{"id":120445,"date":"2025-08-30T08:43:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T08:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/120445\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T08:43:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T08:43:07","slug":"napheesa-collier-and-aja-wilson-battle-for-mvp-paige-bueckers-running-away-with-roy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/120445\/","title":{"rendered":"Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson Battle for MVP, Paige Bueckers Running Away With ROY"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 WNBA<\/a> season is winding down, with just under two weeks until the first round of the playoffs tips off. The awards races have been heating up over the past month, with several players rising down the stretch while others have faltered.<\/p>\n

Injuries, as they always are, have become a factor as well. Minnesota Lynx\u2019s star forward Napheesa Collier appeared to have the MVP award locked up before going down with an ankle injury that resulted in a three-week absence and allowed Las Vegas Aces center A\u2019ja Wilson to make up ground. With a strong final push, could Wilson pull off the improbable?<\/p>\n

Find out below, as here\u2019s our 2025 WNBA awards races with 13 days left in the regular season.<\/p>\n

Most Valuable Player
\n3) Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury<\/p>\n

Though Alyssa Thomas is unlikely to win the MVP award, she continues to rack up triple-doubles at a rate the league has never seen before. On Tuesday against the Los Angeles Sparks, she set a WNBA record with her seventh triple-double of the season as she scored 12 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and dished out 15 assists.<\/p>\n

The Phoenix Mercury are in the mix for securing home-court advantage in the playoffs, and Thomas\u2019 excellent all-around play this season is a big part of that.<\/p>\n

2) A\u2019ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces<\/p>\n

Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces started the season very slowly, holding a 14-14 record after 28 games. They\u2019ve since won 12 straight games, vaulting themselves into second place in the standings and reestablishing themselves as championship contenders behind Wilson\u2019s strong play.<\/p>\n

In those 12 games, Wilson is averaging 26.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. She\u2019s been far and away the top player in the league over the past month as she makes a final push to win her fourth MVP award.<\/p>\n

1) Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx<\/p>\n

The player between Wilson and her fourth time winning the award is Collier, who had a tremendous start to the season and has continued to excel since returning from injury<\/a>. The Minnesota Lynx still holds a five-game advantage in the standings over the rest of the league and will enter the playoffs as the presumed favorite to win the title.<\/p>\n

Napheesa Collier v A\u2019Ja Wilson (Season Stats)<\/p>\n

Phee
23.9 PPG (1st)
7.6 RPG
3.4 APG
1.8 SPG (4th)
+\/- 6.8 (1st)<\/p>\n

A\u2019Ja
23.1 PPG (2nd)
10.1 RPG (2nd)
3.1 APG
2.2 BPG (2nd)
19 double doubles
+\/- 3.1<\/p>\n

You might have your fave in this MVP race but you just have to appreciate the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/fHIu5Y1Npm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Athlete Vanity (@AthleteVanity) August 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s much to do with Collier, who\u2019s broken out in her seventh season in the league in establishing herself as one of the top players in the game. She\u2019s been well-deserving of the MVP honor all year and should be crowned with the award at season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

Rookie of the Year
\n3) Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics<\/p>\n

As rookies often do, Kiki Iriafen has come on as the season has gone along. From August 10 to August 23, she recorded six double-doubles in seven games. Seen as the future in the post for the Mystics, Iriafen is proving herself as a critical piece for Washington right now.<\/p>\n

2) Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics<\/p>\n

Iriafen\u2019s teammate, Sonia Citron, has consistently contributed to the Mystics all season. After being selected third overall, she\u2019s averaging 15.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. She\u2019s a dead-eye 3-point shooter, connecting on 43.0% of her attempts from deep.<\/p>\n

If this season is any indication of the future, Citron and Iriafen will be a tremendous pairing for the Mystics in the years to come.<\/p>\n

1) Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, Paige Bueckers has been the top rookie this season. She\u2019s far and away the top player on the Dallas Wings, scoring 18.9 points, grabbing 3.8 rebounds, and dishing out 5.4 assists per game.<\/p>\n

Only 4 players in the WNBA are currently top 10 in at least 3 out of the 5 main stat categories.<\/p>\n

