Golden State Warriors star Brandin Podziemski and trash talk go hand in hand — it’s just who he is. As Draymond Green once joked, “He talk s–t all day. That’s all he do.” So when the NBA standout showed up courtside at a recent Valkyries game, you already knew he’d bring that same energy. And he did. But this time, something was different. He gave it everything to throw her off — but the Mystics vet stayed unbothered.

For Brittney Sykes, every game she plays for the Washington Mystics is therapy — especially after enduring the most injury-plagued year of her pro career, which left her battling mental hurdles.

“Same exact gym, same exact game,” Sykes said. “So it was like full circle for me. Got a little choked up about that.” She said this, reflecting on her comeback from a high ankle sprain. And now, nearly a year later, she’s back leading the Mystics with a renewed mindset and mental toughness.

So, while many expected Sykes to make an impact, especially given her averages of 24.5 points and six assists over 36 minutes in her first two games, no one could’ve predicted just how explosive her next performance would be, even with obstacles in her path.

It all went down when Podziemski started talking trash with Sykes during the Golden State Valkyries’ 76-74 win over the Mystics at Chase Centre in San Francisco. Trash talk is nothing new for the Warriors star, who was even spotted out of his seat at one point, frustrated over a call and making sure the refs heard him.

But for Sykes, his words didn’t rattle her — they lit a fire. Something that she hinted at before by mimicking an airball gesture back at Podziemski during the exchange. And then, she went to work. She shot 11-of-14 from the free-throw line and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in just 33 minutes of play. Just consider a 42.1% field goal percentage and an impressive 60% accuracy from three-point range, racking up 30 points for the Mystics.

While, it’s impressive, but not for her as she added five rebounds and three assists to silence any critics. And if you think this was a one-off — it wasn’t.

Over the first two regular-season games, Sykes had already shown significant improvement, dropping 22 points against the Dream and 27 against the Sun. For a young roster like the Mystics, having a veteran like Sykes who can take over late in games means everything.

Though the Mystics narrowly lost the game 76-74 to the Valkyries, it was Sykes’ game-high 30 points that grabbed the headlines. With performances like this, she’s not only commanding respect — she’s building a legitimate case for MVP and emerging as a serious threat to Caitlin Clark.

Especially when Indiana Fever sensation is a frontrunner with +195 odds according to BetMGM for the MVP award. Even last year, she was considered one of the top choices for the award, finished fourth in MVP voting last season. Still, she’s not alone in the race—not anymore.

Sykes, who wasn’t even in the MVP conversation last season, is now matching the kind of performances that past MVPs are known for. Remember Maya Moore’s 48-point double-overtime win against the Dream? Or Candace Parker’s career-high 40 points in an overtime victory against the Houston Comets in 2008? Or even Breanna Stewart’s 32-point outing in a win over the Liberty in 2018?

Whether it’s A’ja Wilson — a three-time MVP — Maya Moore in 2014, or Breanna Stewart in 2018 and 2023, one thing is clear: scoring 30+ in key games has always been a hallmark of MVP seasons.

And with the way Sykes is moving, she just might be next in line to lift that trophy. But, of course, it won’t be easy.

Though Caitlin Clark isn’t the only one to be afraid of!

Apart from Caitlin Clark and Brittney Sykes, Napheesa Collier and Kelsey Plum have also emerged as serious MVP contenders early in the 2025 WNBA season. While Collier finished second in MVP voting last year, Plum, like Sykes, was barely in the conversation. But as the new season tipped off, both stars made it clear they were here with a purpose.

First, it was the Minnesota Lynx standout, Napheesa Collier, who dropped 34 points in just 32 minutes of play — the most ever scored in a WNBA season opener. That performance alone was enough to justify her MVP run. And if you ask league GMs, they saw it coming.

In fact, nearly 67% of them voted Collier as their top MVP choice in a preseason poll. A’ja Wilson followed with 25% of the votes, while Caitlin Clark came in just under 8%. But something even these GMs didn’t know about was the dominance Plum will shape up to be in the season opener.

Later that same day, when Collier made the record, Kelsey Plum stole the spotlight. She went 4-of-6 from deep and 11-of-19 from the field to drop 37 points, the highest-scoring season opener. Still, for those who’ve followed her career, this wasn’t exactly a shock. Last season, Plum averaged 17.8 points per game.

And now, even though she’s wearing a new jersey for the LA Sparks, her impact hasn’t changed one bit. If she continues to put up numbers like this — and helps lead the Sparks to a playoff run — her MVP case will be hard to ignore. That said, it’s still early in the season to lock in any predictions. With the way Clark, Sykes, and Collier have performed over the first few games, the MVP race is shaping up to be as competitive as ever. But one thing’s for sure — Brittney Sykes isn’t slowing down anytime soon.