Race to the MVP: 2013 Season

Race to the MVP: And the Winner Is... (Sept. 12, 2013)
In one of the tightest MVP races ever, which WNBA player this season is most worthy of the coveted MVP award?

Race to the MVP: Week 14 (Sept. 5, 2013)
Angel McCoughtry leads the pack as the league winds down to its final stretch of games.

Race to the MVP: Week 13 (Aug. 28, 2013)
Candace Parker in the clutch is hard to beat but Maya Moore continues to surge in the second half of the season.

Race to the MVP: Week 12 (Aug. 21, 2013)
With the Atlanta Dream roster back to full health, Angel McCoughtry takes the top spot leading her squad to another meteoric run.

Race to the MVP: Week 10 (Aug. 7, 2013)
Lindsay Whalen's stock continues to rise as she leads the Minnesota Lynx on a juggernaut winning streak.

Race to the MVP: Week 9 (MVP Spotlight) (July 31, 2013)
At All-Star weekend, the league's top players discuss their MVP prospects. Candace Parker | Angel McCoughtry | Diana Taurasi

Race to the MVP: Week 8 (July 24, 2013)
After showdowns between their respective teams, Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi battle it out for the top MVP spot.

Race to the MVP: Week 7 (July 10, 2013)
Some of the league's elite role players like Kristi Toliver, Lindsay Whalen and Sylvia Fowles are making their case for MVP honors too.

Race to the MVP: Week 6 (July 3, 2013)
Angel McCoughtry holds on to the top spot while Candace Parker starts creeping up back to the top.

Race to the MVP: Week 5 (June 27, 2013)
Angel McCoughtry takes the Atlanta Dream to new heights as she soars to the top of the MVP rankings.

Race to the MVP: Week 4 (June 20, 2013)
Maya Moore regains control of the No.1 spot after breaking out from her team's star-studded roster.

Race to the MVP: Week 3 (June 11, 2013)
She may be an early favorite for Rookie of the Year, but could Elena Delle Donne be an early favorite for MVP too?

Race to the MVP: Week 2 (June 4, 2013)
Now that every team has hit the floor this season, Candace Parker takes control of the throne after her monster debut.

Race to the MVP: Week 1 (May 28, 2013)
She may have not played a WNBA game yet, but Maya Moore's recent career trajectory makes her an early favorite for MVP this year.


Race to the MVP: 2012 Season

Race to the MVP: Week 12 (September 20, 2012)
It's shaping up to be a two-player race between Tina Charles and Candace Parker for 2012 MVP.

Race to the MVP: Week 11 (September 13, 2012)
Tina Charles stays at No. 1 but Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker are not far behind.

Race to the MVP: Week 10 (September 6, 2012)
It's time for a change at the top as Tina Charles wrestles away the No. 1 ranking from Candace Parker.

Race to the MVP: Week 9 (August 30, 2012)
While her lead may be getting smaller coming out of the break, Candace Parker still holds the top spot this week.

Race to the MVP: Week 8 (July 13, 2012)
Our preseason frontrunner, Candace Parker, goes into the Olympic Break at the No. 1 spot.

Race to the MVP: Week 7 (July 6, 2012)
Back-to-back nights of clutch performances puts Candace Parker back on top of the MVP rankings this week.

Race to the MVP: Week 6 (June 29, 2012)
Consistency lands Sylvia Fowles in the top spot of the rankings for the first time this season.

Race to the MVP: Week 5 (June 22, 2012)
Candace Parker had another good week and stays in the No. 1 spot. In fact, the top four remain the same.

Race to the MVP: Week 4 (June 14, 2012)
After two strong performances, Candace Parker jumps back atop the Race to the MVP leaderboard.

Race to the MVP: Week 3 (June 8, 2012)
There's a shakeup at the top as Tina Charles and Sylvia Fowles jump up to the top two spots this week.

Race to the MVP: Week 2 (June 1, 2012)
The top three of Candace Parker, Tina Charles and Tamika Catchings remain intact after strong starts to the season.

Race to the MVP: Week 1 (May 24, 2012)
Preconceived notions of the preseason rankings will dissipate like sparklers on Memorial Day, as the Race truly begins.

Race to the MVP: Preseason (May 17, 2012)
It's never too early to start forecasting the MVP race. Here are the top contenders for the MVP entering the season.


Race to the MVP: 2011 Season

Race to the MVP: Week 14 (Sept. 7, 2011)
With the finish line in sight, we look at the final questions that need to be answered before casting a vote for MVP.

