2025 WNBA Regular Season Discussion Thread

[Green Chile]

So, where's everybody at on MVP?

Seems to have become about as brutal a choice as one could imagine. It would suck for Phee or A'ja to not get an MVP this year. Both so deserving (apologies to AT and Allisha).

Seemed like Phee was running away with it. But her injury and A'ja's ridiculous tear during the 12-game win streak has blown this thing wide open.
A'ja would also have to overcome voter fatigue, and the feeling that it's "Phee's turn". Which I get. Felt like Phee's turn the minute she didn't win it last year, and had a hell of a case (and then her dominance in Unrivaled). Feels like we've been on a year long march to Phee's 1st MVP. And Phee, as always, has done more than her part.
A'ja would have to do something incredible to overcome that. And she has.

At this point, I couldn't pick.

I think it'll come down to how their teams do over these last 6 games.

Or it could very literally come down to next Thursday (I feel bad for the NFL trying to compete against that epic showdown).

Personally, I'm okay with that. I already can't pick, so a late season showdown to decide makes sense.
I would take something monstrous for A'ja to overtake Phee's early season lead. With A'ja's performance the last 12 games, and if the Aces avenged the 50 point loss that started all this, that's good enough for me.

[Green Chile]

Looks like Amazon will soon be the sole provider of WNBA League Pass.

This is an effing disaster.

Prime sucks, especially for the WNBA. I'd happily pay $1,000 for WNBA league pass. Being forced to watch W games on prime is not something I think I can do.

Something this stupid is definitely the NBA's doing. Trying to cash in with no regard for the future of the W.

I'm now hoping for a lockout. A long and bitter one. The best thing for the WNBA is to not exist.

I'll take a year off if it means professional women's basketball isn't being purposely run into the ground by the NBA.

[Doctor MJ]

So, where's everybody at on MVP?

Seems to have become about as brutal a choice as one could imagine. It would suck for Phee or A'ja to not get an MVP this year. Both so deserving (apologies to AT and Allisha).

Seemed like Phee was running away with it. But her injury and A'ja's ridiculous tear during the 12-game win streak has blown this thing wide open.
A'ja would also have to overcome voter fatigue, and the feeling that it's "Phee's turn". Which I get. Felt like Phee's turn the minute she didn't win it last year, and had a hell of a case (and then her dominance in Unrivaled). Feels like we've been on a year long march to Phee's 1st MVP. And Phee, as always, has done more than her part.
A'ja would have to do something incredible to overcome that. And she has.

At this point, I couldn't pick.

I think it'll come down to how their teams do over these last 6 games.

Or it could very literally come down to next Thursday (I feel bad for the NFL trying to compete against that epic showdown).

Personally, I'm okay with that. I already can't pick, so a late season showdown to decide makes sense.
I would take something monstrous for A'ja to overtake Phee's early season lead. With A'ja's performance the last 12 games, and if the Aces avenged the 50 point loss that started all this, that's good enough for me.

I'm pretty set on Phee, though I should note Phee was my choice last year when A'ja won unanimously.

That said, I do have A'ja at #2, and yeah, I do think voter fatigue is going to favor Phee this time around in part because literally none of them voted for Phee last time. I don't think Phee will win unanimously, but I think she probably will win.

As folks may remember, I tend to favor +/- stats not to replace the box score, but as some proof-in-the-pudding, and in some ways this is particularly so when a player misses time.

If Phee was the best player when she played, but she missed a lot of time and the team kept rolling without her - which might be the narrative in the minds of some voters - did she really even add more value than her teammates?

Well, if we go by Raw +/-, the simplest possible thing we can look at that combines impact & minutes, here's the leaderboard as we go down the stretch:

1. Napheesa Collier (MIN) +317
2. Bridge Carleton (MIN) +289
3. Courtney Williams (MIN) +285
4. Kayla McBride (MIN) +274
5. Naz Hillmon (ATL) +249

and then other possible MVP candidates:

6. Allisha Gray (ATL) +234
7. A'ja Wilson (LVA) +206

10. Skylar Diggins (SEA) +181
11. Alyssa Thomas (PHX) +172

Let me put further context for A'ja, Skylar & Alyssa with their top teammates:

Gabby Williams (SEA) +158
Jackie Young (LVA) +156
Monique Akoa Makani (PHX) +153

So, A'ja really does have significant separation relative to her teammate, and that's a further feather in her cap, but quite literally with the Lynx, this wasn't a situation where her team was truly able to thrive without her this year. With her they've been by far the best team in the league, and without her, they're merely decent.

