A’ja Wilson Shines Spotlight on Napheesa Collier & Co. Amid ESPN MVP Recognition

“Losing s—–, especially on your home court… it still kind of burns a little bit.” That’s exactly how A’ja Wilson felt days after bowing out in the semifinals against the NY Liberty in 2024. But what stung even more was their 27-13 record, the worst since 2019. So the aim was quite clear right from the beginning. And in just the past few weeks, both the team and the captain have worked on it. But despite owning the longest 15-game winning streak in franchise history, A’ja’s not the type to hog the spotlight. So, she’s turned it over to someone else!

And honestly, the team deserves every bit of that shine. It came through perfectly in A’ja’s recent sit-down with WNBA on NBA, when she was asked about the September 5 win over the Lynx. “Did it have any extra meaning to you all considering the way the last game went against them?” the interviewer pressed.

To which A’ja replied, turning the spotlight to the Lynx: “I think honestly it did have extra meaning, not necesarily towards the Minnesota Lynx, but just more so towards us as the Aces. There was a lot of internal things that we had to look inward and understand. Like if we want to be the best, where the Minnesota Lynx are this season, we have to measure ourselves to them.” A three-time MVP saying “The Best” is honestly huge.

The Lynx aren’t just performing well—they’re setting a benchmark. Napheesa Collier is leading the league with 23.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while also contributing 1.6 steals, highlighting her two-way impact. Courtney Williams is orchestrating their offense with 6.2 assists per game, and Alanna Smith’s 1.9 blocks per contest underline the team’s defensive prowess.

But the Lynx have had a chip on their shoulder ever since losing to the defending champions in the finals last year. Ever since Cheryl Reeve emphatically called out that the championship was “stolen from us,” the team has been firing on all cylinders. Just 10 months after the heartbreaking loss, they’re leading the league with 33-10 and a goal: winning a championship.

“Remember that feeling, have that chip on your shoulder and every time you step on the court, whether it’s practice, shootaround or whatever, bring that intensity and bring the energy, because all these little things are going to matter when it comes down to playoffs,” shared Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman in an interview with USA Today. That mindset isn’t new—it’s rooted in their history of bouncing back stronger.

The W saw a similar two-year run back in 2016 when the Lynx suffered a one-point loss to the Sparks in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. They responded with the No. 1 overall seed and the league’s best record in the following season. And they didn’t stop until they won their fourth WNBA title in seven years. Until now, the team’s followed a similar script.

They’ve got the best record with a franchise-high 33 wins and a No. 1 seed. They even secured home court advantage at Target Center in the playoffs, and now the only thing left is a championship. History appears to be repeating itself, with the team posting a franchise-high 33 wins and controlling their playoff destiny. For teams like the Aces, led by MVP A’ja Wilson, this serves as both a challenge and a measuring stick.

A’ja herself recognizes the impact of the Lynx’s dominance.“So I think we personally took things personally within ourselves, not anything towards them, but more so in our locker room to see if we can’t talk championships, we can’t talk being the best if we can’t keep up with the best. So I think that was a good measuring stick for us, but we still have a lot of work to do. So we’re on the right path, but we can’t be complacent. And I think that was just a game for us to see how we measure up with the best. We had a good showing last night,” she said. It’s clear that while the Aces respect the Lynx’s accomplishments, they’re using the matchup to identify areas of growth rather than as a source of intimidation.

Looking at their latest showdown, the Aces didn’t just show up—they dominated. After falling behind early, they surged ahead 63-55 by the third quarter thanks to a flurry of three-pointers from Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young. Chelsea Gray and others extended the lead in the fourth quarter, eventually sealing a 97-87 win. The Aces shot an impressive 55.1% from the field and matched the Lynx in assists with 25 each, while also grabbing 29 rebounds.

But beyond the win, Wilson understands the importance of benchmarking against the league’s best. Measuring where you stand, after all, is how you chart your path forward. The Aces have tasted playoff success before, capturing titles in 2022 and 2023, but the 2025 season remains a new test. Can they replicate that success? The outcome is uncertain. What’s undeniable, though, is that with this win, A’ja and the Aces have already proven they can beat the league’s top contender. Will they be able to do it again in 2025? Well, that’s still unpredictable. But while the Aces are still far from a championship title this season, their MVP’s already defeated the Lynx!

A’ja’s Name is echoing in the MVP race

A’ja Wilson is dominating the MVP race once again—and it’s hard to argue with why. From the very first tip-off of the 2025 season, Napheesa Collier was the name on everyone’s lips. WNBA GMs had her pegged as the frontrunner, with a whopping 67% of the preseason votes. Her scoring ability, athleticism, and two-way presence made it seem like she was a lock for the MVP. But once A’ja Wilson returned to full strength, the narrative shifted—and quickly.

Wilson’s been nothing short of spectacular this season. She’s averaging 23.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, all while playing at a level that looks effortless. Her leadership on the court has been the driving force behind the Las Vegas Aces’ 15-game winning streak, a run that’s put them firmly at the top of the league. In a recent matchup against the Minnesota Lynx—ironically Collier’s team—Wilson dropped over 30 points for the 12th time this season, shooting an eye-popping 80% from the field and holding Collier to just 12 points in that game. It was a statement game: precision, power, and poise all wrapped into one.

If Wilson clinches the MVP, it wouldn’t just be another award—it would be historic. She’s chasing her fourth MVP title, which would be an all-time record in the WNBA. That alone adds another layer to her case, especially with how consistent she’s been across the board.

That said, Collier’s story isn’t over. Before her injury, she was absolutely on fire—averaging 29.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. She was unstoppable, arguably playing at a level that could’ve overtaken Wilson. But fate intervened. On August 2, she suffered a right ankle sprain that sidelined her for 10 games—the most ever missed by an MVP candidate. Even with that setback, her return hasn’t disappointed. She dropped 32 points against the Indiana Fever, showing that she’s still a force to be reckoned with.

The Lynx, remarkably, kept their momentum during her absence, finishing with the best record in the league, which speaks volumes about her influence before and after the injury.

So, will Collier pull off the impossible? While the race is tighter than it looks, Wilson’s consistency, team impact, and historical significance make her the front-runner for the 2025 MVP. But if Collier finishes strong, she’ll definitely make it one of the most talked-about MVP battles in WNBA history. Either way, it’s been a season to remember.