None can deny the kind of impact Caitlin Clark made in her rookie season. While it wasn’t perfect, the fact that she shattered over 19 records in just one year seems unbelievable. So, it made sense that she was named the 2024 Rookie of the Year, all while leading the league in assists with 8.4 APG. But still, all of that wasn’t quite enough. Despite her breakout season, she finished fourth in MVP voting, earning 130 points, without a single first or second-place vote. “When you look at the MVP conversation, of course, A’ja Wilson is the frontrunner there,” Rebecca Lobo said on X. And for the two-time MVP, it made perfect sense. A’ja became the first player in WNBA history to score over 1,000 points in a single season, received all 67 first-place votes, and rightfully earned the MVP title again. But with Year 2 comes new hope—as many would admit, Clark has grown stronger. Still, it seems the MVP title might once again slip through her hands.
While it’s quite early to make bold predictions with the regular season beginning tomorrow, WNBA GMs might have a clearer idea. For them, Napheesa Collier’s six seasons in the league and 160 regular-season games were more than enough to base expectations on.
That’s how Collier emerged as the favorite for the 2025 WNBA MVP title, receiving 67% of votes from league GMs ahead of the season. A’ja Wilson followed with 25%, while Clark came in third with nearly 8%.
Historically, MVP voters favor players who drive team success, like A’ja Wilson’s unanimous 2024 win with the 27-13 Aces. Since 2010, every MVP has come from a top-four team, which gives Collier an edge with the Lynx’s elite record, while Clark’s Fever need a leap from their 20-20 mark to boost her case.
But MVP predictions weren’t the only category where Collier received praise. Whether it was the player opposing coaches would need to adjust for most or the best forward in the league—Collier was a consistent name across the board.
WNBA GMs predict that Napheesa Collier will win both MVP and a championship this season.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/sFlHdkPZmw
— I talk hoops (@trendyhoopstars) May 15, 2025
That recognition doesn’t come out of nowhere. In case you’re unaware, she finished second in MVP voting last season and took home Defensive Player of the Year honors. Averaging 20.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, the 6-foot-1 forward has been one of the league’s best ever since entering as a rookie in 2019.
Just consider her résumé: Rookie of the Year and All-Star in her first season. In Year 2, she finished fifth in MVP voting. Even after returning from maternity leave, she immediately regained her All-WNBA form and placed fourth in MVP voting.
She continued her rise last season, leading the Lynx to a 30-10 record and finishing second in MVP voting. But this upcoming season might just be her closest shot at claiming the crown. And her head coach Cheryl Reeve—who was voted the best coach in the league—would agree.
For Reeve, Phee has always been special.
“What makes Phee special is the consistency and the way she shows up every single day,” Reeve told the AP. “She’s improved every season. She’s just been incredible, and every game it’s more than scoring—she helps our team in every way.”
That was especially clear during her playoff performances. Need proof? She dropped a career-high 42 points in the first round of the playoffs—tying the WNBA’s single-game playoff scoring record. Still not convinced? She followed that up with another personal best—38 points—becoming the first player in league history to record back-to-back playoff games with 38+ points.
No wonder Reeve has so much faith in her star forward.
“She doesn’t need us to tell her. She knows what she needs to get better at. I still think she has more room to grow—and that’s what MVPs do, what great players do. They never feel like they’ve arrived. They just keep getting better and better. And that’s what Phee has done,” Reeve added.
Every word of that holds weight. Just remember her performance in the league she co-founded—Unrivaled. She was the first-ever MVP of that league, leading in scoring with an average of 25.7 points per game. Her 38-point outing against Mist on February 8 wasn’t just incredible—it tied the league’s single-game scoring record.
And if you think that was enough, think again. She also set the league’s single-game rebounding record with 18 boards against Phantom BC.
Still, the ultimate question remains—is all of this enough to take the title away from Caitlin Clark?
Maybe not!
If her toned muscles are not enough of a threat, then her 36 feet logo must be
Caitlin Clark is more than prepared for the upcoming season. Just consider her preseason game against the Brazilian national team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where she contributed 16 points. But the true standout moment was the 36-foot logo three she buried—right from the exact spot where she set the NCAA scoring record.
You should’ve heard the roaring crowd of 14,998 fans at the arena who witnessed that shot. It was beyond impressive. She went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, adding six rebounds and five assists in just 19 minutes of play. And if you think it’s just about the three-pointers—think again.
With the arrival of head coach Stephanie White, Clark is now more than just an offensive weapon. Her physical strength, improved balance, and power on drives to the basket are quite evident.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City for a WNBA preseason game against the Brazil national team on May 4, 2025.
“She is stronger, first and foremost. She figured out right away that she needed to get stronger… She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength—in terms of low center of gravity, time under tension, all of those things,” said White.
Just look at her 23-minute performance in the Fever’s 81-76 win over the Atlanta Dream, where she recorded 13 points and six rebounds. And this is just the beginning. Her real growth, resilience, and pursuit of a title are eagerly awaited as she gears up for her first regular season game of Year 2 against the Chicago Sky.
Clearly, the race to MVP is not going to be easy, as both leading contenders may go head-to-head—until one of them sets themselves apart during the regular season.
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