Caitlin Clark Emerges As Early WNBA MVP Contender Amid High Expectations

Historic Expectations For No. 1

In the wake of the 2024 WNBA draft, Caitlin Clark's selection by the Indiana Fever has sparked a blaze of anticipation and expectation, with odds and statistics painting a picture of a player poised to make a significant impact in her rookie season.

Clark's meteoric rise to the top of the WNBA's radar stems from her remarkable collegiate career, culminating in back-to-back AP Player of the Year accolades and two national championship runner-ups. As she transitions to the professional league, she finds herself in the spotlight, not only as a rookie but as a potential MVP candidate. At +1200 odds, Clark sits fourth in the MVP race according to FanDuel Sportsbook, trailing behind seasoned superstars such as A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.

However, it's in the race for Rookie of the Year where Clark truly dominates. With overwhelming -600 odds at FanDuel, she is primed to follow in the footsteps of legends like Candace Parker, aiming to clinch both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in her debut season, a feat achieved by only one player in WNBA history.

Instant Impact On WNBA Odds

Clark's arrival has elevated the Fever's prospects, transforming them from last season's pretenders to fringe contenders for the WNBA Finals. Despite a dismal 13-27 record in the previous campaign, Indiana now finds itself at 33/1 odds to clinch the championship, a noted improvement from their 110/1 odds a year ago.

Moreover, the Fever's chances of making the playoffs have skyrocketed, now standing as heavy favorites at -260, thanks to the injection of Clark's talent and energy into the roster. The preseason over/under total at FanDuel places them at 21.5 wins, the fifth-highest in the league, a testament to the newfound optimism surrounding the team.

Clark's impact transcends mere statistics; her style of play will inject a dynamic edge into the Fever's game. With a penchant for pushing the pace, she seamlessly adapts to the faster tempo of the WNBA (30 second shot clock in college, 24 second shot clock in WNBA), utilizing her sharpshooting and playmaking abilities to full effect. Her transition from the college game to the professional arena appears seamless, as evidenced by her performance during training camp, where she seamlessly integrated into the Fever's lineup.

Nonetheless, Clark remains grounded amidst the hype, acknowledging the weight of expectations on her shoulders and the team's aspirations for success. Her arrival signifies a new chapter for the Fever, a team striving to reclaim its former glory after years of mediocrity. While Clark's presence undoubtedly elevates their prospects, the road to contention is fraught with challenges, requiring patience, resilience, and teamwork.

As the WNBA season beckons, all eyes are on Caitlin Clark, poised to make her mark on the league and lead the Indiana Fever to newfound heights. The journey begins on May 14th, as Clark and the Fever face off against the Connecticut Sun—a clash that heralds the dawn of a new era in Indiana basketball.

How To Bet On Caitlin Clark's WNBA Games

Pace, pace, pace. This is what we need to pay attention to early in the WNBA season. Not only will Clark's early-shot-clock ability to make threes and create plays be on display, but the WNBA's 24-second shot clock will only exacerbate those skills. In training camp, the Fever practiced drills with a 15-second shot clock, indicating that they're going to operate very fast when they have the ball, which feeds right into Clark's skills.

Indiana ranked 11th out of 12 teams in Defensive Rating last season and Clark isn't known for her prowess on that side of the floor, so I expect a lot of early high-scoring games early in the year and for overs to be dominant, just like they were in Indiana Pacers games early in the 2023-2024 campaign before oddsmakers adjusted.

I don't see value in backing any of the Fever's futures at the moment or any of Clark's individual accolades for the same reason. However, I'm going to be hammering overs in Indiana's games early in the season until they become as inflated as they should be.

For as boring as Iowa is in football, they play some exciting brands of basketball at the WNBA and NBA levels!