The 2025 WNBA regular season ends Thursday, September 11, and attention turns to the league’s annual awards. Fans and analysts are debating who will take top honors like Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player, Rookie of the Year, and Sixth Player of the Year. Although the postseason starts September 14, winners will be announced in the weeks after the regular season.
The MVP race has been one of the closest in years. Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx helped her team start 9-0, recording 15 games with 20 or more points, 13 contests with at least two steals, and five games with three or more blocks in the first half of the season. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces has been equally dominant. She leads the league in points and blocks per game and has driven the Aces’ 14-game win streak. Wilson is averaging 27.4 points and 2.1 blocks during the streak and set a WNBA record with 13 30-point games this season. Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas has also made her mark. She is averaging nearly a triple-double, broke her own record for single-season triple-doubles, and set a new league record for assists. Thomas ranks among the top six in assists, rebounds, and steals. Other MVP considerations include Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream and Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever. The predicted winner is A’ja Wilson, who won in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
The Defensive Player of the Year candidates are among the MVP contenders. Collier, Thomas, and Wilson excel in steals, blocks, and rebounds. They rank among the league leaders in defensive win shares. Collier and Thomas anchor defenses that are first and third in the league. Alanna Smith of the Lynx is another strong contender. She ranks third in blocks and adds 1.3 steals per game. Her work strengthens Minnesota’s defense and helps create turnovers. Other names to watch include Gabby Williams of the Seattle Storm. This award remains too close to call.
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton has emerged as the leading candidate for Most Improved Player. She started only 20 games in her career before this season but has started every game in 2025. Burton increased her scoring from 2.7 points per game to 12 points and ranks fifth in assists per game while leading her team in points, assists, steals, and blocks. Other candidates include Azurá Stevens of the Los Angeles Sparks and Naz Hillmon of the Atlanta Dream. Burton is the predicted winner.
The Sixth Player of the Year has been a tight race between Natisha Hiedeman of the Minnesota Lynx and Naz Hillmon of the Atlanta Dream. Hillmon has posted career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks, shooting 31% from three-point range and ranking 16th in rebounds per game. Hiedeman finished the season strong, scoring 22 points over her last three games and recording a 10-assist double-double against the Dallas Wings. She leads Hillmon in points per game with 8.9 and is near her career-best numbers from 2022. Other candidates include Jessica Shepard of the Lynx and DeWanna Bonner of the Mercury. Naz Hillmon is the predicted winner.
The 2025 WNBA awards promise excitement with multiple standout performances. Fans will have plenty to watch as the postseason begins, from MVP battles to emerging stars making a mark in the league.
