Let's take a look at the efficiency ratings for some of the main candidates for the national player of the year awards.

I ran three different formulas. The WNBA formula is the simplest -- you get a point for each point, assist, rebound, steal, and block, and you lose a point for each missed shot and turnover. The ACC formula is slightly more complicated -- it gives more weight to points and assists, and it penalizes fouls. The Prouty Rating is the most complicated, and it takes into account team success.

WNBA Efficiency Formula:

Irvin: 29.0
McCarville: 24.5
Wecker: 24.2
Currie: 21.0
Batteast: 19.9
Augusutus: 19.4

ACC Efficiency Formula:

Wecker: 1.54
Irvin: 1.51
McCarville: 1.39
Currie: 1.30
Augusutus: 1.30
Batteast: 1.17

Prouty Rating:

Irvin: 0.557
Wecker: 0.557
Currie: 0.556
Augustus: 0.555
McCarville: 0.550
Batteast: 0.527

Of course, if you're playing weaker teams, you'll put up bigger numbers, so we must make some subjective adjustment for strength of schedule (which isn't built in to any of the ratings). Right now, according to CollegeRPI, they are: LSU (3), Notre Dame (7), Duke (9), Minnesota (26), TCU (34), K State (40).

What does this tell us? To me, the race seems wide open. Augustus has been the presumptive favorite all year, but while she's easily the best pure scorer in the country, she isn't as good as the other candidates at other aspects of the game.

And of course, the most important games of the season are yet to be played. Leading your team to Indianapolis trumps any statistical rating.

UPDATE: PUMatty asks whether Tanisha Wright and Jess Strom should be added to the list of top contenders. Given PSU's great run lately, they have a good argument. Their numbers, however, don't compare to the six above. Wrights numbers in the three different ratings are 17.7, 1.06, and 0.480.