Let me note with Atlanta, I need to get my head more around what's going on with Hillmon and why the Dream haven't played her more. I'd still consider Gray the MVP candidate of the team, but will confess that seeing the impact data love this 6th Woman teammate of hers dims my enthusiasm a bit.

Skylar & Alyssa are kinda solid but not-quite-serious MVP candidates to me. Of the two, I feel more clearly positive about AT who has led the Mercury to being great the year after they gave up the ghost with DT & BG. Over in Seattle on the other hand, the buzz is mixed. They're an above average, but they were supposed to be contenders and they don't feel like they're reaching that kind of ceiling.

So with all that in mind, I might say:

1. Napheesa Collier (MIN)
2. A'ja Wilson (LVA)
3. Alyssa Thomas (PHX)
4. Allisha Gray (ATL)
5. Kayla McBride (MIN)

[cdubbz]

Went to the Valkyrie v Mystics game last night and it was a super fun game to watch. Burton has evolved over the course of the season in all aspects of her game. The roster construction and depth is going to help a lot in the playoffs

[Green Chile]

So, where's everybody at on MVP?

Seems to have become about as brutal a choice as one could imagine. It would suck for Phee or A'ja to not get an MVP this year. Both so deserving (apologies to AT and Allisha).

Seemed like Phee was running away with it. But her injury and A'ja's ridiculous tear during the 12-game win streak has blown this thing wide open.
A'ja would also have to overcome voter fatigue, and the feeling that it's "Phee's turn". Which I get. Felt like Phee's turn the minute she didn't win it last year, and had a hell of a case (and then her dominance in Unrivaled). Feels like we've been on a year long march to Phee's 1st MVP. And Phee, as always, has done more than her part.
A'ja would have to do something incredible to overcome that. And she has.

At this point, I couldn't pick.

I think it'll come down to how their teams do over these last 6 games.

Or it could very literally come down to next Thursday (I feel bad for the NFL trying to compete against that epic showdown).

Personally, I'm okay with that. I already can't pick, so a late season showdown to decide makes sense.
I would take something monstrous for A'ja to overtake Phee's early season lead. With A'ja's performance the last 12 games, and if the Aces avenged the 50 point loss that started all this, that's good enough for me.

I'm pretty set on Phee, though I should note Phee was my choice last year when A'ja won unanimously.

That said, I do have A'ja at #2, and yeah, I do think voter fatigue is going to favor Phee this time around in part because literally none of them voted for Phee last time. I don't think Phee will win unanimously, but I think she probably will win.

As folks may remember, I tend to favor +/- stats not to replace the box score, but as some proof-in-the-pudding, and in some ways this is particularly so when a player misses time.

If Phee was the best player when she played, but she missed a lot of time and the team kept rolling without her - which might be the narrative in the minds of some voters - did she really even add more value than her teammates?

Well, if we go by Raw +/-, the simplest possible thing we can look at that combines impact & minutes, here's the leaderboard as we go down the stretch:

1. Napheesa Collier (MIN) +317
2. Bridge Carleton (MIN) +289
3. Courtney Williams (MIN) +285
4. Kayla McBride (MIN) +274
5. Naz Hillmon (ATL) +249

and then other possible MVP candidates:

6. Allisha Gray (ATL) +234
7. A'ja Wilson (LVA) +206

10. Skylar Diggins (SEA) +181
11. Alyssa Thomas (PHX) +172

Let me put further context for A'ja, Skylar & Alyssa with their top teammates:

Gabby Williams (SEA) +158
Jackie Young (LVA) +156
Monique Akoa Makani (PHX) +153

So, A'ja really does have significant separation relative to her teammate, and that's a further feather in her cap, but quite literally with the Lynx, this wasn't a situation where her team was truly able to thrive without her this year. With her they've been by far the best team in the league, and without her, they're merely decent.

Let me note with Atlanta, I need to get my head more around what's going on with Hillmon and why the Dream haven't played her more. I'd still consider Gray the MVP candidate of the team, but will confess that seeing the impact data love this 6th Woman teammate of hers dims my enthusiasm a bit.

Skylar & Alyssa are kinda solid but not-quite-serious MVP candidates to me. Of the two, I feel more clearly positive about AT who has led the Mercury to being great the year after they gave up the ghost with DT & BG. Over in Seattle on the other hand, the buzz is mixed. They're an above average, but they were supposed to be contenders and they don't feel like they're reaching that kind of ceiling.

So with all that in mind, I might say:

1. Napheesa Collier (MIN)
2. A'ja Wilson (LVA)
3. Alyssa Thomas (PHX)
4. Allisha Gray (ATL)
5. Kayla McBride (MIN)

The Lynx going 5-2 without Phee could certainly have an impact on some voters, but I agree that it really shouldn't.

