Former Los Angeles Sparks player Chiney Ogwumike has shared her favorite candidate to win the MVP title over the league’s new sensation, Caitlin Clark. Ogwumike appeared as a co-host on ESPN’s “WNBA Countdown,” where she discussed her pick.

Chiney Ogwumike was asked for her early prediction on who she thought would win the WNBA MVP honor. Ogwumike named Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale as her early pick to win the MVP honor. She referenced the Wings star’s performance against the Indiana Fever in preseason:

“Okay this is a dark horse candidate and I like it because it’s from Texas,” Ogwumike said. “I am gonna say Arike Ogunbowale. She is a staright bucket I know a lot of people watched Caitlin Clark in the preseason but guess what they also got tuned into, a game winner from her and also she had 25 in opening game. I see a big year for her.”

The panel at ESPN’s WNBA Countdown also discussed the possibility of a team winning the championship other than the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. They did a countdown reveal where every panelist would name their pick at the count of three. Coincidentally every panelist named the Connecticut Sun as the potential candidate to win the big prize.

Colin Cowherd criticizes the WNBA for giving Caitlin Clark a tough schedule

Colin Cowherd has sparked yet another controversy after he blamed the WNBA for giving Fever rookie Caitlin Clark a tough schedule from the very start of her professional career.

A video of Cowherd expressing his opinion was posted on his show’s official X account. In the video, the analyst argued that the WNBA in its 28 years has never had a player that can drive the marketing, revenue and TV ratings. He then voiced his concern and displeasure with the WNBA’s decision to pair Clark with tough games right from the very start.

“Caitlin Clark who has never played until a week ago in a WNBA game is teh first players that appears… they are banking on her and I say banking literally… they finally have this moment,” Cowherd said. “Don’t put Caitlin Clark up in the first four games against New York twice and Connecticut twice.”

Furthermore, Cowherd compared how the different leagues treat their superstars and made them look good at the start of the season. He gave examples from the NFL, Golf, and even the MLS ending his speech advising the WNBA to learn from the other leagues.