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Multiple Contributors
Jul 11, 2025, 09:00 AM ET
The 2025 WNBA season has had its share of exceptional individual performances.
Veteran stars such as the Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier and Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson have continued to dazzle. Rookies from the Dallas Wings' Paige Bueckers to the Washington Mystics' Kiki Iriafen have surpassed expectations. Other standouts, such as the Atlanta Dream's Allisha Gray, Seattle Storm's Gabby Williams and New York Liberty's Kennedy Burke might not always get the headlines, but they have shown tremendous growth and have been critical to helping their respective teams get off to strong starts.
As we approach the halfway mark of the 2025 campaign, and with the All-Star Game approaching, ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel take stock of the WNBA awards race, sharing early picks (and top challengers) for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and more. We'll continue to update our awards tracker throughout the season.
Jump to:
MVP | Rookie of Year | Defensive Player of Year
Most Improved | Sixth Player | Coach of Year
MVP
Kendra Andrews: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Kevin Pelton: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Alexa Philippou: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Michael Voepel: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
ESPN's front-runner: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
She is leading the WNBA in scoring (23.5 PPG) while playing for the league's first-place team. Those are strong MVP credentials. Add to that Collier's career-best shooting: 52.1% from the field and 95.6% from the free throw line. Also, her rebounding (7.9 RPG), elite defense and leadership.
She was the runner-up for the MVP honor last season, when Minnesota made the WNBA Finals. Collier established herself as the MVP front-runner right away and is still in that role, although our top challenger is on her heels. -- Voepel
(Collier was also the front-runner in June.)
Top challenger: Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
There is no one else like Thomas in the WNBA: a powerful post player (15.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG) who also leads the league in assists (9.5). She is a top-tier defender, too, and is getting a new spotlight this season in Phoenix after 11 years with the Connecticut Sun. Thomas finished in the top five in MVP balloting the last three seasons, including second in 2023. That year, she got the most first-place votes (23) but finished seven points behind winner Breanna Stewart. Maybe this is the season that Thomas comes out on top. -- Voepel
Rookie of the Year
Andrews: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Pelton: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Philippou: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Voepel: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
ESPN's front-runner: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Bueckers was out with a concussion and illness when our last awards check-in dropped; she came out of the gates firing upon returning from that four-game absence, taking firm control of the Rookie of the Year race.
Among her first-year peers, the former UConn star is tops in scoring, assists and steals. But widen the lens and the All-Star starter ranks top-10 in the league in scoring and is one of four players (alongside Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum and Skylar Diggins) averaging at least 18 points and five assists. In just 16 contests, she boasts eight games with 15-plus points and five-plus assists, already tied for third-most all time by any rookie. And while victories have been hard to come by in Dallas -- the Wings' slew of injuries isn't helping -- no player on the roster impacts winning more than Bueckers.
Top challengers: Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics; Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics
Those in WNBA circles were eager for Citron to get to the pros. She has been a do-it-all player for the Mystics, including as a strong secondary scorer behind Brittney Sykes, and has further impressed with her play in clutch situations. Among rookies, she ranks second in scoring and rebounds.
Iriafen turned heads early on, including with four double-doubles in her first five games, earning rookie of the month for May. While some of her numbers have since dipped, she's one of the league's best rebounders (her 8.4 boards per game rank fifth in the W) and has been a primary reason the Mystics have surpassed expectations. -- Philippou
(Iriafen was the front-runner in June.)
Defensive Player of the Year
Andrews: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Pelton: Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
Philippou: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Voepel: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
ESPN's front-runner: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Collier is the reigning defensive player of the year and looks to become the seventh player to win the award in back-to-back seasons (Tamika Catchings did it twice). The 6-foot-1 Collier has the strength and technique to battle bigger post players, plus the ability to cut off penetration to the basket. Her rebounding average (7.9 per game) is down this season only because the Lynx have two 6-4 forwards, Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, also working the boards. Collier's 1.6 blocks average would be a career-best, and her Lynx lead the WNBA in average points allowed (74.7) and defensive rating (97.0). -- Voepel
(Natasha Cloud was the front-runner in June.)
