Caitlin Clark's comeback trail is already stirring up controversy—and the 2026 WNBA season hasn't even started yet.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year spent most of the 2025 campaign sidelined with a series of soft-tissue injuries, raising questions about her durability and long-term trajectory. Despite a strong showing at the Team USA Qualifiers, where she earned MVP honors, Clark was notably absent from the top of most preseason rankings. The GM Survey didn't list her among the MVP favorites, ESPN ranked her 10th in the league, and The Athletic left her off their preseason All-WNBA first team.
Yet, when the sportsbooks released their initial odds, Clark emerged as the preseason MVP favorite—a move that has fans scratching their heads.
"Is this April fools? 😂" one fan joked on social media. Another wrote, "Umm I really don't know why? She's not even the best player in the league no shade fr."
The skepticism is understandable, especially with A'ja Wilson coming off an MVP season and a championship victory. Wilson, now a four-time MVP, seems like the obvious frontrunner for back-to-back honors. But oddsmakers see it differently, and that has sparked a heated debate across the WNBA community.
Clark's rookie season was nothing short of historic. She averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists on 41/34/90 splits, earning Rookie of the Year, All-WNBA First Team honors, an All-Star selection, and a fourth-place MVP finish. She also shattered the league's single-season assist record. But injuries have shifted the narrative. Questions now swirl around her defensive abilities, turnover issues, and a potential shift to a more off-ball role. Add in a supporting cast featuring All-WNBA talents like Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, and some wonder if Clark's individual shine will dim.
Clark, however, isn't fazed by the noise. "I think people forget that, at the end of the day, I care more than all of you," she said. "I want to be the best. I'm always analyzing my play. I'm always trying to find ways to be better."
With the 2026 season on the horizon, the question remains: can Clark silence the doubters and turn those long-shot odds into another historic campaign?