The 2024-25 WNBA regular season closed with Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier looking like an entirely new player, turning the pain of last year’s Finals heartbreak into polished, undeniable dominance. After a disappointing finish to the previous season, Collier returned sharper, steadier, and on most nights, simply unguardable. The result was a historic campaign that cemented her place in the record books, all while carrying the team with the best record in the league on her shoulders.
How Did Napheesa Collier Make WNBA History in 2025?
This season, Collier became the first player in WNBA history to join the 50/40/90 club while averaging over 20 points per game. She finished the regular season averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, all while shooting an incredible 53.1% from the field.
As ESPN reported after the season finale, a 3-for-4 performance from three-point range was all Collier needed to push her percentage over the 40% threshold and secure the milestone. Following the game, head coach Cheryl Reeve called it “numbers don’t lie” territory when discussing her MVP consideration.
Additionally, The Athletic’s season-ending MVP debates framed the race as a razor-thin choice between Collier and A’ja Wilson. In those discussions, Collier was praised for lifting the league’s best team through her elite, two-way efficiency.
Collier’s 2025 Regular-Season Averages
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Games | 33* |
| Points | 22.9 |
| Rebounds | 7.3 |
| Assists | 3.2 |
| Steals | 1.6 |
| Blocks | 1.5 |
| FG% | 53.1% |
| 3PT% | 40.3% |
| FT% | 90.6% |
*Missed time with an injury, then returned to close strong.
What Makes Her MVP Case So Compelling?
Beyond the pristine efficiency, Collier’s performance was consistently timely. Minnesota played from ahead more than any other team, and Collier’s versatile shot profile, which includes quick-catch shooting, face-ups, and sturdy post seals, kept the Lynx organized whenever games got tight.
While Wilson surged late in the season and absolutely has a case, Collier’s combination of volume and efficiency is what made her season singular. The Sportskeeda panel put it plainly in its ballot rundown: the 50/40/90 season, combined with Minnesota’s wire-to-wire excellence, is a “historic season” argument in itself.
Her two-way impact is a crucial part of that argument. Collier finished in the top tier for both steals (1.6) and blocks (1.5) per game, toggling between wing assignments and back-line help defense without sacrificing her offensive usage. She was, functionally, Minnesota’s fail-safe. If the offense stalled, the ball found “Phee,” and if a stop was needed, she was at the center of the action.
No two seasons are identical, but to frame Collier’s year, here’s a tight look alongside the defending MVP’s core outputs:
| 2025 Metric | Napheesa Collier | A’ja Wilson |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 22.9 | 23.4 |
| Rebounds | 7.3 | ~10.0 |
| FG% / 3PT% / FT% | 53.1 / 40.3 / 90.6 | ~50 / ~38 / ~85 |
Wilson’s late-season dominance and league-leading counting stats in points and blocks have been widely noted. However, Collier’s edge remains her historic efficiency and her role in securing the league’s best record, pillars that traditionally weigh heavily with MVP voters.
Even after an 11-game absence, Collier returned and closed the season strong, averaging 22 points down the stretch while keeping her team steady as a top seed. That balance of volume, efficiency, and team success is why multiple outlets framed the MVP race as a true coin flip. The debate is now centered on the best player versus the player with the best, most efficient season.
Check out the top highlights from Napheesa Collier’s performance that helped the @minnesotalynx close out the First Round series and rally from a 14-point 4Q deficit against the Valkyries! 🎥 🔥
24 PTS | 7 REB | 4 AST | 10-16 FG#WelcometotheW | WNBA Playoffs presented by… pic.twitter.com/NVsewxJoUM
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 18, 2025
Ultimately, no matter how people score it, Collier delivered something the league has not seen before at this level. If awards are about capturing the essence of a single season, her numbers tell a clean story. She has been nothing short of historic with her shooting splits and production, known for elite two-way reliability as the engine behind 34 wins. Whether or not voters land on her name, the 2025 season is locked in with a new line on the WNBA’s record sheet, and it belongs to Collier.