Top challenger: Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
UConn coach Geno Auriemma would be pleased to see two of his former Huskies as top candidates for this award. They display the traits that have made UConn such an excellent defensive team for decades now. Williams plays with nonstop energy that can shrink the space opposing offenses look to create. She is a versatile one-on-one defender as well as working well in a system with her Storm teammates. Williams leads the WNBA in steals (2.6 per game) and is in the top five in defensive win shares. -- Voepel
Most Improved Player
Andrews: Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Pelton: Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries
Philippou: Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Voepel: Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
ESPN's front-runner: Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Gray has continued her incredible jump this season, earning an All-Star starting nod to become the first Atlanta player to start the midseason showcase since 2018. Sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 19.4 points per game, Gray is shooting 42.6% from the field. She's also shooting 41.6% from 3 on 5.9 attempts per game, which are both career highs. In fact, Gray is recording career highs in almost every statistical category.
Last month, we highlighted how much Gray's offense has thrived in coach Karl Smesko's system in his first year with the Dream, and it's still true now. After starting the season on a tear, Gray's production could have tapered off, but it remains just as strong and just as efficient.
(Gray was also the front-runner in June.)
0:21
Allisha Gray throws sweet dime to Naz Hillmon for huge bucket
The Dream take a 5-point lead late in the fourth quarter as Allisha Gray throws slick pass to Naz Hillmon for the layup.
Top challengers: Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries; Azura Stevens, Los Angeles Sparks
Thornton has been a main catalyst for the Valkyries' historic start. She's averaging a career-high 15.1 points per game -- five more than her previous best (2019) and over 10 points more than what she was scoring in New York last season. Her minutes have also seen a massive jump -- 20.2 last season to 30.1 -- as she has gone from role player to star. All of it adds up to Thornton becoming the first player in league history to be named an All-Star in a franchise's inaugural season.
Stevens was a top challenger a month ago as well. She's scoring a career-high 14.9 points and attempting 10.5 shots per game, which matches her career high in 2023. On the defensive end, Stevens looks as comfortable as ever, grabbing a career-best 8.5 boards per game. -- Andrews
Sixth Player of the Year
Andrews: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
Pelton: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
Philippou: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
Voepel: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
ESPN front-runner: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
The biggest threat to Burke's status as front-runner when we last checked in on this race has been her ascension to the starting lineup. Burke has started the past three games as Sandy Brondello has favored smaller units in Jonquel Jones' absence, bringing her to six total starts in 19 games. Burke has actually been more productive as a reserve, averaging 10.0 PPG off the bench and 7.7 PPG as a starter, but her hot 3-point shooting has carried over. Burke is making 48% of 3s as a reserve and 50% in starts, in addition to supplying key perimeter defense for a Liberty team that lost both Thornton and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton from last year's championship squad.
(Burke was also the front-runner in June.)
1:59
Liberty win 6th straight vs. the Aces
The New York Liberty won their sixth straight game against their rival, the Las Vegas Aces 87-78.
Top challenger: Jessica Shepard, Minnesota Lynx
Shepard got a first-place vote last time before missing two weeks to participate in EuroBasket with Slovenia. Shepard had 12 points and 15 boards in place of Collier in her first game back but hasn't scored in double figures since, which could open the door to teammate Natisha Heideman emerging as the Lynx's top candidate. Atlanta's Naz Hillmon also has a case for her key role giving the Dream more shooting and athleticism in the frontcourt when she replaces starters Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones. -- Pelton
1:57
Veronica Burton lead the Valkyries to a commanding win over Fever
Veronica Burton drops 21 points to lead the Golden State Valkyries to a 80-61 win over the Indiana Fever.
Coach of the Year
Andrews: Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries
Pelton: Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries
Philippou: Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries
Voepel: Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries
ESPN's front-runner: Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries
The Valkyries might be one of the best and most surprising stories in sports right now. And when looking at how they have far exceeded expectations, it's impossible not to credit Nakase. She has voiced confidence in her team since Day 1. But it's one thing to have faith in your players and make them believe in themselves, but it's another to actually go out and perform. The Valkyries have.
Golden State is 10-9, good for the sixth seed in the WNBA. Their 10 wins is the most by an expansion franchise in history -- and we're only halfway through the season. The Valkyries also hold a better record than reigning MVP Wilson's Las Vegas Aces and Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever, two teams we projected could be title contenders. Golden State also has the second-best defense in the league behind only Minnesota, and boasts a top-10 offense as well.
Top challenger: Nate Tibbetts, Phoenix Mercury
In his second season with Phoenix, and the first with this core group of players, Tibbett has turned the Mercury into a contender. They have the second-best record in the WNBA behind the Lynx.
Heading into the season, there were questions about how well the Mercury's new big three of Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper would fare, and how their depth would perform behind them. Thomas is in the MVP conversation, she and Sabally are All-Stars, and Phoenix has had one of the best benches in the league. -- Andrews
(Tibbetts was the front-runner in June.)