The Lynx have incredibly good depth, and a strong coach/system/culture (much of which, Phee should get credit for). Smart, intense, unselfish basketball can win a lot of regular season games even without a true superstar.

IMO, the Lynx without Phee are sort of like the Valkyries.
The Lynx with Phee have can dominate every round of the Playoffs and really do something special, and that's a significant difference.

Aces just recently found a single big to play alongside A'ja to take some of the load, and they surely don't have the depth to insert a Jes Shepard quality player in the lineup when A'ja is not in. It makes a lot of sense that the Aces would crater more without A'ja than the Lynx do without Phee.

I'm still not sure I'd got Phee over A'ja, but I could see it either way.

If the Storm have an MVP candidate, I think it's Nneka over Skylar (though I don't think anybody outside of Phee or A'ja is really a serious candidate with any sort of chance of winning it). But as I've said, I'm down for 1st team All-W Nneka this year.

And I agree on Naz. Any award they want to throw at her this year is well deserved. I suspect Naz will get 6thPOY and Veronica Burton will get MIP, but Naz is a well-deserving of both.

[Green Chile]

Went to the Valkyrie v Mystics game last night and it was a super fun game to watch. Burton has evolved over the course of the season in all aspects of her game. The roster construction and depth is going to help a lot in the playoffs

Valks are easily the story of the year, IMO.

In all of sports, I don't think we've ever seen an expansion team come in and so completely nail the coach/GM/culture aspects right off the bat.

If I had to bet on a franchise to win the most titles over the next 20 years, it's the Valkyries, and I'm not sure it's close.

If A'ja wants a chance to be the no doubt about it GOAT, she needs to go to GS.

[Green Chile]

I know the story from Liberty-Mercury is going to be the LIberty's shortcomings.

But I think it should be the Mercury.

There are a lot of reasons not to trust the Mercury in the Playoffs. I'm guilty of it.

AT is AT. Satou can be Satou, but it's hard to count on consistently. But finally Kah looks healthy. If she's cooking, good luck. She's one of, what...4 (?) Finals MVPs in the league right now. Bonner ain't young, but she's a poor man's Stewie when she's on.

They have a front court problem, but they have some incredible depth elsewhere.

I don't trust the Mercury, but at their best, they have as much upside as anybody outside of the Lynx

[Mephariel]

So, where's everybody at on MVP?

Seems to have become about as brutal a choice as one could imagine. It would suck for Phee or A'ja to not get an MVP this year. Both so deserving (apologies to AT and Allisha).

Seemed like Phee was running away with it. But her injury and A'ja's ridiculous tear during the 12-game win streak has blown this thing wide open.
A'ja would also have to overcome voter fatigue, and the feeling that it's "Phee's turn". Which I get. Felt like Phee's turn the minute she didn't win it last year, and had a hell of a case (and then her dominance in Unrivaled). Feels like we've been on a year long march to Phee's 1st MVP. And Phee, as always, has done more than her part.
A'ja would have to do something incredible to overcome that. And she has.

At this point, I couldn't pick.

I think it'll come down to how their teams do over these last 6 games.

Or it could very literally come down to next Thursday (I feel bad for the NFL trying to compete against that epic showdown).

Personally, I'm okay with that. I already can't pick, so a late season showdown to decide makes sense.
I would take something monstrous for A'ja to overtake Phee's early season lead. With A'ja's performance the last 12 games, and if the Aces avenged the 50 point loss that started all this, that's good enough for me.

I seriously think the Thursday matchup will decide it. If Aja can dominate that game against Phee, that is her ticket. What a game that will be right?

[Mephariel]

Went to the Valkyrie v Mystics game last night and it was a super fun game to watch. Burton has evolved over the course of the season in all aspects of her game. The roster construction and depth is going to help a lot in the playoffs

Valks are easily the story of the year, IMO.

In all of sports, I don't think we've ever seen an expansion team come in and so completely nail the coach/GM/culture aspects right off the bat.

If I had to bet on a franchise to win the most titles over the next 20 years, it's the Valkyries, and I'm not sure it's close.

If A'ja wants a chance to be the no doubt about it GOAT, she needs to go to GS.

I am a Kings fan not a Warriors fan, but I am so glad the Bay has another team. Basketball has such a soul in that area and the Valkyries are playing their heart out.

Man, why did they disband the Monarchs? We won our only basketball championship with that team.

[Green Chile]

So, where's everybody at on MVP?

Seems to have become about as brutal a choice as one could imagine. It would suck for Phee or A'ja to not get an MVP this year. Both so deserving (apologies to AT and Allisha).

