Caitlin Clark continues to establish herself among the WNBA's biggest stars. But the final results of the 2026 MVP voting revealed something interesting about the league's changing landscape.
Clark finished fourth in Thursday's announced voting, receiving 212 points and one first-place vote. That placed the Indiana Fever guard behind A'ja Wilson, teammate Kelsey Mitchell and Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles.
Wilson's record fifth MVP award understandably dominated the announcement. However, Miles finishing second as a rookie might be the most intriguing development for the league's future.
Olivia Miles delivers remarkable rookie season
Miles received 442 voting points, including six first-place votes. The Minnesota guard had already earned unanimous Rookie of the Year honors after producing one of the most impressive debut seasons in recent memory. She averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds while helping Minnesota finish 33-11.
The Lynx earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, giving Miles an impressive team accomplishment to accompany her individual production.
Her efficiency was particularly impressive. Miles shot 49.2 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three-point range during the regular season.
Those numbers are exceptional for a first-year guard responsible for creating so much of her team's offense. Miles also finished among the league's top eight players in both scoring and assists.
Her second-place MVP finish reinforces how quickly she has become one of the WNBA's most important players.
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Clark remains among the league's elite
Finishing fourth in MVP voting should not be viewed as a disappointment for Clark. The former Iowa superstar continues to demonstrate why she is one of the most influential offensive players in women's basketball.
But the results show just how competitive the league's top tier has become. Mitchell finished third with 287 points, giving Indiana two players among the top four.
That is an impressive accomplishment for the Fever, even if their championship pursuit ended before the semifinals. Meanwhile, Miles has entered the conversation much earlier than most observers would expect from a rookie.
Only Candace Parker has won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same WNBA season, accomplishing the feat in 2008. Miles didn't match that achievement, but finishing second is a remarkable introduction to the league.
The next several seasons could feature a fascinating competition among Clark, Miles and other emerging stars. For now, Thursday's voting provided another reminder that the WNBA's future extends well beyond any single player.
And Minnesota appears to have found a franchise cornerstone.
