WNBA MVP debate: Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas or A'ja Wilson?

The case for Wilson

Wilson could become just the second player named the league's MVP in back-to-back years. Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper did it the first two seasons of the WNBA in 1997 and 1998.

Obviously, being an incumbent hasn't meant much when it comes to MVP. But it might carry more weight with Wilson, because she is having an even better season statistically than she did in either of her previous MVP seasons (2022, 2020). Her 61.8 true shooting percentage tops her previous best of 58.5 last year, and it's the same with win shares, 9.5 to 6.5. She's also averaging a career-best 22.3 PPG.

The Aces expected to have the veteran presence of center/forward Parker for this run at a repeat, but she has been out with an injury since July 7. Wilson is the Aces' low-block scoring threat and also their best defensive player. There is no way to go wrong with any of these three MVP candidates, who are all statistically brilliant and their team's leaders. If the Aces finish as the No. 1 seed again, maybe that's a tiebreaker for Wilson. -- Voepel

What's the one thing that swings your vote in MVP race?

Voepel: In every MVP vote for every sport, there is always debate about what the main criteria should be. And there is no definitive answer; it is what each voter thinks it is.

There is no question that Wilson and Stewart have more top-level talent on their teams this season than Thomas does, and some voters might see that as a key point. Others might say, "Who is the best overall player?" And others will ask, "Who is the best player on the team with the best record?"

Right now, I'm leaning toward the latter, but won't finalize my vote until just before sending it in.

Pelton: Stewart passing Wilson in terms of value on a per-minute basis. Statistically, Wilson has been better this season than either of her previous two MVP campaigns, and for much of the season Stewart's advantage owed solely to playing more minutes -- partially, though not entirely, a function of Las Vegas resting Wilson in the fourth quarter of many blowouts. Stewart's strong finish has clarified that choice.

Philippou: I couldn't decide who to vote for until the last minute last season and that was only a two-person race. I doubt any player will do anything over the next three days to clarify my choice; it'll come down to which philosophy for what makes an MVP I'm most comfortable basing my vote on.

Coach of the year also feels as competitive as ever. Who gets your vote?

Pelton: I went with Sun coach Stephanie White. Already in a difficult situation taking over a team that went to the Finals with Curt Miller at the helm last season but lost Jonquel Jones via trade, White saw All-Star center Brionna Jones go down with an Achilles tear early in the season and still kept Connecticut as the top threat to the more star-studded teams. Miller deserves a lot of credit for transforming the Sparks' defense, and I think it's easy to overlook Becky Hammon's role in guiding the Las Vegas Aces to the likely top seed, but White gets my vote.

Voepel: In the early years of the WNBA, the quality of coaching was one of the more inconsistent parts of the league. That's far from the case now; there could be a reason to give the award to every coach of the playoff teams for different reasons. White gets the nod from me for the reasons that Kevin details. It's great when you have stalwart vets like Thomas and Bonner to carry the team on their shoulders. But White has connected well with them and kept the Sun at the same high level the franchise has been for several years.

Philippou: Multiple coaches deserve this award -- White and Hammon for the reasons stated above -- and you could even make cases for the Minnesota Lynx's Cheryl Reeve and the Liberty's Sandy Brondello, as well as the Sparks' Curt Miller if L.A. makes the playoffs.

What makes me go with Latricia Trammel has less to do with precise tangibles and more so with the new culture she has installed in Dallas, one that has led to greater player buy-in and trust, qualities that seemed lacking in previous years. That has translated onto the court, too: The Wings are the only team to have beaten the Aces, Liberty and Sun this season, and they could still secure their best playoff seeding since the franchise relocated to Dallas.