Caitlin Clark is making a strong case for the WNBA MVP award despite ongoing criticism of the Indiana Fever superstar’s game. Some detractors have even argued that Clark is not the best player on her own team, putting her MVP candidacy under greater scrutiny.
Recently, ESPN legend Linda Cohn pushed back against those narratives, making it clear that she sees Clark’s value differently.
Caitlin Clark’s MVP Case Gets Major Backing From ESPN Legend Linda Cohn
The argument that Kelsey Mitchell, rather than Clark, is the Fever’s best player has gained support from several prominent voices, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Roughly a week ago, Smith said he was a big fan of Clark but pointed to Mitchell’s numbers as evidence that the veteran lefty is Indiana’s top player.
Cohn, the longtime SportsCenter anchor, strongly disagreed with her former ESPN colleague. While she acknowledged that she does not have an MVP vote, Cohn made it clear which way she would vote if she did.
“I’m not voting for her not because she sells tickets. I’m not for her not because millions of people tune in to watch her. … I’m voting for her for what she does on the basketball court. A’ja Wilson might have better stats, but MVP doesn’t stand for best statistical resume. It stands for Most Valuable Player,” Cohn said.
“And if Caitlin Clark keeps playing like this, if Indiana keeps winning like this, then I have one question for everybody who says she is not the MVP: What else does Caitlin Clark have to do? Please tell me. Please fill me in.”
The numbers provide plenty of context for Cohn’s argument.
Wilson, the reigning and four-time MVP, leads the WNBA in scoring at 26.1 points per game and blocks per contest at 2.0, while ranking third in rebounding at 9.6 per outing. Behind the 6-foot-4 superstar, the Las Vegas Aces own a 24-12 record.
Clark, meanwhile, ranks third in scoring at 22.0 ppg while leading the league with 8.3 apg. More importantly for Cohn’s argument, she remains the engine driving Indiana’s offense.
The Fever owns a WNBA-best 115.4 offensive rating with Clark as the catalyst, underscoring just how much her playmaking and scoring have influenced the team’s success.
For Cohn, the question is not simply whether Clark has impressive individual numbers. It is what Indiana would look like without its three-time All-Star.
The former longtime sports anchor also pointed to Clark’s ability to step up when the Fever have needed her most, another factor that she believes should matter in an MVP discussion.
The regular season still has plenty of basketball left, but Cohn’s argument cuts to the heart of the award.
If Clark keeps producing at this level and Indiana keeps winning, the MVP debate may eventually become less about whether she belongs in the conversation and more about what possible argument remains against her.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.