The brand new WNBA season will start on Friday, Might 16, and listed below are the candidates for this 12 months’s Most Helpful Participant (MVP) award to control all through the season.
Simply two years in the past, the MVP race was tightly contested amongst Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, and A’ja Wilson. Stewart gained the award that 12 months, adopted by Wilson, who had a historic season and gained her third MVP award simply final 12 months.
Can A’ja Wilson Win a Fourth WNBA MVP Award?
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, has established herself because the face of the league and its high participant in recent times. All through the 2020s, she has gained the Most Helpful Participant award thrice and led her workforce to back-to-back WNBA Championships, a feat not achieved because the Los Angeles Sparks did it in 2001 and 2002.
Wilson has many accolades she has completed all through her profession since being drafted No.1 total by the Las Vegas Aces within the 2018 WNBA Draft. She has gained back-to-back defensive participant of the 12 months awards in 2022 and 2023, led the league in blocks 4 occasions, and took part in six All-Star video games.
“I wish to be the very best,” Wilson stated, through ABC Information. “Usually, you are categorised the very best whenever you win video games and also you win championships, in order that was my entire mentality coming into this offseason. It was a protracted offseason. It was a protracted, uninteresting offseason as a result of we misplaced. Generally you want that ‘L’ to wake you up.”
The Las Vegas Aces had a busy offseason, buying Jewell Loyd from the Seattle Storm in a commerce that despatched Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks. They moreover introduced in Dana Evans, Tiffany Mitchell by offseason acquisitions. Aaliyah Nye, a second-round choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft, impressed throughout the preseason.
Is 2025 the Yr Napheesa Collier Wins the WNBA MVP Award?
Minnesota Lynx ahead Napheesa Collier is coming off a powerful marketing campaign with the workforce from final season. All through the postseason, she averaged 23.8 factors, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 38.8 minutes per sport for the workforce.
“With the MVP dialog, I feel Napheesa Collier has an excellent probability to win it this 12 months,” Ryan Ruocco stated Wednesday. “She was simply sensational within the playoffs—The best way she performed on each ends of the ground, she’s the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr. If it wasn’t for A’ja Wilson having the best common season of all time final 12 months, Napheesa Collier might have gained her first MVP final 12 months.”
Jordan Model simply introduced they’ve signed Napheesa Collier on IG. pic.twitter.com/8VbzWv8h30
— shakeia (@curlyfro) Might 16, 2025
On Friday, the Jordan Model, led by Corridor of Famer Michael Jordan, expanded its roster of high WNBA expertise by signing Collier to a multi-year endorsement deal. All through the brand new season, she’s going to headline key Jordan fashions such because the Inheritor collection, becoming a member of Minnesota Lynx and UConn legend Maya Moore—who formally retired from the WNBA in 2023—fellow Jordan athlete Evans, and Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard
“By becoming a member of the Jordan Model household, I’m now a part of a legacy that has constantly redefined what’s attainable in basketball,” Collier stated in a press release, through ESPN’s Andscape. “This partnership feels particularly significant as a result of it connects my efficiency on the courtroom with impression that extends far past the sport itself.”
“When younger ladies see that iconic silhouette, I would like it to encourage them to goal increased than they thought attainable. It’s an honor to assist carry ahead a practice that seamlessly blends athletic greatness with cultural significance.”
Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart gained her third championship final 12 months, marking her first victory with the New York Liberty. Over time, she has established herself as one of many biggest forwards to play in girls’s basketball historical past. She’s complied distinctive accolades with the UConn Huskies, Seattle Storm and New York Liberty all through her profession.
Within the offseason, Stewart underwent arthroscopic surgical procedure on her proper meniscus and was recovering from the minor process and took part within the inaugural season of Unequalled for Mist BC.
Caitlin Clark
Drafted No.1 total by the Indiana Fever in 2024, Caitlin Clark has reworked girls’s basketball and broke a number of information throughout her rookie marketing campaign.
Known as the “Caitlin Clark Impact,” a number of groups within the league have switched to bigger venues to attract in additional followers and enhance attendance every time Clark and the Indiana Fever play on the street.
“Final 12 months she completed within the high 4 in MVP voting,” Ruocco stated. “We see the way in which she influences successful and simply how impactful she is. And so I feel she’s going to be a official candidate.”
Clark took dwelling final 12 months’s Rookie of the Yr honors and is at the moment the favourite amongst sportsbooks to win the 2025 WNBA MVP award.
Alyssa Thomas
Ahead Alyssa Thomas has discovered a brand new dwelling with the Phoenix Mercury after spending a decade with the Connecticut Solar. She is on a quest for a championship ring as she pairs with teammates Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally. Recognized for her toughness within the paint and robust defensive expertise, she brings beneficial playoff expertise to the workforce.
I requested Mercury Assistant Coach Megan Vogel about Alyssa Thomas’ defensive position, & the worth she provides:
“Man, what an asset it’s to have somebody of her functionality offensively, be equally succesful & intense on the defensive aspect.”
Discover her assist in the Roamer position in clips under pic.twitter.com/LomBt0gEsY
— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) Might 15, 2025
Phoenix Mercury assistant coach Megan Vogel sees Thomas as a mentor to gamers on the workforce and talked about how Thomas has freedom of their protection.
“So, what I like is that she’s a fantastic instructor, so she’s been serving to all our gamers kinda get on board with how she performs, how she strikes, what she sees (and) needs folks,” Vogel stated Wednesday, through PHNX Sports activities. Once more, that is gonna evolve because the season goes on. Man, what an asset it’s to have somebody of her functionality offensively, be equally succesful & intense on the defensive aspect.”
