The number 2 has a funny way of following A’ja Wilson around. Whether that’s a good or bad thing? Still up for debate. Take a glance at the league’s offensive and defensive leaderboards, and there she is, ranked straight second in both. She is dominant on both ends, no question. But 2 has also been the count of major setbacks she has faced this season: first a concussion against the Sparks, then a wrist injury versus the Liberty. Yet, none of that has slowed her down. She is still dropping 30+ points like always.
So when the Wings talked about doubling down on Wilson defensively, maybe they should have taken that idea more seriously. Because without a real second body apart from Paige Bueckers on her, A’ja went on to torch them for 34, grabbing a 90-86 win. When Joey Mistretta asked postgame if doubling was even on the table, Wings head coach Chris Koclanes didn’t shy away from the honesty.
He said, “It’s one thing to talk about it. It’s another thing to execute it on the floor. So, we’ve got to learn and continue to grow together to find ways to disrupt great players.” And he’s not wrong here.
A’ja Wilson scored multiple times off isolation. Like at 5:04 in Q2 (putback), 2:42 in Q2 (jumper), 5:31 in Q3 (driving layup), and 0:23 in Q4 (game-sealing layup), all of it without a second defender in sight. Maybe the Wings really need to find ways to disrupt great players afterall. Moreover, it’s not just the Wings HC pointing it out. The Wings’ rookie guard, Paige Bueckers echoes same sentiments.
Paige Bueckers says the Wings could have been better against A’ja Wilson. Says they should have crowded the paint more.
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) July 17, 2025
Postgame, “Paige Bueckers says the Wings could have been better against A’ja Wilson. Says they should have crowded the paint more,” as reported by Joey Mistretta. Then again, maybe A’ja Wilson isn’t the entire problem. The last time the Wings faced a Wilson-less Aces squad (when she was out with a concussion) they still lost by 4. Moreover, their second-worst defensive ranking has been saying quite a bit. So clearly, Vegas has their number either way. The All-Star break might be the perfect time for the Wings to reflect on what’s really missing against top-tier teams like the Aces.
Although, if Wilson really is the problem for Team Collier’s Paige Bueckers, she better get ready, because A’ja’s anchoring Team Clark at center this weekend.
Napheesa Collier > A’ja Wilson?
That’s the question ESPN is asking, loud and clear. And yes, Napheesa Collier has officially taken over as the WNBA’s top player. In their midseason rankings released Monday, Collier outranked A’ja Wilson for the No. 1 spot. It was a first in her career. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton pointed to Collier’s explosive scoring (she leads the league by over three points per game) and her two-way impact, noting she’s “a leading contender to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year, averaging a combined 3.2 steals and blocks per game.”
But it’s not just personal stats. Napheesa Collier has driven the Lynx to the best record in the league. Pelton summed it up: “After finishing runner-up for MVP to A’ja Wilson and losing a WNBA Finals series that went the distance, Collier has established herself as the league’s best player and the Lynx as the league’s best team.”
A’ja Wilson, who is now No. 2 on ESPN’s list, can’t seem to escape the number this season. As mentioned earlier, two injuries, two top-2 stat placements, and now this ranking, no matter how dominant she’s been. Rounding out the top five are Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas and the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. But the real drama is the budding rivalry: Collier’s rise vs. Wilson’s reign. And the upcoming All-Star matchup could settle the debate, who truly owns the league right now?
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