it to the person who is earning it, and it is A’ja Wilson.” 

Yahoo Sports' X account highlighted this statement during her television appearance. Leslie believes that the MVP award must always go to the individual performing at the highest level, regardless of how many trophies they already have.

She expanded on her point and noted that the race will likely become the A'ja Wilson show because her production just keeps going. Leslie pointed out her ability to score with her left hand, her right hand, and her jump shot.

Through the first 22 games of the year, Wilson is averaging 25.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game. 

Wilson won the regular-season MVP award in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025. She also won two Finals MVP awards in 2023 and 2025. 

Winning a 5th regular-season MVP would make her the first player in WNBA history to achieve that milestone, and she will pass icons like Leslie, Lauren Jackson, and Sheryl Swoopes.

Many other stars across the league are trying to build their own cases to challenge the frontrunner.

Where Caitlin Clark and the rest of the MVP race stand

Caitlin Clark is putting up productive numbers during her 2026 campaign. She is averaging around 20.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and an elite 7.8 assists per game. 

However, she is also averaging 4.6 turnovers while shooting 42.7% from the field and 33.1% from beyond the arc. According to the Sports Illustrated website, her lower shooting efficiency and the Indiana Fever's mid-pack team standing have caused her MVP odds to drop to +1000.

Paige Bueckers has jumped up to +800 odds after averaging 20.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Olivia Miles is another riser at +900 odds, averaging around 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. 

Meanwhile, former MVP Breanna Stewart remains a contender at +3000 odds while averaging 20.4 points and 8.4 rebounds.

The regular season is not officially over yet, but the bar has been set high for anyone trying to take the crown.

Which player, according to you, will take home the MVP award? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Sinha