The regular season is done, and the playoff hype couldn’t be louder. But while fans count down to tip-off, one big question hangs in the air: who’s winning MVP? For months, it looked like Napheesa Collier’s award to lose. Then came the injury, and suddenly the race opened wide. Since then, it’s been the A’ja Wilson show, though she’s not the only one making a strong case.

You’ve got the Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas setting history with the all-time single-season assists record. Then there’s the Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell, stepping up and carrying Indiana in Caitlin Clark’s absence. The storylines are endless, the competition is fierce — but the real question on everyone’s mind remains: when will the MVP be announced?

When Will the WNBA MVP 2025 Be Announced?

Last year, A’ja Wilson made history as just the second unanimous MVP in league history after Cynthia Cooper. What caught everyone off guard, though, was the timing. The announcement dropped the very same day the playoffs tipped off. This season, with the postseason set to begin Sunday, fans can rest easy. There won’t be any déjà vu moments like last year. Why?

Because, the WNBA has finally set the date for the MVP announcement. Mark your calendars! It’s happening on September 21! Soon, we’ll know who claimed the title of the league’s best player for the regular season.

How the WNBA MVP Is Decided?

The MVP winner will be determined by a national panel of 60 sportswriters and broadcasters. Each voter lists their top five candidates:

• First place vote: 10 points
• Second place vote: 7 points
• Third place vote: 5 points
• Fourth place vote: 3 points
• Fifth place vote: 1 point

This is exactly why, back in 2023, Alyssa Thomas, despite racking up 23 first-place votes compared to 20 for Breanna Stewart and 17 for A’ja Wilson, didn’t take home the MVP. Stewart finished with 446 points, just edging out Thomas, who had 439. This year, the MVP voting has already taken place, with the regular season concluding Thursday night and ballots cast by Friday afternoon.

This gives us the perfect opportunity to break down the likely MVP contenders

Top Candidates and Odds for the 2025 MVP Award

Napheesa Collier

Collier has been the most impactful player per minute in the WNBA this season, leading the league in win shares per 40 minutes. She’s the engine behind the best team in the league who are out to take revenge for last year’s bitter loss. Her recent 50-40-90 season puts her in elite company. Only Elena Delle Donne has ever achieved this mark in WNBA history.

Coach Cheryl Reeve also praised Collier’s historic season: “Well, it can be revealed now that it was a goal of ours when we sat down with Phee, knowing it would be a lofty goal, it had only been done once before… Napheesa collier has been the best player in the WNBA this season and deserves MVP.”

Even though Collier missed about a quarter of the season, the MVP award doesn’t have a games-played requirement like in the NBA. Given the massive impact she’s had for the Lynx this year, Phee is once again a frontrunner for the honor. She missed out last season, but this time her chances look stronger than ever.

A’ja Wilson 

What A’ja Wilson has pulled off over the last 15 games is nothing short of extraordinary. She’s closing out the season on a historic run, leading the Aces to 15 straight wins — tied for the third-longest streak in WNBA history. She leads the league with 23.4 points and 2.3 blocks per game, while also topping the charts in 20-point and 30-point double-doubles. Add to that her first-place rankings in win shares, on/off rating, and defensive rebounds. Her dominance could very well be the reason Collier misses out on the WNBA MVP once again.

Alyssa Thomas

Heading into the 2025 season, the Phoenix Mercury had just one starter returning. Gone were the days when the likes of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner were playing for them. Yet somehow, they’ve racked up the most wins the franchise has seen since 2015. At the heart of it all has been Alyssa Thomas. The guard is putting up near triple-double numbers this year, breaking her own record with seven triple-doubles in a single season.

Thomas also made history by breaking Caitlin Clark’s single-season assist record, a mark she had set herself back in 2023. On top of that, the veteran ranks top six or better across assists, rebounds, and steals. Those are pure MVP-worthy numbers, and it’s easy to see why she belongs in the conversation.

History of WNBA MVP Awards

The first recipient of the WNBA MVP was Cynthia Cooper, who claimed the honor in the league’s first two seasons thanks to her outstanding performances with the Houston Comets. Since the award’s inception, 17 athletes have had the chance to win it over the WNBA’s 28-year history.

WNBA MVP winners like Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, and A’ja Wilson haven’t just dominated the regular season—they’ve carried that excellence into the playoffs too. Their consistent impact on both stages has earned them well-deserved Greatest Of All Time status in women’s basketball.