Napheesa Collier’s MVP Campaign Is Outshining A’ja Wilson—and It’s Not Even Close

As the 2025 WNBA season unfolds, two names have dominated MVP conversations: A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier. On the surface, it seems familiar—Wilson, the face of the Las Vegas Aces, remains a fan favorite and a staple in WNBA highlight reels. But beneath the media hype lies a more compelling story: Napheesa Collier, quietly and relentlessly, is putting together the most dominant season in the league—and it’s not even close.

A Study in Contrast: The Numbers Never Lie

Let’s talk stats. Wilson is having a solid season. She’s averaging 22.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and is contributing defensively with a decent number of steals. Those are strong numbers that, in isolation, might scream MVP. But that’s just it—they’re in isolation. Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces, the team once considered a WNBA dynasty, are faltering. With a 4-2 record and a defense that has slipped dramatically since last season, the Aces are a shadow of their former selves.

Meanwhile, Collier has been nothing short of spectacular. She’s averaging 26.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and doing so on a blistering 51.4% shooting from the field and 54% from three. Her Minnesota Lynx are undefeated at 7-0, and she’s been the unquestioned engine behind every win. If Wilson’s numbers are impressive, Collier’s are historic.

Even more telling? If WNBA games were as long as NBA games, Collier would be averaging more points per game than anyone—man or woman—in professional basketball. Add to that her rapidly improving defensive abilities and versatility on the court, and you’re not just looking at an MVP candidate. You’re looking at the best player in the world right now.

The Narrative Gap: Media vs. Reality

There’s a glaring discrepancy between who the media celebrates and who the numbers support. A’ja Wilson, with her charisma and existing legacy, dominates headlines. She’s got the endorsements, the social media attention, and the crowd appeal. That’s understandable—Wilson is a fantastic player and a proven winner. But MVP isn’t about past success or popularity. It’s about this season, this performance, right now.

Collier doesn’t get the same spotlight. She doesn’t have the same flashy media backing, but what she does have is a team on a historic winning streak and personal numbers that are redefining the MVP bar. The oddsmakers agree. While Wilson’s MVP odds have slipped to +700, Collier has become the betting favorite at -170.

If the MVP race were purely about who is lifting their team to new heights while outperforming every other player in the league, Collier would already have the trophy.

The Aces Are Cracking

What’s happening in Las Vegas only adds to the case against Wilson as MVP. The Aces, long seen as the WNBA’s unbeatable juggernaut, are unraveling. A string of three consecutive losses—something that hasn’t happened since 2019—has exposed their structural weaknesses. Their once-elite defense is now giving up over 10 three-pointers per game, ranking among the worst in the league.

Wilson, despite her individual brilliance, hasn’t been able to stop the bleeding. The retirement of Candace Parker and the trade of Kelsey Plum to the Sparks has gutted the team’s depth, leaving Wilson to shoulder too much. Her stats, though still strong, aren’t translating into wins. And for an MVP candidate, that’s the biggest red flag.

Collier Is Making History

Compare that to Collier, who’s not just excelling individually—she’s carrying her team. The Lynx’s perfect start to the season isn’t a fluke. It’s the result of her relentless drive, her ever-improving offensive repertoire, and her suffocating defense. She’s beating double teams, knocking down threes, dominating inside the paint, and doing it all while defending at an elite level.

Her spin move into a pull-up jumper is becoming one of the most unguardable shots in the game. She’s locking down opponents in one-on-one situations and helping Minnesota create one of the most efficient defenses in the league.

And she’s doing it without the kind of star-studded help Wilson has had for years.

The GMs Know the Truth

Want more proof? Ask the people whose job it is to actually build WNBA rosters. In the league’s annual GM survey, 67% of general managers chose Collier as the MVP favorite. Wilson? Just 25%. Caitlin Clark? Only 8%.

When the professionals—those who evaluate talent and performance with real stakes—are saying Collier is the clear frontrunner, the debate should be over.

A Historic Start to the Season

Let’s not forget how Collier started the season. She dropped 34 points in the opener against Dallas, then followed up with 23 against the Sparks. Her 57 points in the first two games were the most by a Lynx player to start a season since Maya Moore in 2014—the same year Moore won MVP.

That’s the kind of elite company Collier is now in.

And while Wilson has had a few standout moments, including a 31-point performance against New York, they’ve often been overshadowed by team losses or defensive collapses. Collier, by contrast, has been consistently dominant.

What an MVP Should Be

The MVP award shouldn’t be a popularity contest or a legacy award. It’s about who has been the most valuable to their team this season. Who is lifting their team higher? Who is changing the course of games, night in and night out? Who is dominating both ends of the floor and redefining what it means to be elite?

Right now, that’s Napheesa Collier.

She’s not just putting up MVP numbers—she’s reshaping what the award means. She’s proving that greatness isn’t always the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes, it’s the quiet storm in Minnesota who lets her game do all the talking.

And right now, her game is screaming: MVP.