The 2025 WNBA regular season has concluded with several standout performances, but one star delivered the ultimate statement. Napheesa Collier has long been a central figure for the Minnesota Lynx, and her latest milestone elevates her from simply being great to rewriting record books.
As the MVP debate heats up, Collier’s season finale might have tilted the scales firmly in her favor.
How Did Napheesa Collier Join the Historic 50-40-90 Club?
On the final day of the season, Collier secured her place in one of basketball’s most exclusive statistical clubs. She finished Minnesota’s 72-53 win over the Golden State Valkyries with 19 points on eight of 10 shooting, including three of four from beyond the arc.
That accuracy pushed her three-point percentage to 40.3% for the year, officially giving her a 50-40-90 season. She shot at least 50% from the field, 40% from the three-point line, and 90% from the free-throw line.
Only one other player in the league, Elena Delle Donne in 2019, has accomplished this feat. For Collier, her achievement comes with added distinction. She’s the first player to reach this 50-40-90 club while averaging at least 20 points per game. Her final averages come out to 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks, showcasing her efficiency and all-around dominance.
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Head coach Cheryl Reeve celebrated Collier’s achievement without reservation. “It’s only been done once before that the player was the MVP. Phee deserves that recognition,” Reeve told ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. “The numbers don’t lie … I don’t know how long it will be before it happens again.”
What Made Collier and the Lynx’s 2025 Season Historic?
Collier’s shooting splits were only part of the story. Her production fueled the Lynx to a 34-10 record, tying the 2023 Las Vegas Aces for the most wins in a single season.
This accomplishment comes just one year after Minnesota’s loss in the WNBA Finals, showing how Collier impacts the team. Her performance gains additional weight when viewed in context. Collier missed seven games earlier in the year due to an ankle sprain, yet returned to push her team into the postseason as the top overall seed.
The comparisons to Delle Donne are inevitable. The Mystics’ star’s 50-40-90 season in 2019 ended with both an MVP trophy and a championship. Collier, who finished second in MVP voting last season behind A’ja Wilson, now has a chance to follow that path.
Meanwhile, the numbers speak to Collier’s resilience. Game after game, she faced aggressive defenses designed to wear her down. Still, she maintained efficiency inside, behind the arc, and at the free-throw line. This balance of consistency and versatility puts her in the MVP race.
Collier’s biggest challenger remains Wilson, who closed the season on a 16-game winning streak with the Las Vegas Aces. If Collier manages to win the MVP trophy, it would cement her status even further among the league’s all-time greats.
