WNBA awards tracker: Collier or Wilson for MVP? ESPN names its winners

Voting for award winners is one of the most difficult parts of evaluating a WNBA season. There are many deserving candidates to consider and tough decisions to make. We've tracked the front-runners throughout the 2025 season. Now comes our final picks as ESPN names its winners for MVP and all the major end-of-season awards.

Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas and A'ja Wilson have been the top contenders for MVP this season as this year resembled the three-player race in 2023. Collier led the way for most of the season, including last month's check-in, but might not be the favorite anymore.

ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel share their votes and name a winner in six WNBA award categories ahead of the WNBA playoffs tipping off Sunday.

Jump to:
MVP | Rookie of Year | Defensive Player of Year
Most Improved | Sixth Player | Coach of Year

MVP

Kendra Andrews: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Kevin Pelton: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Alexa Philippou: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Michael Voepel: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

ESPN's pick: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Reflecting what can be expected from the wider panel of WNBA award voters, our MVP pick wasn't unanimous. Wilson emerged as the front-runner, in a reversal of previous updates this season in June, July and August.

The ankle sprain Collier suffered in a 53-point win over Wilson's Aces on Aug. 2 created an opening. Collier was unavailable the next seven games, bringing her total to 10, which would be the most ever missed by an MVP. (Even on a rate basis, 10 of 44 is 23%. The previous high was 16% for Jonquel Jones in 2021, when she missed five of 32 games.)

Given that the Lynx have cruised to the best record in the WNBA, Collier could easily have remained the favorite if not for Wilson's finishing kick. She has led the Aces' 15-game winning streak, which has lifted Las Vegas to second in the standings, and Wilson now rates even with or ahead of Collier in player value metrics on a per-minute basis, a change from the bulk of the season.

In particular, Wilson made a statement last Thursday when the Aces and Lynx met for the first time since the blowout. Wilson topped 30 points for the 12th time this season -- she has done it one more time since -- on 80% shooting while Collier shot 5-of-13 and scored 12 points. That's just one game, but it exemplified how well Wilson has performed throughout the Aces' winning streak.

If Wilson were to win, it would be her fourth regular-season MVP, something no other player in WNBA history has accomplished. When Wilson won MVP a year ago, she tied Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes with three MVP awards apiece.

ESPN's runner-up: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

It's testament to how well Collier and Wilson have played that this looks like a two-player race. Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury has perhaps been better than 2023, when she famously finished second ahead of Wilson behind Breanna Stewart. Thomas is averaging more points and assists on better shooting than that season, but none of us had Collier lower than second on our ballots. -- Pelton

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Napheesa Collier (20 points) Highlights vs. Golden State Valkyries

Napheesa Collier (20 points) Highlights vs. Golden State Valkyries, 09/06/2025

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 pick: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

For as difficult as the season has been for the Wings, the future is bright with Bueckers at the helm of the franchise. Her 2025 campaign stands out historically compared to other rookie seasons in W history and among her peers in the league this summer.

Bueckers' scoring average currently ranks seventh in league history among rookies (and her efficiency of 47.4% would top the group). The 2025 No. 1 draft pick is also on track to become just the second rookie to average 19 points and five assists in her debut season, joining Caitlin Clark (2024). In fact, only 13 players in league history have averaged those numbers in any season. The burden on Bueckers' shoulders has only increased as the season has progressed with the Wings experiencing a slew of season-ending injuries, yet she has only continued to get better.

Bueckers' most memorable performance -- and the one that locked up her ROY case -- came last month when she scored 44 points on 17-for-21 shooting against the Sparks, the first 40-piece in league history on 80% shooting from the field. She's the only player in the league to reach 40 points this season.

ESPN's runner-up: Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics

In most seasons, Citron's performance would be enough to secure Rookie of the Year. She has averaged 15.0 points per game on strong efficiency (47.2%) -- particularly from the 3-point arc, where she has converted 44.3% of her shots -- and has shined as a stout perimeter defender. Citron might have been the third option at Notre Dame playing alongside Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, but she has shown this season with the Mystics, particularly after they traded Brittney Sykes in August, that she can be the go-to player and will be a fantastic building block for Washington as it continues a rebuild. -- Philippou

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Canty: Bueckers was 'ballin' as she set WNBA rookie scoring record

Chris Canty details Paige Bueckers' 44-point career-high performance as she sets the WNBA rookie scoring record.

Defensive Player of the Year

Andrews: Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
Pelton: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Philippou: Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
Voepel: Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx

ESPN's pick: Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx

Multiple players were considered for this honor, including MVP candidates Collier, Thomas and Wilson. We went a different direction with Smith, whom Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has often praised as being a key to why Minnesota has had the league's best defensive rating.

The 6-foot-4 Smith ranks third in the league in blocks per game and defensive rating, and fourth in defensive win shares. Smith, who turns 29 on Wednesday, has had to work hard to establish herself in the league after being the No. 8 pick out of Stanford in the 2019 draft. Minnesota is her fourth WNBA team, and where her talent has been best used.

