2024 WNBA Season Final Power Rankings: MVP, ROY, MIPOY and More 

With the WNBA season wrapping up, we’re in the middle of award season. Some of the award winners feel obvious, but a few are less so. Let’s discuss my picks for each WNBA award for the 2024 season.

Most Valuable Player: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

A few of these awards later down will be quite contentious. This isn’t one of them. The gap between A’ja Wilson and the second-best WNBA player is a canyon. Despite the Aces’ underwhelming season, Wilson leveled up. She’s reached career highs in points (27.0) and rebounds (12.) per game all while burdening a ridiculous offensive load (32.2% usage rate).

She’s an unstoppable weapon on the offensive end, dominating from all areas of the floor. Wilson scores on a ridiculous 62.4% of her buckets at the rim while shooting 33.9% on catch-and-shoot threes. Wilson isn’t a dominant playmaker, but she commands so much attention that the passing windows are wider than almost any other player.

Wilson leads the WNBA in block rate (6.5%) to add to her offensive greatness. Her play-to-play consistency may not be as high as some other elite defenders, given her immense offensive responsibility. However, she's a rightful candidate to win Defensive Player of the Year, too. No other player in the sport dominates on both sides of the ball like A’ja Wilson does. Nobody comes close to matching her value.

Next up: Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark

Rookie of the Year: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Just like the MVP award, there’s no discussion here. Clark continues to knock on the door of the all-WNBA first team. She’s light years ahead of any other rookie in terms of winning impact. That’s especially impressive given the strength of the class, but Clark is a franchise-changing star already, leading the Fever to its first playoff berth since 2016.

Clark’s gaudy counting stats — 19.5 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 boards per game on elite efficiency — tell the story simply enough. Despite carrying the Fever offense as a playmaker, Clark’s 58.2% true shooting sits nearly five points above league average. Clark started the season slowly, especially on the turnover and efficiency front, but she’s settled down at 34.1% from deep with a solidly positive (1.5) assist-to-turnover ratio.

Other rookies from the 2024 class may have the potential to change the course of their franchise and lead a team to the playoffs as their primary engine. Clark is there in year one, inarguably a part of the WNBA’s upper echelon. It’s a remarkable achievement for any player, let alone rookie guards.

Next up: Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson

Defensive Player of the Year: Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

There are multiple deserving candidates among the WNBA’s defensive elite this season. We’re giving the nod to Ezi Magbegor, whose overall defensive impact on the interior and the perimeter surpasses almost everyone else in the league. Magbegor ranks second in the WNBA in block rate (6.2%). She anchors a top-four defense (96.2 defensive rating), which improves by a staggering six points per 100 possessions with Magbegor on the floor. Only Napheesa Collier boasts a larger defensive rating swing (+8) among top candidates.

Magbegor boasts significant defensive responsibility beyond her elite rim protection. She’s often thriving as a switch defender, defending high up at the level of the screen and rotating to cover ground and plug gaps. She’s a dominant paint defender in all facets, guarding the post and rotating from the weak side to block shots. For my money, nobody does more with a higher impact on the defensive end than Magbegor.

The DPOY field isn’t as clear-cut as the previous two awards. Wilson, Collier and Breanna Stewart would also be worthy selections. Regardless, Ezi Magbegor deserves her flowers. She may not have made the All-Star game, but she’s a defensive game wrecker who deserves the recognition as such.

Next up: A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier

Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx

It’s tough to quantify coaching ability, so we’re treating this award as a success over expectation one, as usual. National media attention fell silent surrounding the Lynx before the year; few expected them to easily make the postseason, let alone contend for a title. Yet the Lynx sit atop the Western Conference at 30-9. That puts them tied for second in the league with the Sun, only trailing the New York Liberty. Net rating (+8.7) views the Lynx as the clear second-best team in the association.

Reeve’s players are producing at their highest level — Collier is playing like a top-three player in the league. Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton are playing the best ball of their careers. Kayla McBride notched her first All-Star appearance since 2019. The players themselves deserve credit, but it’s clear Reeve places her pieces in positions where they can thrive.

Christie Sides will be a trendy pick for this award, though Caitlin Clark’s brilliance may slightly hurt her chances. Sandy Brondello’s Liberty is a more expected buzzsaw. Cheryl Reeve catalyzed Minnesota from fringe playoff expectations to title contention, rendering her a deserving pick here.

Next up: Sandy Brondello, Christie Sides

Sixth Player of the Year: Jordan Horston, Seattle Storm

Unlike most other awards, there aren’t many clear-cut candidates for Sixth Player of the Year. Gabby Williams’ return to Seattle should ensure Horston stays under the 50% games started benchmark. She’s developed into an impact two-way guard in her second season, scoring more efficiently to supplement her sturdy defense.

She’s one of the league’s most prolific defensive playmakers, posting a strong 3.0% steal rate and 2.6% block rate. That steal rate leads the entire WNBA, and her block rate sits in the top 15, impressive for a perimeter player. Horston’s offensive counting stats remain solid — 7.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per night. Her offensive efficiency spiked from last season, elevating her true shooting from abysmal (41.8%) to solidly above league average (55.7%).

Chennedy Carter would likely run away with the award if she didn’t clear the games started threshold. Other role players like Odyssey Sims, Leonie Fiebich, and Tiffany Hayes deserve a mention, but Horston’s two-way impact stands out slightly above the pack.

Next up: Tiffany Hayes, Leonie Fiebich

Most Improved Player: DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Sun

In Carrington’s first season as a full-time starter, she’s helped the Sun establish itself as one of the WNBA’s best teams. Carrington took another leap defensively, hounding opponents’ best players nightly and creating chaos as a playmaker. Her 2.8% steal rate ties her for sixth in the league, up from 1.9% last season.

Her efficiency dipped in July and August, but she’s still a useful complementary offensive piece, adding to her defensive greatness. She’s seen a minor efficiency dip with an uptick in usage, but her progress into a legitimate defensive star carries her Most Improved Player case.

Akin to Sixth Player of the Year, there isn’t a clear-cut candidate for this award. Chennedy Carter’s production uptick results from situations more than anything else. Alanna Smith had her best defensive year, but the statistical increase isn’t eye-popping. Horston could win this award, too, though we will give the edge to a later-career breakout. Carrington deserves the award for jumping from good to elite on the defensive end.

Next up: Jordan Horston, Alanna Smith