What Caitlin Clark Just Proved in the WNBA MVP Race Will Blow Your Mind!

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In today’s video, we dive deep into the controversial WNBA MVP race and the shocking placement of Caitlin Clark as an honorable mention on MVP list with Aja Wilson, , Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas. Is this truly a competition for the Most Valuable Player or a predetermined popularity contest? With record-breaking performances and game-changing moments, why isn’t Clark getting the recognition she deserves? We’ll break down her jaw-dropping stats, compare her to MVP frontrunners like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, and explore why some pundits seem set on ignoring her brilliance. Watch until the end as we reveal the key to this heated MVP battle that everyone is missing.
Caitlin Clark stats prove she’s played like the WNBA MVP with rest — and a struggling rookie without it

Caitlin Clark had a rocky start to her rookie season, but she’s figured things out as of late. After shooting just 35.7 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from 3 in her first 11 games, her percentages have improved to 44.6 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from 3. Her scoring is up from 15.6 points per game to 19.1 since that initial stretch.

In addition to Clark simply getting more acclimated to a new league, there has been one significant change that could explain her dramatic improvement — she’s gotten a lot more rest.

The Fever had one of the most brutal stretches of any team to begin their season, playing 11 games in 19 days. Those were far from cakewalks, too. Clark faced some of the best teams, with great individual defenders eager to welcome her into the league. She struggled with turnovers and poor shooting. Her frustration was visible during those first few weeks when the Fever went just 2-9. But Indiana has completely turned its season around since then, going 11-6 and crashing into the playoff race.

There was plenty of outrage at Clark missing out on the Olympic team. That may have been a blessing in disguise, though. She received a much-needed month-long break. That was her first period of extended rest in a year. She had just eight days between Iowa’s NCAA Tournament run and the WNBA Draft, and another two weeks before training camp started. In her first preseason game, coach Christie Sides was worried that she would have to grab Clark and assist her to the sideline after the first quarter because of how gassed she looked.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Clark has had two of her best games after that month off. She’s averaged 26.0 points and 9.5 assists after the break, and the Fever comfortably won both those games. That has continued a strong trend wherein she has played much better all season after giving her body some rest.

Caitlin Clark stats prove she’s played like the WNBA MVP with rest

Clark has been at her worst when playing on back-to-backs, scoring just 5.5 points per game on zero days’ rest.

“These guys are not just physically exhausted, they’re mentally exhausted,” Sides said after Clark shot just 1-of-10 in a 104-68 loss to the Liberty on a back-to-back. “We talk a lot about it. Their mental health is really important and they are really struggling right now. It’s just been a lot.”

Clark’s play has improved almost linearly based on how many days she’s had between games. With zero rest (two games), she’s been the worst version of herself. Give her one or two days (20 games), and she looks like an easy pick for Rookie of the Year. With three or more days (five games), she plays like nothing the league has ever seen.

Clark’s 24.4 points, 9.8 assists and 7.2 rebounds with three or more days of rest are on par with anyone, including presumptive MVP favorite A’ja Wilson. That bears repeating — at 22 years old, with only 28 professional games under her belt, Clark has been the best player in the league when she’s not fighting exhaustion.

Clark is well aware of how fatigue affects her on the court. She’s asked for subs during games to give her a chance to improve her defensive focus. That shows up again in the data — she’s averaging 2.3 steals per game with three or more days rest, which would rank only behind Arike Ogunbowale’s 2.6 per game for the league lead.

All of this points to a very strong finish for Clark. The Fever have the toughest part of their schedule out of the way. They have no more back-to-backs remaining. Four of their last 12 games will feature at least two days rest.

Clark should be at her best for the playoffs, where she can go toe-to-toe with the other MVPs in the league. And her second season should be even better after she gets a normal offseason to recuperate.