Race to the MVP: Week 13 (Aug. 30, 2011)
The WNBA.com Selection Committee breaks down the list based on full-season bodies of work...with some surprising results.

Race to the MVP: Week 12 (Aug. 23, 2011)
The ground was actually rumbling on the East Coast this week, but all's quiet on the MVP front.

Race to the MVP: Week 11 (Aug. 16, 2011)
Tina's still in first place, but the ground beneath her is starting to rumble.

Race to the MVP: Week 10 (Aug. 9, 2011)
Tina Charles remains planted firmly in pole position in this week's edition. But everywhere else, the race is starting to heat up.

Race to the MVP: Week 9 (Aug. 3, 2011)
Tina Charles jumps back into the No. 1 position on the table, but this week's biggest leap belongs to a red-hot Angel McCoughtry.

Race to the MVP: Week 8 (July 26, 2011)
While Sylvia Fowles and Tina Charles hold onto the top two spots, Seimone Augustus makes the leap of the week.

Race to the MVP: Week 7 (July 19, 2011)
Sylvia Fowles solidifies her perch atop the rankings, but outside of the No. 1 spot, there's a whole lotta shakin' going on.

Race to the MVP: Week 6 (July 12, 2011)
Not much movement in this week's Race to the MVP as Tina Charles and Sylvia Fowles maintain a hold on the Top 2 spots.

Race to the MVP: Week 5 (July 5, 2011)
Tina Charles jumps to the No. 1 spot after a strong week that included a 22-point, 23-rebound performance.

Race to the MVP: Week 4 (June 28, 2011)
Sylvia Fowles secures the No. 1 spot while Phoenix's Diana Taurasi continues to gain ground.

Race to the MVP: Week 3 (June 21, 2011)
Tina Charles and Seimone Augustus make their 2011 Race to the MVP debuts.

Race to the MVP: Week 2 (June 14, 2011)
Minnesota's Rebekkah Brunson takes hold of the No. 1 spot.

Race to the MVP: Week 1 (June 7, 2011)
In this week's Race to the MVP Rankings, Sue Bird takes the No. 1 spot to tip off the 15th WNBA season.


Race to the MVP: 2010 Season

Race to the MVP: Week 15 (August 24, 2010)
In the final week of Race to the MVP Rankings, the field is narrowed down to three: Tamika Catchings, Lauren Jackson and Cappie Pondexter.

Race to the MVP: Week 14 (August 17, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Indiana's Tamika Catchings takes sole possession of second place and gives chase to Lauren Jackson's a the No. 1 spot.

Race to the MVP: Week 13 (August 10, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Indiana's Tamika Catchings and Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry tie for second place.

Race to the MVP: Week 12 (August 3, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Phoenix's Diana Taurasi takes a jump from sixth to third.

Race to the MVP: Week 11 (July 27, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry works her way closer to the No. 1 spot, currently occupied by Seattle's Lauren Jackson.

Race to the MVP: Week 10 (July 20, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Tina Charles makes a push for No. 1, while Phoenix's Penny Taylor cracks the Top 10 for the first time this season.

Race to the MVP: Week 9 (July 13, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, we take a look at how the players rank at the midway point of the 2010 season.

Race to the MVP: Week 8 (July 6, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Sylvia Fowles makes a push up the rankings after putting up solid numbers against the Sun and Dream.

Race to the MVP: Week 7 (June 30, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Tina Charles makes a jump to the No. 2 spot after her 19-point, 23-rebound game against the Phoenix Mercury.

Race to the MVP: Week 6 (June 23, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Minnesota teammates Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson crack the Top 10.

Race to the MVP: Week 5 (June 16, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Monique Currie makes a strong push to move up in the rankings, while an injury sends Candace Parker down a few spots.

Race to the MVP: Week 4 (June 9, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Lauren Jackson and Candace Parker clash for the No. 1 spot in the rankings.

Race to the MVP: Week 3 (June 2, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Lauren Jackson hangs on to the number one spot but is facing some fierce competition from the likes of Angel McCoughtry, Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker.

Race to the MVP: Week 2 (May 26, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, Lauren Jackson and Angel McCoughtry take the one and two spots coming off a week where each was elected the Player of the Week in their conference.

Race to the MVP: Week 1 (May 19, 2010)
In this week's Race to the MVP, we set the foundation for the 2010 Race to the MVP based on individual performances during the first weekend of the season.


Race to the MVP: 2009 Season

Race to the MVP: Week 12/13 (Sept. 9, 2009)
In this week's Race to the MVP we look at players that are in the MVP race that have missed time due to injury.

