WNBA MVP Betting: Everything You Need to Know

Placing a wager on who you think will win the WNBA MVP award is a fun way to get in on WNBA action. The league is growing in popularity and fan engagement, prompting sportsbooks to offer more and more lines on WNBA games and postseason awards.

You can bet on who will be chosen as Most Valuable Player before the season even begins. This is known as a “futures” bet because your money is laid down on an outcome far in advance.

As with most futures wagers, WNBA MVP betting can be highly rewarding, especially if you pick the eventual winner before the season starts or their odds begin to shorten. That said, be warned that player futures are difficult to handicap.

Before you put money down, let’s discuss when and how to go about betting WNBA MVP futures and unique considerations to keep in mind.

Introducing the WNBA MVP Award

The WNBA Most Valuable Player award is handed out annually to the league’s top player. The recipient is chosen by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters across the nation.

Voting for the MVP award takes place immediately following the regular season, with panelists asked to select their top five choices in order of preference. Players are given points based on those selections. Here’s the breakdown of points received by voting order:

• 1^st place = 10 points
• 2^nd place = 7 points
• 3^rd place = 5 points
• 4^th place = 3 points
• 5^th place = 1 point

Next, let’s look at when you can expect to find WNBA MVP lines available.

When Are WNBA MVP Bets Available?

The first sportsbooks to provide WNBA MVP lines released opening odds in the week or so leading up to the regular season.

This is a bit different than MVP lines in other major leagues. For example, you can often bet on the next season’s NFL MVP the day after the Super Bowl. As the WNBA continues to gain new fans, expect sportsbooks to begin releasing opening odds farther in advance of the season tip-off.

Typically, you’ll see WNBA MVP odds adjusted each week throughout the regular season to reflect changes as team and players progress.

When Should I Bet on the WNBA MVP?

This section could just be titled, when do I place my A’ja Wilson MVP bet?

Wilson won five of seven MVP awards from 2020-2026, so the only way to really make money on picking her the past few years is to buy the dip, if it ever comes.

She’s probably going to open any season as the favorite, but say Caitlin Clark has a great start to the year, and the Aces are struggling a bit, you might see Clark’s odds get to +200 and Wilson fall to +250, which might be a good time to pounce.

It’s all about timing with whoever you think is going to win, so if you have eyes on a longer shot, picking them ahead of the season before they start to make their MVP push, is the best time.

Who Wagers on WNBA MVP Futures?

In most markets, sharp bettors avoid futures bets for two reasons. One, they’re difficult to handicap, and two, there’s usually a lot of juice built in.

However, not only are futures bets a lot of fun, but WNBA lines can be extra rewarding for those willing to do their research. Sportsbooks don’t scrutinize these odds as much as they would for NBA or NFL lines, for example, so they might be a bit slower to adjust the lines.

Luckily for you, there are fewer players to research when handicapping the WNBA. The league has just 15 teams with 12 players each. 180 is a much smaller number than the 400+ guys on an NBA roster at any given time, let alone the NFL. If you’re not sure where to get started, we put together a list of useful resources in our WNBA Betting 101 guide.

How to Be Successful with WNBA MVP Betting

There’s value to be found with WNBA MVP futures betting. Here are some general tips to help you be successful with your MVP picks:

• Convert odds to implied probability
• Research teams and players ahead of time
• Find value early
• Monitor the lines to decide if its beneficial to hedge
• If you bet on multiple players, calculate your total risk versus potential payout

Lastly, remember that line shopping is always key, but especially so with futures betting. WNBA MVP odds can vary significantly from sportsbook to sportsbook. Once you have a player in mind, find the betting site that offers the longest odds to get the highest payout.

There will typically be at least 30 or 40 options listed for WNBA MVP odds. If for some reason you can’t find a line on the player you think will win MVP, let your sportsbook know and they’ll usually provide one.

Unique Considerations for WNBA MVP Betting

Looking at the past 20 winners of the WNBA MVP award can glean some valuable insights.

Here are some important things to consider when placing your wager.

Player Position

Below is the positional breakdown of the 20 previous award winners from 2007-2026.

• Guard = 1
• Guard/Forward = 2
• Forward = 7
• Forward/Center = 3
• Center = 7

Notably, pure guards have rarely won the WNBA MVP award. Cynthia Cooper won the league’s first two MVP awards in 1997 and 1998, and Diana Taurasi won it in 2009.

The MVP has historically most often been given to someone who plays at least some forward. Wilson skews the center stats, as she’s five of those seven.

Team Record

In the history of the WNBA, no player representing a team with a losing record has been named MVP. In fact, only four times has someone won it while playing on a team that finished with a winning percentage below .600.

If your pick for MVP doesn’t play for a team that looks to be elite this season, it might be wise to reconsider or make a hedge.

MVP Franchises

There are five WNBA franchises – three current and one former – that have won multiple MVP awards.

• Los Angeles Sparks = 6
• Las Vegas Aces = 5
• Houston Comets = 5
• Seattle Storm = 4
• Minnesota Lynx = 2

Incredibly, the Sparks won a quarter of all MVP awards in the first 24 years of WNBA action. The Comets were a dynasty early on as well and it’s unfortunate they couldn’t find owners to keep them in Houston.

WNBA MVPs and the WNBA Championships

In case you’re wondering, here’s a complete list of players who won MVP and a WNBA Championship in the same year.

To learn more about this and other interesting developments, check out our guide to WNBA betting trends.

WNBA MVP Fun Facts

WNBA MVP betting can be highly rewarding, but even when it isn’t, at the very least it’s entertaining. Here are some interesting facts you can use next time you’re debating the MVP race with your friends.

• Eight players have won the award more than once, led by Wilson’s five.
• Cynthia Cooper won the first two WNBA MVP awards, but nobody was able to repeat as the winner until Wilson did so in 2024 and 2025. She would then add a third straight in 2026.
• Cooper (1997) and Wilson (2025) are the only unanimous WNBA MVP selections.
• Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics) and Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm and New York Liberty) are the only players to have won the award with two different teams.
• Candace Parker is the only player in WNBA history to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (2008).
• Jonquel Jones (Bahamas) and Lauren Jackson (Australia) are the only non-American born players to win WNBA MVP.

Best Sportsbooks for WNBA MVP Betting

Unfortunately, not every sportsbook has WNBA MVP lines. In our experience, the best places to look are DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.

Follow the links below to get started.

Keep Track of WNBA Odds

Now that you know all about the WNBA MVP award, you’ll want to monitor the odds before and after you place your wager.

Sports Betting Dime’s editorial team will provide regular updates on the WNBA MVP race all season long. Plus, our WNBA Championship Odds Tracker can help you evaluate how teams’ chances of winning it all are shifting over time. Our odds trackers aggregate odds from the top sportsbooks in America, so you’ll get an objective take on which team is favored to win the title.

You can find tips and tricks for WNBA betting and more in our ‘How to Bet on Sports’ section.