Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier dribbles against New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud. Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Lynx, Napheesa Collier solidify status as WNBA favorite, MVP lock

By Chris Peterson | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 11:35 PM ET

Beating the New York Liberty on Wednesday won't erase the five-game series loss the Minnesota Lynx suffered last season in the WNBA Finals.

Yet, in the first meeting between the Liberty, the defending WNBA champs, and the Lynx, the team with the best record in the league, since that epic finals clash, it was clear how much it mattered to both teams.

Even without Brenna Stewart, who missed the game with an injury, New York battled. Sabrina Ionescu was incredible, scoring 31 points in a 100-93 loss. The former No. 1 pick hit three triples, dished out four assists and grabbed five boards.

Ionescu has been incredible lately. She came in averaging over 25 points in her last three games. But that doesn't compare to Napheesa Collier.

Throughout the WNBA season, nobody has.

Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson may have generated more preseason buzz about the MVP award.

Yet, all Collier did on Wednesday night, in front of a national TV audience on ESPN, was pour in 30 points (11-of-16 shooting), to go along with nine rebounds, two assists, three blocks and a steal.

In a defining game, Collier was dominant. It was her fifth 30-point game of the season, tying Wilson for the league high.

Napheesa Collier put up a DOMINANT performance in the @minnesotalynx's win over the Liberty!

30 PTS (11-16 FG)
9 REB
2 AST
3 BLK
2 3PM

This marks her 5th 30-PT game this season—matching A’ja Wilson as the league leader. #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/5nMGFydxCf
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 31, 2025

Like she is on most nights, Collier was the best offensive and defensive player on the court. At this point, the MVP award is hers to lose.

Not only is Collier leading the league in points (23.5 per game), but her team has the WNBA's best record (23-5), by five games over New York with 16 games left to play.

Unless there is a collapse by the Lynx, they will have home-court advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs. So if there is another one-game situation for all the marbles, it will be in Minnesota, not New York.

Wednesday's game didn't really change that. Minnesota was well on its way toward that advantage anyway.

But it was a reminder, in case anyone had forgotten, that Collier is the WNBA's best player, and that the Lynx are the best team.

Chris Peterson

Chris is a sports fanatic with 20 years of sports writing experience. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, FanSided and Yardbarker. He’s covered the NFL, high school sports and everything in between.

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