Kelsey Plum makes it clear how far away Caitlin Clark was in WNBA MVP conversation

Caitlin Clark finished a respectable fourth in the voting for WNBA MVP, but according to Kelsey Plum the only player that deserved a mention was eventual winner A’ja Wilson

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum has claimed that there would be “conspiracy theories” if teammate A’ja Wilson wasn’t unanimously awarded MVP this season.

Wilson was named WNBA MVP for 2024 after averaging 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.58 blocked shots, and 1.79 steals in 34.4 minutes in 38 games. Wilson also led the league in both points and blocks, was second in rebounds, fifth in steals, and fourth in minutes, with all five categories becoming career-highs for the Aces star.

It’s the third time that Wilson has won the award, after scooping up MVP honors in 2020 and 2022. She is now the fourth player in WNBA history to win three MVPs and became the first unanimous winner since Cynthia Cooper dominated for the Houston Comets in the inaugural 1997 season.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was in the initial conversations for MVP but instead settled for WNBA Rookie of the Year. There was only one clear winner in Plum’s eyes, showing the utmost respect for her MVP teammate.

If she’s not the unanimous MVP, I have conspiracy theories,” Kelsey Plum told SB Nation. “I mean, I really will [have conspiracy theories], you know? I don’t even know who else you put in the conversation, to be honest.”

Plum’s comments were to celebrate Wilson’s brilliance rather than fire shots at Clark, although the Aces guard did face criticism following a mid-game interview when facing the Fever during the regular season.

In September, the Aces secured a 78-74 win over the Fever and limited Indiana to just 13 points in the first quarter. At the half, Plum was asked how the Aces had coped so easily with the Fever and of course, Clark.

Kelsey Plum was called out for her comments when facing the Indiana Fever. ( 
Image:
2024 Getty Images)
“I don’t know. Come back to me later,” Plum said. The Aces guard was later asked how they stopped Indiana’s momentum as the Fever staged a comeback, to which she replied: “I don’t know, we have good players.”

The comedic response was once again highlighting the talent Las Vegas has but some fans took Plum’s comments as a dig at Clark, suggesting that she wasn’t a good player. Plum reacted to the social media storm in her postgame interview but didn’t seem impacted by the outrage.

“I mean, I thought we did a great job as a team, but Kelsey Mitchell was cooking,” Plum said. “She had a couple on me as well, so I didn’t want to say anything stupid. So I just said come back to me.

“I don’t even have social media on my phone. No offense but, like, we have good players. I would hope so. Not disrespectful. We have competitors — pick one. That’s what I meant. People these days don’t say the truth.