Smith is not the flashiest defender nor the most dominant one-on-one; that is probably Wilson. A two-time winner of the DPOY, Wilson could win it again. But even when Collier was out injured, Smith led the way in keeping Minnesota's defense as strong as it is. This could be a good year to give the award to a player who might not always stand out statistically, but is very reliable in getting the job done for a top-notch team defense. -- Voepel

ESPN's runner-up: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

With the Aces' defense ranked eighth on a per-possession basis, Wilson -- who won this award in 2022 and 2023 before finishing second to Collier last year -- would be an unconventional Defensive Player of the Year. Only one winner (Lauren Jackson in 2007) hasn't come from a team with a defensive rating in the league's top six. But much of the issue is how much Las Vegas struggles without Wilson. The Aces' defense allows six more points per 100 possessions when she sits despite benefiting from fluky opponent 3-point shooting (just 29% with her off). -- Pelton

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Alanna Smith sends the shot away

Alanna Smith sends the shot away, 08/16/2025

Most Improved Player

Andrews: Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries
Pelton: Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries
Philippou: Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries
Voepel: Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries

ESPN's pick: Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries

Burton's emergence has gone hand in hand with Golden State's success this season. In July, the Valkyries lost Kayla Thornton, shortly after ESPN projected her as a front-runner for Most Improved Player. Since then, Burton became not only the best player on the team but one of the best players in the league.

She's one of just five players to average at least 10 points, 5 assists and 1.5 made 3-pointers per game (alongside Kelsey Plum, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Skylar Diggins). She is the only player with three games with at least 10 assists and zero turnovers, and became the first player in league history to have 24 points, 14 assists and zero turnovers in a game in late August.

Her minutes have jumped from 12.7 with Connecticut last year to 29.2 this season, and her 12 points per game are four times her previous career high (3.1 PPG in 2024). Entering this season, Burton was often thought of as a defense-first guard, but her offensive game has grown, making her a decent threat from beyond the arc and a confident spot-up shooter. -- Andrews

ESPN's runner-up: Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream

Hillmon has become the anchor to Atlanta's second unit, giving the Dream a spark off the bench that has become a reliable momentum shift throughout the season. In her fourth year with the Dream, Hillmon is posting career highs in nearly every statistical category, including points (8.7), rebounds (6.2), assists (2.4) and minutes (25.5).

She leads the team in net rating at plus-14.2 and has a top-10 plus-minus among reserves who play at least 15 minutes per game. -- Andrews

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Veronica Burton scores and draws the foul

Veronica Burton scores and draws the foul

Sixth Player of the Year

Andrews: Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream
Pelton: Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream
Philippou: Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream
Voepel: Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream

ESPN's pick: Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream

Our runner-up for Most Improved Player, Hillmon is the choice for Sixth Player as the Dream are 29-14 with one game left. Hillmon was the No. 15 pick in the second round of the 2022 draft, and we're seeing how the Dream's belief in her has worked out.

Hillmon averaged 23.9 PPG and 11.4 RPG as a junior and 21.0 and 9.6 as a senior at Michigan, but draft evaluators were concerned that she never made a 3-pointer in college. (She attempted only six.) They worried the 6-2 forward's offensive game might be too limited at the pro level.

But Hillmon made up for it with defense and rebounding, and this season she has blossomed offensively in coach Karl Smesko's system. After making one 3-pointer her first three WNBA seasons, Hillmon has 52 this year. And she has almost as many assists (104) this season as her first three seasons combined (120).

ESPN's runner-up: Natisha Hiedeman, Minnesota Lynx

Lynx teammates Hiedeman and Jessica Shepard, plus Phoenix's DeWanna Bonner, were all in the runner-up mix. Hiedeman got the edge as she has averaged 8.9 points and 2.8 assists for first-place Minnesota and been a continual source of defense and energy off the bench. After starting the majority of games in 2022 and 2023 with Connecticut, Hiedeman has adjusted as a reserve for the Lynx the past two seasons, making the most of her minutes. -- Voepel

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Naz Hillmon sinks it from downtown

Naz Hillmon sinks it from downtown, 09/03/2025

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 pick: Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries

The Valkyries have been the biggest surprise of the WNBA this year, and their accomplishments start with Nakase. She'll be the last one to take credit, always saying her staff has allowed her to succeed and that her players are the ones on the court. But Nakase has set an identity, a level of grit and buy-in for a team that 10 months ago didn't have a single player on the roster.

During training camp, Nakase said she wanted her team to be centered around defense, and nearly five months later the Valkyries have the fourth-best defensive rating in the league (99.9) and allow the fewest opponent points (76.5).

Nakase has also led the development of players such as Burton and Thornton and international rookies like Carla Leite. Golden State has wildly outperformed expectations and is now the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its first season. -- Andrews

ESPN's runner-up: Karl Smesko, Atlanta Dream

In his first year as a WNBA head coach, Smesko has led the Dream to a franchise-record 29 wins (previous record was 24) -- which is 13 more wins than in 2024, and they still have one regular-season game. Their 29 victories also make Smesko the winningest first-year coach in WNBA history.

Atlanta has improved in nearly every statistical category this year and leads the league in rebounds per game, ranks second in the league in offensive and defensive rating and is fourth in assists and blocks per game.

Smesko arrived to the WNBA with a signature playing style, and his Dream adapted to it incredibly well. -- Andrews

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Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings, 09/04/2025