WNBA GM survey: Caitlin Clark named top franchise cornerstone, Napheesa Collier most likely to win MVP

Caitlin Clark remains the player most general managers would want to build a franchise around if they could sign anyone, earning the accolade for a second consecutive year in the anonymous WNBA general manager survey released on Thursday.

The GMs voted Naphessa Collier most likely to win MVP (67%), ahead of reigning MVP A’ja Wilson (25%) and Clark (8%), while the Minnesota Lynx were voted the favorites to win the WNBA championship. Paige Bueckers earned the majority of the vote for WNBA Rookie of the Year (73%), but No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga of the Storm was voted the rookie who will be the best player in five years (60%).

It is the 20th edition of the WNBA’s GM survey, which queries all 13 leaders on 40 questions. They are not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel, and do not have to answer every question. The survey returned a year ago following a two-year hiatus. It was also not collected in 2020.

Clark and her teammates reigned atop multiple categories. The Lynx, New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces were all also heavily represented. The four are in a clear top tier of their own heading into the league’s 29th season, which tips off on Friday night.

Clark jumps in PG, SG votes

Clark received 50% of the vote again this season for franchise player after edging out Wilson (42%) as a rookie. Wilson garnered 33% of the vote this year. Not all GMs voted for the specific question.

The second-year guard shared the honor of best point guard with Las Vegas Aces veteran and Olympic gold medalist Chelsea Gray. Each received 50% of the vote, an increase for Clark after she set rookie records and led the league in assists. Gray earned 75% of the vote a year ago, while Clark, Skylar Diggins and Courtney Vandersloot each received one vote. Gray still overwhelmingly holds the title of best passer

Clark was also named the league’s best shooting guard (33%) over the Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu and Lynx’s Kayla McBride (25% each). Clark averaged 19.2 points (seventh in the league) shooting 53.3% (19th) from inside the arc, 34.4% outside of it (40%) and 90.6% (fifth) from the free throw line. Her range that forces defenses to pick her up early makes her difficult to guard.

It was another jump for Clark, who tied with the Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale and Aces Jackie Young (8%) a year ago behind Jewell Loyd (75%). Loyd shot a career-worst 27.4% from the perimeter in her last season in Seattle and is now with the Aces. McBride, on the other hand, shot a career-best 40.7% from 3-point range and is a key reason the Lynx nearly won the title.

Fever ‘most fun to watch’

The Fever earned the titles of best overall moves in the offseason (64%), team most likely to improve (42%) and, overwhelmingly, the most fun to watch (75%). The franchise acquired WNBA champions DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sydney Colson, as well as Sophie Cunningham. Not only are they impactful players, but Colson and Cunningham are personalities already lighting up the Fever’s social channels. They finished second in best home-court advantage behind New York, and head coach Stephanie White earned the honor of the new/relocated head coach who will have the largest impact.

Bonner’s signing was voted the most surprising move of the offseason, while fiancée and former Sun teammate Alyssa Thomas was voted the player most likely to make the biggest impact on the league. She signed with Phoenix.

Clark was also named the league’s best shooting guard (33%) over the Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu and Lynx’s Kayla McBride (25% each). Clark averaged 19.2 points (seventh in the league) shooting 53.3% (19th) from inside the arc, 34.4% outside of it (40%) and 90.6% (fifth) from the free throw line. Her range that forces defenses to pick her up early makes her difficult to guard.

It was another jump for Clark, who tied with the Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale and Aces Jackie Young (8%) a year ago behind Jewell Loyd (75%). Loyd shot a career-worst 27.4% from the perimeter in her last season in Seattle and is now with the Aces. McBride, on the other hand, shot a career-best 40.7% from 3-point range and is a key reason the Lynx nearly won the title.

Fever ‘most fun to watch’

The Fever earned the titles of best overall moves in the offseason (64%), team most likely to improve (42%) and, overwhelmingly, the most fun to watch (75%). The franchise acquired WNBA champions DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sydney Colson, as well as Sophie Cunningham. Not only are they impactful players, but Colson and Cunningham are personalities already lighting up the Fever’s social channels. They finished second in best home-court advantage behind New York, and head coach Stephanie White earned the honor of the new/relocated head coach who will have the largest impact.

Bonner’s signing was voted the most surprising move of the offseason, while fiancée and former Sun teammate Alyssa Thomas was voted the player most likely to make the biggest impact on the league. She signed with Phoenix.