Race to the MVP: Week 11 (Aug. 21, 2009)
In this week's Race to the MVP we look at Lisa Leslie, who has played great since returning from injury but will it be enough to extend the Sparks' season and her career?

Race to the MVP: Week 10 (Aug. 14, 2009)
In this week's Race to the MVP we look at the impact of an MVP candidate's peformance in what is considered by many as a statement game, such as Katie Douglas' game against Phoenix this week.

Race to the MVP: Week 9 (Aug. 7, 2009)
In this week's Race to the MVP we ask the question, how big of a factor should team success be when selecting an MVP?

Race to the MVP: Week 7/8 (July 31, 2009)
In this week's Race to the MVP we spoke with Washington's Alana Beard to get her opinion of what constitutes a player being the MVP of the league.

Race to the MVP: Week 5 (July 8, 2009)
In this week's Race to the MVP we look at the dilemma of evaluating players that play alongside a fellow superstar.

Race to the MVP: Week 4 (July 1, 2009)
Minnesota's Candice Wiggins enters the Race to the MVP following her outstanding play since the Lynx lost Seimone Augustus.

Race to the MVP: Week 3 (June 24, 2009)
In this week's Race to the MVP we look at players that have proved their worth with their play on the court as well as their absence from it.

Race to the MVP: Week 2 (June 17, 2009)
Chicago's Jia Perkins makes a huge leap, but no one is able to know Minnesota's Seimone Augustus from the top spot in Week No. 2.

Race to the MVP: Week 1 (June 12, 2009)
By leading their teams to unbeated starts, Minnesota's Seimone Augustus and Phoenix's Cappie Pondexter rank high in the premier edition of Race to the MVP.


Race to the MVP: 2008 Season

Race to the MVP: Finally, Some Clarity? (September 12, 2008)
It's the last weekend of the regular season. And now that it's all over with except for crossing some t's and dotting some i's, the MVP vote should be pretty straightforward. Right? Maybe not.

Race to the MVP: Bird Soaring to New Offensive Heights (September 5, 2008)
How have the Storm done since losing Lauren Jackson? They've won three of four, moved into first place and clinched a playoff spot. Wha??? ... Well, the biggest reason for Seattle's recent success is point guard Sue Bird.

Race to the MVP: Back From Beijing Edition (August 28, 2008)
The WNBA is back, baby! And the Race to the MVP is tighter than ever. While literally all of the MVP candidates who also happened to be members of Olympic teams excelled in Beijing, the current leader is someone who spent the month of August right here in the States.

Race to the MVP: Most Improved Player of the Year Edition (August 21, 2008)
Coaches love players who overachieve, who go beyond their presumed limits. They may not be superstars, but the people in charge love to recognize their extraordinary efforts nonetheless. Why else would there be a Most Improved Player award?

Race to the MVP: Sixth Woman of the Year Edition (August 14, 2008)
What is it that makes a substitute valuable? The ability to come into a game and spell a team's starters? Sure. The knack to come in and hit that vital hoop, sky for that big rebound or make that meaningful defensive stop? Definitely.

Race to the MVP: Rating the Non-Olympians (August 7, 2008)
Some players get all the MVP love. So how about a little love for the teammates they've left behind? How about some appreciation for the underappreciated? It's about time!

Race to the MVP: Week 10 (July 25, 2008)
In the spirit of listening and carefully considering what people around the league are saying, it only seems right to keep it quick and easy with the Race to the MVP this week. We've got our list of MVP candidates. And we've got something nice a coach or fellow player has said about them this season.

Race to the MVP: Week 9 (July 17, 2008)
Time to open up the Race to the MVP Fan Mailbag. I'll grade each of your e-mails for coherence, accuracy, originality� and probably even grammar and spelling. And as I always say, the numbers do speak for themself.

Race to the MVP: Week 8 (July 11, 2008)
In writing this weekly Race to the MVP column, I constantly ask myself what makes a player "valuable"� or even more troubling, what makes someone "most valuable." Is it the player with the league's best stats? Is it the best player on the best team? Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.

Race to the MVP: Week 7 (July 2, 2008)
Her numbers speak to her success: top 10 numbers in scoring, assists per game, field goal percentage and three-point percentage and three Player of the Week Awards in the month of June alone. But when it comes to speaking, Diana Taurasi usually likes to do it for herself.

