Race to MVP: July 27

Brian Kotloff

Note: WNBA.com’s Race to the MVP, released every Wednesday during the season, is the opinion of this writer and does not reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

Archive: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10

About three-quarters of the way through the WNBA season, four different players have emerged as the frontrunner in WNBA.com’s Race to the MVP.

Reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne was justifiably the preseason pick. Reigning champ Maya Moore jumped out to an early lead as the engine behind Minnesota’s historic 12-0 start, claiming the No. 1 spot three times. As the Sparks surged past the Lynx, Candace Parker enjoyed a two-week run until teammate Nneka Ogwumike’s play was too dominant to ignore.

Ogwumike hits pause on her 2016 season as the top dog in the Race to the MVP for four straight weeks and counting. But if the loaded Olympic roster — which does not even include Ogwumike or Parker — is any indication, superstars reign all across the league, and any one of them could own the stretch run.

That’s why this week’s edition comes with a question for each candidate: What needs to play out come September to boost her MVP case?

1. Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks
Last Week: 1
Stats: 19.6 points, 71% FG, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.1 steals

How to boost her case: Keep up her off-the-charts efficiency. The Sparks are almost guaranteed to finish with a top-two seed, and even if the Lynx surpass them, Ogwumike can seal the award by tearing through the final three weeks like she’s torn through the first two months.

That’s easier said than done, of course. Maintaining her No. 3 spot in both scoring and rebounding and shattering the record for single-season field goal percentage would place Nneka in elite company in WNBA history.

2. Tina Charles, New York Liberty
Last Week: 2
Stats: 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals

How to boost her case: Finish first in scoring, rebounding and the Eastern Conference standings. Charles has checked all three boxes so far — an impressive feat through two months that would be remarkable over a full season. Only Chamique Holdsclaw (2002) and Lauren Jackson (2007) have led the league in both scoring and rebounding.

Beyond that, the Sparks would need to continue their downturn for Charles to jump Ogwumike; if the shorthanded Liberty (18-8) finish within a few games of L.A.’s All-Star-studded roster (21-3), Tina may nab her second MVP.

3. Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
Last Week: 3
Stats: 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.6 steals

How to boost her case: Pass the Sparks for the top overall seed. It would be hard to argue with Maya’s consistent brilliance if the Lynx remain on top. But her case actually takes a hit from Minnesota’s understandably cautious approach to the season. Coach Cheryl Reeve has managed to keep Moore’s minutes just under 30 per game, and both Maya and the team clearly hope to save gas in the tank for their repeat title push.

4. Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Last Week: 4
Stats: 16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 blocks

How to boost her case: Take her triple threat game to the next level. As mentioned here before, Parker is surely happy to cede the spotlight to Ogwumike this season with the Sparks rolling. But she could add yet another piece of hardware to her collection by coming out aggressive over the final 10 games. Parker already ranks second in assists as a 6-foot-4 forward/center; putting on a scoring/rebounding clinic during the final weeks would round out her resume.

5. Elena Delle Donne, Chicago Sky
Last Week: 5
Stats: 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 42% 3FG

How to boost her case: Get the Sky back on track. Delle Donne played at her 2015 level — if not better — during a red-hot July. But Chicago has been inconsistent all season and has struggled on the defensive end. EDD will need to carry the Sky on a post-break streak in order to entertain the idea of back-to-back MVPs. Don’t put it past her.

6. Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
Last Week: 6
Stats: 19.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.2 steals

How to boost her case: Carry the Storm into the playoffs. A postseason berth would put Seattle ahead of schedule in its growth as the WNBA’s next potential power team. And it would represent another case of Stewart exceeding even the lofty expectations placed upon her. Stewie’s stat sheet-stuffing performances have already earned her elite status in her first season.

7. Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream
Last Week: 7
Stats: 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals

How to boost her case: Get the Dream back in their groove. McCoughtry’s rebuilding squad was the league’s biggest early-season surprise when the Dream won six of their first seven games. Angel rediscovering her own mojo will go along way toward helping her team rediscover its mojo; she slumped to the tune of just 10.4 points on 33% shooting over her last five games before joining the Olympic team.

8. Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
Last Week: 9
Stats: 13.2 points, 59% FG, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.0 steals

How to boost her case: Be assertive. Fowles boosted her case with a dominant three-game stretch heading into the break in which she made 18 of 23 shot attempts and averaged 16.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. While the stacked Lynx don’t need that kind of effort from her every night, she can climb in these rankings by picking up where she left off.

9. Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
Last Week: 8
Stats: 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals

How to boost her case: Go out with a bang. No matter the ups and downs, Tamika and the Fever are always in the thick of the playoff race when the time comes. A 12th straight postseason berth — extending the record they set last season — appears to be in Indiana’s future. An MVP run likely isn’t in Catchings’ future, but she could garner Top 5 votes if she puts the Fever in prime playoff position.

10. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Last Week: 10
Stats: 18.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.9 3PM/G

How to boost her case: Turn back the clock. Taurasi hasn’t quite been herself during her WNBA return. But this is more about how the Mercury regroup than their star’s individual play. Phoenix’s season has been much rockier than expected. Still, the 2014 champs are just 2.5 games out of the No. 4 seed and could flip the switch at any time — especially if Diana returns to form.

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