Plus, watch out for the L.A. Sparks in the second half.

The 2020 WNBA season is just past the halfway point, and the league’s award races are in full swing. While the year has been unconventional as a result of the condensed schedule and fan-less campus environment, the action in Brandenton, Fla., has been highly competitive. A number of star-studded Western Conference teams have regularly asserted their superiority; however, teams like the Chicago Sky remain worthy foes out of the East. Despite there still being plenty of time for things to change, here’s a look at where the WNBA stands with half the schedule accounted for.

Most Valuable Player: Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm)

Considering the success of the Storm (10–2) thus far, it should be no surprise that Stewart has cemented herself at the top of the league’s MVP race. Entering Thursday’s action, Stewart is averaging just under 19 points per game on 52% shooting from the field. She leads the league in defensive win shares and has the best defensive rating of players who play at least 25 minutes per game. In addition to her MVP candidacy, she could also take home the Defensive Player of the Year award.

What’s even more impressive is that Stewart is thriving despite missing the 2019 WNBA season after tearing her Achilles tendon, an injury she sustained while playing for the Russian Club Dynamo Kursk. Even though the UConn legend’s per-game totals are currently a tad lower than what they were in her MVP-winning 2018 season, Stewart’s per-36 totals are incredibly similar to her stellar 2018 campaign. She has not missed a beat in her return.