After an offseason fueled by the heartache after losing in controversial fashion in the WNBA Finals last season, Minnesota Lynx star forward Napheesa Collier came into 2025Â focused and on a mission.
As a result, Minnesota and the entire WNBA got the best version of Collier, who put up career highs in points, blocks, free throws, and field goal percentage this season.
When the dust settled, Collier averaged an eye-popping 22.9 ppg and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from three-point range, and 90.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Does Minnesota Lynx Star Napheesa Collier Have a Case for MVP?
The woman affectionately known as “Phee” to everyone across the “W” produced not just the best season of her career but one of the best seasons in WNBA history. Despite missing 11 games due to various injuries, Collier became the first player to join the elite 50/40/90 club while averaging over 20 points per game.
She joins the founder of the club, Washington Mystics legend Elena Delle Donne, who became the first WNBA player to hit 50/40/90 when she did so in 2019 while winning her second WNBA MVP.
Napheesa Collier today 🔥
• 20 points
• 6 rebounds
• 2 assists
• 7/11 FG
• 26 minutes playedpic.twitter.com/lWObQ0FVWY— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) September 14, 2025
Combine this with the fact that she is the best player for a Lynx squad that won 34 games to produce the best record in the league, and it’s easy to see why Collier has been receiving MVP chants since opening night.
Although reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson has a very compelling MVP case of her own, due to leading the league in scoring and rebounding, it’s hard to deny Collier the first MVP of her career after her historic season.
“It’s only been done once before that, and that player was the MVP. Phee deserves that recognition. The numbers don’t lie,” Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said after the Lynx’s final regular-season game. “I don’t know how long it will be before it happens again.”
Fortunately for the Lynx, Collier has legitimately been focused on her team’s success over any individual accolade all season long. The heartbreaking loss to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of their epic WNBA Finals last season still fuels her and the Lynx organization, which has played this entire year with chips on their shoulder despite their success.
“The goal every year is to win a title, and I feel we are really good, and we have the group this year to go do it,” Collier said earlier this season in an exclusive interview. “We simply need to make sure we take care of ourselves every game and do what we can.”
Collier has been the most consistent and best player in the league all season, but while she would love to secure an MVP, the bigger goal is still in play. The Lynx lead the Golden State Valkyries 1-0 in the first round, with Game 2 set for tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17. The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
