WNBA Makes Major Napheesa Collier Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jun 10, 2025 2:25 PM ET

With a 9-0 record—one of just two teams along with the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty—the Minnesota Lynx are arguably the top team in the league right now.

The Lynx feature one of the top 1-2 punches in the WNBA in forward Napheesa Collier and guard Kayla McBride, who have combined to average 42.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 3.9 steals per game.

And while there are plenty of players off to red-hot starts, few have been more dominant than Collier, an MVP candidate who’s leading the league in scoring (25.5 points per game), made field goals per game (9.3), and steals per game (2.3), and she ranks fifth in rebounds (8.9 per game) and free-throw percentage (91.7), and seventh in field-goal percentage (52.5).

Collier played so well last week, in fact, that the WNBA announced on Tuesday the 28-year-old UConn alum had been named the Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 23 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in two dominant wins over the Phoenix Mercury, 88-65, and the Dallas Wings, 81-65.

Week 3 Players of the Week

Eastern Conference: @Kelz_Hoop| @indianafever
20.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 APG

Western Conference: @PHEEsespieces| @minnesotalynx
23 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 4.5 APG#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/906TNtWeJ3
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 10, 2025

Collier put forth a 28-point, 10-rebound performance against Dallas, and an 18-point, 11-rebound effort against Phoenix.

In eight appearances this season, Collier has scored in double digits in every one, including two 30-point games, and four 20-point games.

Though Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Lac Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson began the year in a dead heat as MVP co-favorites, it’s actually Collier who has emerged as the new frontrunner to win the award.

In fact, in a poll of ESPN’s four-person WNBA panel of Kendra Andrews, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou, and Michael Voepel, Collier was the only player who received MVP votes.

“In the past 12 months, Collier helped the Lynx win the Commissioner's Cup final, earned her second Olympic gold medal, was WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, played in her first WNBA Finals and co-founded a 3-on-3 pro league,” ESPN wrote.

“… Last season, Collier finished second in MVP voting behind A'ja Wilson. Even though Wilson was a unanimous choice, Collier was second on all but one ballot. That momentum has carried over into 2025 as she has become the favorite.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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