Race to the MVP: Week 6 (June 25, 2008)
Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson have a lot in common. They're both WNBA legends. They're the two leading scorers in WNBA history. They both have young children. And they're both MVP candidates in 2008.

Race to the MVP: Week 5 (June 19, 2008)
I might not be the first to point this out, but I want to say it loud and clear. Lisa Leslie is back.

Race to the MVP: Week 4 (June 12, 2008)
This Race to the MVP requires a certain -- how do you say, je ne sais quoi -- feeling deep in one's gut that a star player deserves to be ranked where she is. At least until Paula Abdul tells me otherwise.

Race to the MVP: Week 3 (June 5, 2008)
When Soundgarden sang, "I'm looking California. / And feeling Minnesota," the implication is that California is shiny, beautiful and new. While Minnesota is� well� less shiny, less beautiful and less new. Don't even get me started on the accents.

Race to the MVP: Week 2 (May 29, 2008)
Nothing like tipping things off with a bang. Reaction was fast and furious to last week's pick of Candace Parker as the leader in the MVP race. And, surprisingly to yours truly, not all of it was negative.

Race to the MVP: Week 1 (May 22, 2008)
Everyone knew Candace Parker would eventually be a star in the WNBA. I, for one, thought it would take more than three minutes to happen. I was wrong.


Race to the MVP: 2007 Season

Final Player Rankings: LJ Is Still the One (August 29, 2007)
You know that feeling you get in your stomach from the top of the roller coaster when you realize you are about to go from zero to 100 miles per hour in less than five seconds? I had those same butterflies as I watched the Storm�s Lauren Jackson get swept out of the playoffs at the hands of Diana Taurasi and the Mercury a couple of days ago.

Race to the MVP: Week 13 (August 14, 2007)
On Monday I walked into my daily morning meeting and was blindsided worse than when the Redskins' Joe Theismann had his leg broken and his career ended by the Giants' Lawrence Taylor in 1985.

Race to the MVP: Week 12 (August 8, 2007)
People lie, OK? Politicians trying to get elected. Children trying to keep from getting in trouble with their parents. Criminals trying to avoid jail time. They lie.

Race to the MVP: Week 11 (August 1, 2007)
Quick, name the player that has led her team to the top record in her respective conference, is one of the league�s best guards and is a strong candidate to win the WNBA MVP?

Race to the MVP: Week 10 (July 25, 2007)
The gap in the Race to the MVP between Seattle's Lauren Jackson and the rest of the field was already huge. After LJ's performance on Tuesday night, the only thing left to do is make sure they spell her name correctly on the trophy.

Race to the MVP: Week 9 (July 20, 2007)
If you poll the WNBA general managers and coaches, the majority of them would tell you that this season's Race to the MVP is a two-woman competition between Seattle's Lauren Jackson and Indiana's Tamika Catchings.

Race to the MVP: Week 7 (July 3, 2007)
Time to respond to some of your e-mails.

Race to the MVP: Week 6 (June 26, 2007)
"If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere. It's up to you, New York, New York." I normally don't run around quoting songs but in this case it was a perfect fit. In her eight seasons in New York, Becky Hammon emerged as a fan favorite thanks to her outstanding play.

Race to the MVP: Week 5 (June 19, 2007)
You know how high school and college teams schedule easy opponents to make sure they have a good Homecoming? Games against Chicago had that kind of feel to them. But all was not lost in their inaugural season. Candice Dupree, the team�s first pick out of Temple, emerged as an All-Star after averaging 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.

Race to the MVP: Week 4 (June 12, 2007)
And that is how I got my honorary membership card into the Holdsclaw Fan Club. In truth, my boys left me no choice. After hearing that the forward elected to retire from the WNBA on Monday, it got me to thinking about everything she accomplished on the court.

Race to the MVP: Week 3 (June 5, 2007)
As I looked over a couple of WNBA-related forums, I found it pretty interesting that there were some fans who disagreed with the inclusion of New York's Erin Thorn in last week's Race to the MVP.

Race to the MVP: Week 2 (May 29, 2007)
And holding down the fourth position is Erin Thorn. Wait... "Who?" you ask. Erin Thorn of the Liberty, the guard that has ... Hang on, how exactly did a Honda Accord end up in a parking lot full of Mercedes Benzes?

Race to the MVP: Week 1 (May 22, 2007)
After writing Race to the MVP for NBA.com from November until May, yours truly thought he was going to get the summer off to recharge the creative battery. My boss, on the other hand, had a different plan. He thought it would be a good idea for me to write a WNBA version of Race to the MVP. And you know what? I agree.