Brace yourselves, sports fans—Game 1 of the WNBA Finals has already delivered a nail-biter that left us questioning our life choices and maybe even some of our sports bets. The Minnesota Lynx eked out a 95-93 win in overtime against the New York Liberty on October 10. Yeah, it’s that close. With four more games to go, one question is burning in the back of everyone’s mind (other than, “Why didn’t I bet more on the Lynx?”): Who’s going to walk away with the WNBA Finals MVP trophy? Spoiler alert: It’s not A’ja Wilson.
That’s right, folks. A’ja Wilson bagged her third regular-season MVP like she was grocery shopping, but the Finals MVP? Not this time. Her Las Vegas Aces already made their dramatic exit from the playoffs in the semi-finals, and while we’d love to see her snag both MVPs in one year, the basketball gods had other plans.
Battle of the Stars: Courtney Williams vs. Jonquel Jones
Now, if Game 1 is any indication, we’ve got two front-runners for Finals MVP: Courtney Williams of the Lynx and Jonquel Jones from the Liberty. These two went at it like it was personal, and honestly, it’s starting to feel like it might be. Williams dropped 23 points, snagged five rebounds, and dished out five assists like it was just another day at the office. Meanwhile, Jones was all, “Anything you can do, I can do better,” putting up 24 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists for the Liberty.
On paper, Jones has the flashier stats, but here’s the kicker: The MVP tends to go to whoever’s team actually wins. So, with the Lynx leading the series 1-0, Williams is the early favorite. And hey, let’s be real, the MVP voters love a winner more than a solid stat line.
The Betting Odds Have Something to Say
But wait, the bookies are throwing a curveball! According to the odds, it’s not even Williams or Jones leading the MVP race—it’s Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. She’s sitting pretty at +140 odds, meaning if you were smart enough to drop $10 on her MVP chances, you’d be walking away with $24. And no, we’re not judging your life choices… well, maybe a little.
Collier wasn’t too shabby herself in Game 1, scoring 21 points with eight rebounds and two assists. Sure, Williams might have edged her out, but when it comes to MVP, consistency could be the name of the game. Also, Vegas apparently loves her.
Trailing right behind Collier in the MVP sweepstakes is Breanna Stewart of the Liberty, sitting at +300. So, in simpler terms: Put down $10 on her and you could pocket $40. Stewart delivered 18 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in Game 1. Solid, but is it MVP-level? We’ll see.
Then we’ve got Williams at +600, Sabrina Ionescu at +700, and finally, Jonquel Jones at +1000. Translation: Jones might’ve outplayed everyone in Game 1, but Vegas seems to think the MVP odds are about as favorable as getting a cab in NYC during rush hour.
So, When’s the Next Showdown?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to wait too long for the drama to continue. Game 2 tips off Sunday, October 13 at 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Will the Liberty even the score? Will someone else step up for MVP? Will your betting slip survive another round of emotional roller coasters? Only time will tell.
