MVPhee!! Just yesterday, we got a full reminder of what Napheesa Collier brings to the table. She dropped 34 points in Minnesota’s season opener, setting the tone right away. After all, she’s coming off a huge 2024 season – runner-up in MVP voting, named Defensive Player of the Year, and leading the Lynx to the Finals. But let’s not forget how that ended. A Game 5 loss in overtime. A season that came this close to glory, only to slip away in the final seconds. If that wasn’t already enough to worry the other teams, it definitely should be now.
To add to it, ESPN dropped its 20th WNBA GM survey. It’s basically a tradition where all 13 GMs weigh in on 40 questions about the league. They can’t vote for their own teams or players, and they don’t have to answer everything. The survey had been on a break for a couple of years and returned just last season.
So, with everyone watching how this season’s going to unfold, the results are in – and they say a lot. First up, Collier was voted most likely to win MVP – by a landslide. She grabbed 67% of the votes. That’s ahead of A’ja Wilson, who got 25%, and Caitlin Clark, who received just 8%. Naturally, this stirred up the MVP talk again, especially because betting odds have Clark leading the race at +195, followed very closely by Wilson at +200. And right behind them…Napheesa Collier at +250. The gap is razor-thin.
But amidst all the buzz, Collier doesn’t seem too caught up in the MVP chatter. When asked, she made it clear, she’s got her eyes on something bigger. “I’m honestly focused on more than MVP,” she said. “Like, I want us to win a championship this year, so that’s what I’m focused on. Of course, you want to win those awards, but I’m way more focused on the team.”
“I’m honestly focused on more than MVP, like, I want us to win a championship this year so that’s what I’m focused on… of course, you want to win those awards, but I’m way more focused on the team.”
– PHEE on MPHEEEE pic.twitter.com/CJj8ePmoD5
— Vanshay Murdock (@VanshayM) May 18, 2025
So while everyone else is debating MVP odds and awards, Phee’s thinking titles. It’s not just talk, though. The Lynx are in a great position. Unlike most teams, they’re bringing back all five starters and nearly everyone from the bench. That kind of continuity is rare. It’s part of why GMs are so confident in them.
Plus, they’ve got Cheryl Reeve on the sidelines – the longest-tenured coach in the league, and a four-time champion. She was named the best coach in the survey, the best at in-game adjustments, and the best motivator and manager of players. Basically, she checks all the boxes. More than anything, if you go back to that 2024 Finals loss, it still stings. Especially for Reeve.
In the final seconds of regulation, with 5.2 seconds left, Lynx center Alanna Smith was called for a foul. That sent Breanna Stewart to the line, where she made both free throws and tied the game, sending it to OT. After the game, Reeve didn’t hold back. “All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on,” she said. “Because this s— was stolen from us. Bring it on.”
The Lynx challenged the call, but it was upheld. Clearly, that loss left a mark and this team hasn’t forgotten.
So now, with fresh wounds and a chip on their shoulder, the Lynx are back and Phee’s leading the way. If they win it all, that would be 5th title for Lynx, the most in WNBA history. Right now, the Houston Comets, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm hold the distinction of having won the most championships with four titles each. So, it’s not just a trophy, they are chasing histpry. We’ll have to see if they finish what they started.
For now, the 2024 DPOY is busy making big off court moves.
Napheesa Collier signed with Jordan Brand
Napheesa Collier just added a new badge to her already stacked resume. The Lynx star joined forces with none other than Jordan Brand. Phee’s flying high with the Jumpman now. The announcement landed on May 16, with an IG post that basically said it all, “All-American. National Champ. Rookie of the Year. All-Star. Mother. Gold Medalist. Founder. All Phee’s ever done is everything.” Facts only.
Since being drafted sixth overall in 2019, Collier’s been building an empire on and off the court. She first signed with Nike in 2020, even dropping her own KD 15s – remember the ‘Community’ and the ‘Minnesota Lynx’ editions? But this new chapter is different. It’s personal.
In an interview with Sportico, Collier revealed that she was in the middle of deciding between brand offers earlier this year until His Airness himself changed the game. Michael Jordan showed up at an Unrivaled Basketball League game to pitch the deal in person. “He doesn’t need to be on the ground doing these things,” she said. “So for him to come to the meeting and do that was really meaningful.”
Jordan Brand has a history of showing up big for women’s basketball. Back in 2011, they signed Maya Moore as their first WNBA athlete. And in 2021, MJ popped up again in a campaign celebrating the league’s 25th anniversary. So when Collier says this is a partnership she wants “for the rest of [her] career,” it’s rooted in something much deeper than just a signature shoe.
Oct 20, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) argues with an official after being called for traveling in the second quarter against the New York Liberty during game five of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The best part is Phee’s been a longtime admirer of Maya Moore. So now, standing on the same brand foundation as her idol is a full circle moment. She’s stepping into a roster that includes Rhyne Howard, Dana Evans, and a total of 12 WNBA stars.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect.
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