Those players are:<\/p>\n

A\u2019Ja Wilson
Alyssa Thomas
Napheesa Collier
Paige Bueckers<\/p>\n

The 3 top MVP candidates and Paige. No way you can look at this list & tell me Paige is not all-WNBA pic.twitter.com\/yk7nxWGg4x<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFP (@sportsfan6718) August 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Last week, she recorded a career-high 44 points against the Sparks on 17 of 21 shooting from the field. Bueckers\u2019 mid-range game has translated perfectly to the WNBA, where she figures to be a franchise cornerstone in Dallas and a soon-to-be superstar.<\/p>\n

Defensive Player of the Year
\n3) Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx<\/p>\n

Though Kayla McBride\u2019s stats won\u2019t show it, she\u2019s been the best WNBA team\u2019s top defender this season. She\u2019s the Lynx\u2019s point-of-attack defender, routinely taking the toughest opposing perimeter matchups and taking them out of the game. She won\u2019t win the DPOY award, but she deserves recognition here.<\/p>\n

2) Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm<\/p>\n

Whereas McBride\u2019s stats are quiet, Gabby Williams\u2019 stats are loud. She leads the league at 2.3 steals per game, using her length and anticipation to consistently poke the ball away from her opponents.<\/p>\n

Though the Storm have faded slightly in recent weeks, Williams has remained one of the top defenders in the WNBA.<\/p>\n

1) A\u2019ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces<\/p>\n

A two-time winner of the DPOY award, Wilson once again appears to be on track to win it again. Like her MVP push, her vault to the top of the defensive award has come mainly due to the past month. As mentioned, she\u2019s blocking two shots per game and registering 1.6 steals, among the top marks in the WNBA.<\/p>\n

Since she joined the league, Wilson has been known as a top defender. In 2025, she may win her third DPOY as she continues on her fast track to becoming an eventual Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n

Most Improved Player of the Year
\n3) Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream<\/p>\n

Allisha Gray is having a career year across the board, averaging per game career-highs in points (18.7), rebounds (5.4) and assists (3.6). Her emergence has been directly correlated to the Atlanta Dream\u2019s success, as they are in the thick of acquiring home-court advantage in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

2) Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever<\/p>\n

With Caitlin Clark sidelined for much of the season, Kelsey Mitchell has carried the load offensively for the Indiana Fever. In her eighth season, she\u2019s averaging a career-high 20.7 points per game while also knocking down 40.1% of her three-points.<\/p>\n

Mitchell has been a star her entire career, but the way she\u2019s stepped up this season in Clark\u2019s absence makes her deserving of being considered the most improved player.<\/p>\n

1) Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries<\/p>\n

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the WNBA this season has been the improvement of Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton. She began her career with the Dallas Wings, averaging just over 3.1 points per game a season ago.<\/p>\n

Veronica Burton tonight \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

\u2022 24 points
\u2022 14 ASSISTS
\u2022 6\/13 FGpic.twitter.com\/mimV2rpIiL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Women\u2019s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) August 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

But after joining the expansion Valkyries, she\u2019s been reliable across the board, averaging 12.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game\u2013all career-bests. Burton should be considered a lock to win the Most Improved Player award, as she\u2019s improved dramatically in every facet of her game.<\/p>\n

Coach of the Year
\n3) Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries<\/p>\n

An expansion franchise is not supposed to be competing for a playoff berth in its first year of existence, but behind Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries have done just that. They\u2019re currently eighth in the standings and holding the final playoff spot.<\/p>\n

Nakase has coaxed career years out of multiple players, which is highlighted by Burton\u2019s improved play. Though unlikely to win the award, Golden State is ahead of schedule because of Nakase\u2019s expertise.<\/p>\n

2) Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces<\/p>\n

At mid-season, the Aces looked dead in the water. But then, a switch was flipped, and the winning began. The culture and vibe surrounding the team have suddenly become very positive, a direct correlation to head coach Becky Hammon.<\/p>\n

Hammon is already considered one of the top coaches in the WNBA, but her late-season resurgence with the Aces only proves that sentiment.<\/p>\n

1) Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx<\/p>\n

As the calendar flips to September, the Lynx still haven\u2019t reached double-digit losses, and head coach Cheryl Reeve is highly deserving of the Coach of the Year award. Collier led the way at the beginning of the season, but Reeve showed her coaching prowess with her top player sidelined.<\/p>\n

Reeve kept Minnesota afloat during Collier\u2019s absence, keeping a significant lead in the standings and empowering other players to step up into bigger roles. With Collier back in the fold, the Lynx are even better and look poised to avenge their 2024 WNBA Finals defeat.<\/p>\n