PARIS (France) - With the Quarter-Finals of the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 now done, there are only four teams still standing and just one player left to be crowned MVP.
But what determines who climbs the MVP Ladder?
From their team's podium prospects, individual stats and clutch ability - as well as reasons they can and maybe can't be crowned MVP, here's the new ladder lineup!
#10 Valeriane Ayayi - France (new)
Podium Prospects: Within touching distance.
Stats: 8.8 efficiency, 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 56.0 percent two-point field goal shooting, 100 percent free-throw shooting.
Clutch ability: Waiting and ready but 'Valou' does it both ends of the court.
Why she can be MVP: She leads so well on the floor and defensively has been a power, while played a smart role offensively - shooting a wonderful 56% from two-point range.
Why she might miss out on MVP: Maybe there are a couple of teammates ahead of her in the queue so she is going to probably have to have an epic end to the competition. The overall stats right now simply don't underline what she has done for the team.
#9 Brittney Griner - USA (new)
Podium Prospects: You can almost taste the gold right now.
Stats: 12.8 efficiency, 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 70.0 percent field goal shooting, 70 percent from the free throw line.
Clutch ability: Throw it in the post and just sit back and watch her go to work.
Why she can be MVP: Have you forgotten about Tokyo 2020 already? Griner saved her best work until last when she came up with a phenomenal and record-breaking 30-points in the Final against Japan. Oh and check out her current field goal percentage - that's insane!
Why she might miss out on MVP: Outshining A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart might just take another record being broken.
#8 Sami Whitcomb - Australia (+2)
Podium Prospects: Tough with USA to get past, but bronze is looking reachable.
Stats: 18.5 efficiency, 14.8 points, 6.0 assists (#3 in tournament), 3.8 rebounds, shooting 50.0 percent field goal shooting, 100 percent from the free throw line (#1).
Clutch ability: At the stronger end of the basketball spectrum.
Why she can be MVP: If the Opals pull off a huge upset, then you can bank on the guard coming up with the goods in the Final.
Why she might miss out on MVP: Beating USA in that Semi-Finals game looks to be a tough ask - meaning it could be a long-shot that Whitcomb
#7 Kyara Linskens - Belgium (new)
Podium Prospects: Transformed compared to most of the time in Lille.
Stats: 16.3 efficiency, 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, shooting 50.0 percent two-point field goal shooting, 87.5 percent from the free throw line.
Clutch ability: That's not her game necessarily, but you can bet defensively if there is a game-winning block to be had, she will be the one swatting it.
Why she can be MVP: She is getting better with any game and is second for Belgium in rebounding and efficiency, as well as being on their scoring podium.
Why she might miss out on MVP: Well, she has this Cats' colleague called Emma Meesseman. You might have heard about her?
#6 Alanna Smith - Australia (new)
Podium Prospects: Looking more like a shade of bronze
Stats: 16.3 efficiency, 12.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 55.9 percent field goal shooting
Clutch ability: Right now, she has that 'give me the ball' vibe and we're not going to argue.
Why she can be MVP: She has been monumental in the last couple of games for the Opals and their two best wins were founded on her superb contributions. She's hard to live with when she is balling out like this.
Why she might miss out on MVP: The Opals look more likely to be stood on a third podium step and that's a stretch for any MVP contender. But, who knows?
#5 Marine Johannes - France (+1)
Podium Prospects: Healthy!
Stats: 9.3 efficiency, 13.8 points, 72.7 percent field goal shooting from two-point range 75% free-throw shooting.
Clutch ability: It's what she does - and loves.
Why she can be MVP: It's party-time in Paris and MJ's time to shine and give the public what they have been waiting for. They already received an entree with her national team career high of 24 points against Belgium in the Quarter-Finals.
Why she might miss out on MVP: Her friend Gabby might have something to say about this.
#4 Gabby Williams - France (+1)
Podium Prospects: Can almost reach out and touch it now!
Stats: 19.3 efficiency, 14.0 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals, 52.2 percent field goal shooting.
Clutch ability: Whatever end of the court you need it, bank on Gabby to make the play that matters most in any game.
Why she can be MVP: She's getting it done in every way for the host nation and has been their leading player from the first jump-ball. A class act!
Why she might miss out on MVP: Her colleague MJ is ready to light it up with her crazy scoring ability.
#3 A'ja Wilson - USA (-1)
Podium Prospects: Locked in and locked down tight.
Stats: 26.8 efficiency, 20.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 blocks, 61.8 percent field goal shooting, 81.3 percent from the free throw line.
Clutch ability: Watch her go to work.
Why she can be MVP: Did you not see the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 or Tokyo 2020? Collecting individual honors along with gold medals is what Wilson loves to do.
Why she might miss out on MVP: 'Stewie' might just wrestle it away from her.
#2 Emma Meesseman - Belgium (+2)
Podium Prospects: Back from the dead and now very much alive and kicking.
Stats: 30.0 efficiency, 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.3 blocks, 61.8 percent field goal shooting, 68.8 percent from the free throw line.
Clutch ability: Up there with the very best there's ever been.
Why she can be MVP: Because she is at the top of every opponents' scouting report and yet somehow she has still managed to be top in the tournament in efficiency, as well as the competition's leading scorer and if that wasn't enough, shining defensively too as the Paris 2024 'Swat Queen'.
Why she might miss out on MVP: One of USA's twin turbos might just end up beating her to the punch.
#1 Breanna Stewart - USA (-)
Podium Prospects: Almost guaranteed.
Stats: 23.8 efficiency, 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 blocks, 63.8 percent field goal shooting, 78.6 percent from the free throw line.
Clutch ability: It's just another day in USA basketball paradise when has to execute in crunch time!
Why she can be MVP: She's got the big stats for sure, but even more importantly, whenever USA need a momentum shift or need to seal the deal in a game - it's dial S for 'Stewie'.
Why she might miss out on MVP: Because of the other two ballers stood on the MVP Ladder top steps. Surely only A'ja Wilson or Emma Meesseman can deny her.
*The MVP Ladder rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.
FIBA