Even with the somewhat down season the Las Vegas Aces encountered in 2024, that year’s MVP was still very cut and dry with A’ja Wilson running away with those honors last season.
This year, as the 2025 WNBA season hits the home stretch, the MVP race appears to be the most competitive since that 2023 version which featured Wilson, Breanna Stewart (in her first season with the New York Liberty) and Alyssa Thomas (still with the Connecticut Sun at the time).
Stewie claimed that year’s MVP award and Wilson was notoriously voted fourth by someone.
A few weeks ago, it appeared that the 2025 MVP was all but settled – but a lot can happen in a few weeks in the WNBA. Without further ado, here are five MVP-worthy candidates from this season.
Napheesa Collier
Phee has already claimed one MVP award – that of this year’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis when she scored 36 points (a new All-Star record), hauled in nine rebounds and collected one steal to lead Team Collier to a 151-131 victory over Team (Caitlin) Clark.
A few weeks ago, it appeared that the MVP award was all but decided with Collier being the odds-on favorite. Except, she has unfortunately been injured (ankle) for the past few games.
To the credit of the Minnesota Lynx, they have still maintained their status as the team to beat in this season’s WNBA even in her absence. The Lynx have been the only team as of this writing to officially clinch a playoff berth.
There are a few pundits that believe because Minnesota has still performed at peak Minnesota levels that it hurts Collier’s MVP case.
Allisha Gray
The top seed in the playoffs appears to be all but settled. What happens below where the Lynx are is anyone’s guess.
This is certainly the sort of season where Atlanta Dream fans should have visions of its team returning to the Finals for the first time since 2018. Allisha Gray has certainly led the way.
In the Dream’s most recent contest against the Golden State Valkyries, Gray was one of five wearing an Atlanta uniform who concluded her night with a double-digit point performance. Let us remember that the Dream already have one victory over the Lynx this season – and the defeat Atlanta encountered at Minnesota’s hands was only by four points.
Gray tallied 12 points and collected four steals in that 90-86 win over the Lynx and Atlanta won despite a 32-point outing from Collier.
Sabrina Ionescu
It may seem a bit controversial to include anyone from the seafoam, black and copper in any MVP race given the somewhat down season the Liberty have encountered as defending champions.
But, as long as New York still occupies one of the top spots in the WNBA standings, someone from the Liberty still deserves recognition.
This season, that is Sabrina Ionescu who is beginning to enter the prime of her career. Ionescu has competed in all 33 games this season for the Lib and has averaged 19.2 points, 5.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds. Ionescu also had a highlight earlier in the season at All-Star when she became the second player in WNBA history to win multiple 3-Point Contests.
The other was, of course, Allie Quigley, who won four of those 3-Point Contest trophies.
A’ja Wilson
A few weeks ago, given where the Aces were in the standings, a scenario that could have seen Wilson be named MVP would have been all but futile.
That was then. This is now.
Las Vegas was on the playoff bubble a few weeks ago. As of today, the Aces are in prime position to get back to the postseason and give themselves a shot to get back to dynasty status.
Wilson is already the most dangerous player in the WNBA – that gets amplified when she is in playoff mode as has been the case as of late. She is averaging over 28 points and 14 rebounds plus 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals a game in her last five contests.
Add that to how the Aces have improved with Jewell Loyd coming off the bench and the Aces appear to have remembered who they are. Look out, Minnesota…
Alyssa Thomas
During the offseason, the Phoenix Mercury were one of the beneficiaries of the mass exodus from the Connecticut Sun that ensued over the offseason.
Even despite losing Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, landing Thomas ensured that the Mercury would remain contenders in 2025.
As of this writing, Thomas is second on the team in scoring behind Satou Sabally. But with Thomas, it is not only about what she does as a scorer but as a rebounder and a passer.
She is averaging 16.1 points, nine assists, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals a contest – numbers certainly indicative of a walking triple-double – her latest of which occurred in a tough 85-82 win over the Seattle Storm.
The possibility is there for the Mercury to return to the Finals for the first time since 2021 – and for Phoenix to win its first Finals since 2014.
