Geno Auriemma, head coach of the UConn Huskies, openly criticized the 2024 WNBA MVP odds that heavily undervalued Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. While A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces won the award, Clark, who finished third, was assigned long odds at +7,500 according to Fox Sports. Auriemma expressed frustration over what these odds implied about Clark’s impact and the broader message sent to women’s basketball players.
Auriemma’s Concerns Over Clark’s Treatment in MVP Race
Clark was recognized as the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year after a standout season, but Auriemma feels the MVP odds overlooked her value and contribution on the court. In an interview with SNY, he conveyed disappointment not only for Clark but for the entire league, arguing that such betting odds reduce players to symbolic figures rather than acknowledging their athleticism.
“I do really feel for anybody who’s in that situation, and that’s happened to a lot of athletes over the years, where they become a cause rather than just an athlete trying to play a game, you know, they become a movement.” —Geno Auriemma
“You know, like I said earlier, they actually had odds that you know, she was like third or fourth in the betting odds to be MVP at WNBA, that’s such a slap in the face to every WNBA player.” —Geno Auriemma
Auriemma Emphasizes Clark’s Focus Amid Misguided Odds
Despite the disparaging odds, Auriemma clarified that Clark herself was not responsible for the narrative or expectations. He highlighted that she is focused on playing without influencing outside opinions or stirring controversies.
“It’s unbelievable. It comes from a place where people want it so bad, but it’s misguided, and certainly she’s not driving it. She’s not out there campaigning for it. She’s handling her own playing, she has good days, she has bad days, she makes shots, she does not make shots.” —Geno Auriemma
Clark’s impressive rookie statistics back Auriemma’s defense: she averaged 19.2 points per game on 41.7% shooting, with a 34.4% three-point accuracy and 90.6% from free throws. She also contributed 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game across 40 appearances, playing 35.4 minutes per contest.
Reason Behind Auriemma Passing on Recruiting Clark
Last year, Auriemma explained in a CT Insider interview why he did not pursue Clark for UConn’s roster, citing an early commitment he had made to Paige Bueckers, who was expected to lead the team’s backcourt.
“Well, there’s a lot of kids we didn’t recruit and there’s a lot of kids who don’t want to go to UConn,” Auriemma said. “I committed to Paige Bueckers very, very early and it would have been silly for me to say to Paige, ‘Hey listen, we’re going to put you in the backcourt and then I’m going to try really hard to recruit Caitlin Clark.’ I don’t do it that way.” —Geno Auriemma
For the upcoming season, Auriemma has made only one major roster addition, bringing in Kelis Fisher, a highly ranked five-star point guard nationally and second-ranked in Florida, according to On3’s Industry Rankings.
Implications of Auriemma’s Critique on Women’s Basketball
Auriemma’s strong reaction to Caitlin Clark’s WNBA MVP odds sheds light on beneath-the-surface challenges players face beyond their performance, exposing tensions regarding recognition in women’s professional basketball. His stance suggests that undervaluing emerging talents like Clark could undermine respect for athletes working hard to establish themselves. Moving forward, this conversation may pressure leagues, media, and sportsbooks to reassess how they evaluate and promote women players’ achievements on a fairer, more transparent basis.