Caitlin Clark remains the majority of general managers, winning honors for the second consecutive year in the anonymous WNBA general manager survey released Thursday.
The general manager voted against Naphessa Collier, most likely to win the MVP (67%), ahead of MVP A'ja Wilson (25%) and Clark (8%), while Minnesota Lynx was selected as a favorite to win the WNBA championship. The Paige Bueckers won most of the votes for the WNBA rookie of the year (73%), but second-placed, Dominique Malonga, the Storm's second-leading pick, was selected as the rookie, who will be the best player in five years (60%).
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This is the 20th edition of the WNBA General Motors Survey, which asked 40 questions from all 13 leaders. They are not allowed to vote for their team or people, nor have to answer every question. After taking two years off a year ago, the investigation returned. It was not collected in 2020 either.
Clark and her teammates ruled in multiple categories. Lynx, New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces are also well represented. The four guys are at their clear top of the league’s season 29, which stands out on Friday night.
Clark once again won 50% of the vote this season to get franchise players. Not all general managers vote for a specific issue.
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The sophomore defender shared the honor of best point guard with Las Vegas ACE veteran and Olympic gold medalist Chelsea Gray. Everyone got 50% of the vote, Clark Gray's increase received 75% of the vote a year ago, while Clark, Skylar Diggins and Courtney Vandersloot each got one vote. Gray still has the title of the best passer.
Clark was also named Sabrina Ionescu, who was named Statue of Liberty, and Kayla McBride of Lynx (25% each), and was named the league's best shooting guard (33%). Clark averaged 19.2 points per game (seventh in the league) with 53.3% (19th) shooting percentage in the arc, with 34.4% (40%) and 90.6% (5th) free throw line. Her range forces the defense to pick her up early, which makes it difficult for her to protect.
It was another jump for Clark, who tied with Wings' arike ogunbowale and Aces Jackie Young (8% a year ago), behind Jewell Loyd (75%). Loyd hit 27.4% on the perimeter in Seattle last season and is now with the ACE. McBride, on the other hand, scored a career-high 40.7% from three-point shooting percentage, a key reason why Lynx almost won the championship.
Fever won the title of best overall action in the offseason (64%), with the team most likely to improve (42%), and the overwhelmingly the most fun to watch (75%). The franchise won WNBA champions Dewanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sydney Colson, as well as Sophie Cunningham. Not only are they influential players, but Colson and Cunningham are already in the social channels of fever. They finished second in the best home advantage, behind New York, with head coach Stephanie White earning the honor of a new/relocated head coach, who will make the most impact.
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Bonner's signing was named the most surprising move in the offseason, while fiancé and former Suns teammate Alyssa Thomas were selected as the player with the most likely impact on the league. She signed with Phoenix City.
Last fall, Lynx won almost all of this in Game 5 of New York overtime. They return all the starters and everyone on the bench. 60% of general managers are most likely to win all of them, followed by New York (20), which is third between Indiana and Las Vegas.
Collier was named the most versatile player and best defender and shared the honors of Best Leader and Best Forward with Wilson. Wilson was also appointed as a player who forced opposition coaches to make the most adjustments, the best internal defender and the best center.
Lynx's head coach Cheryl Reeve is a four-time champion and the longest-serving coach in the league. He was named the best coach in the league, the best tweak in the game, and the best manager/motivation for people. Reeve's 16 years in Minnesota. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello entered her 14th season, but her fourth season in New York. Noelle Quinn is Noelle Quinn in Seattle, her fifth year in Seattle.