Seemed like Phee was running away with it. But her injury and A'ja's ridiculous tear during the 12-game win streak has blown this thing wide open.
A'ja would also have to overcome voter fatigue, and the feeling that it's "Phee's turn". Which I get. Felt like Phee's turn the minute she didn't win it last year, and had a hell of a case (and then her dominance in Unrivaled). Feels like we've been on a year long march to Phee's 1st MVP. And Phee, as always, has done more than her part.
A'ja would have to do something incredible to overcome that. And she has.

At this point, I couldn't pick.

I think it'll come down to how their teams do over these last 6 games.

Or it could very literally come down to next Thursday (I feel bad for the NFL trying to compete against that epic showdown).

Personally, I'm okay with that. I already can't pick, so a late season showdown to decide makes sense.
I would take something monstrous for A'ja to overtake Phee's early season lead. With A'ja's performance the last 12 games, and if the Aces avenged the 50 point loss that started all this, that's good enough for me.

I seriously think the Thursday matchup will decide it. If Aja can dominate that game against Phee, that is her ticket. What a game that will be right?

I agree. I think A'ja would have to go nuclear (and win), but if she does, I think that could swing it.

I love the NFL, and I'll have both games on, but I think I'm more excited about Lynx-Aces than Cowboys-Eagles.

[Green Chile]

Dream were just too much, but Lacan continues to impress.

She was giving Allisha Gray the business.

[MrDollarBills]

The Lynx are just way too good

[BlacJacMac]

I really thought Diamond Miller had a chance to break out in Dallas. But she's struggling even more.

[cupcakesnake]

I really thought Diamond Miller had a chance to break out in Dallas. But she's struggling even more.

She practically seems cursed. Things just go wrong whenever she's involved in a play.

[DOT]

Dream were just too much, but Lacan continues to impress.

She was giving Allisha Gray the business.

I can't find video of it, but her ripping the ball out of Brittney Griner's hands was the highlight of the night

Girl's a klepto lol

[Green Chile]

Great comeback for the Sparks.
I love Hamby, and Rickea is a MFing problem. Only a few true wings in the league and Rickea abused Gabby last night.

The disaster scenario for Seattle is still very much in play.
Trading a 1st for Sykes and missing the Playoffs is bad enough. But they traded their own pick, not the LA pick. Missing the Playoffs at the hands of the Sparks would be a real cluster.

I wish I understood what's going on with Seattle. A lot of people calling for Noelle's job. I'm not smart enough to know if that's the right move, and I hate calling for anybody's job. But the 2nd half meltdowns are not a good look. The lack of depth is certainly a problem. GM (and injuries) didn't give her much depth, but Noellle won't play the depth anyway. Seems like some even blame on that front. The oldest team in the league only playing 7 players is a recipe for disaster in the 2nd half.

However this season ends, Nneka is a stud, and Dom will be. I've said before, but Dom's touch within 6-8 feet at her age is just ridiculous.

[MrDollarBills]

Looks like Amazon will soon be the sole provider of WNBA League Pass.

This is an effing disaster.

Prime sucks, especially for the WNBA. I'd happily pay $1,000 for WNBA league pass. Being forced to watch W games on prime is not something I think I can do.

Something this stupid is definitely the NBA's doing. Trying to cash in with no regard for the future of the W.

I'm now hoping for a lockout. A long and bitter one. The best thing for the WNBA is to not exist.

I'll take a year off if it means professional women's basketball isn't being purposely run into the ground by the NBA.

This is 100% the NBA.

Adam Silver is a piece of sh*t

[MrDollarBills]

So, where's everybody at on MVP?

Seems to have become about as brutal a choice as one could imagine. It would suck for Phee or A'ja to not get an MVP this year. Both so deserving (apologies to AT and Allisha).

Seemed like Phee was running away with it. But her injury and A'ja's ridiculous tear during the 12-game win streak has blown this thing wide open.
A'ja would also have to overcome voter fatigue, and the feeling that it's "Phee's turn". Which I get. Felt like Phee's turn the minute she didn't win it last year, and had a hell of a case (and then her dominance in Unrivaled). Feels like we've been on a year long march to Phee's 1st MVP. And Phee, as always, has done more than her part.
A'ja would have to do something incredible to overcome that. And she has.

At this point, I couldn't pick.

I think it'll come down to how their teams do over these last 6 games.

Or it could very literally come down to next Thursday (I feel bad for the NFL trying to compete against that epic showdown).

Personally, I'm okay with that. I already can't pick, so a late season showdown to decide makes sense.
I would take something monstrous for A'ja to overtake Phee's early season lead. With A'ja's performance the last 12 games, and if the Aces avenged the 50 point loss that started all this, that's good enough for me.

I seriously think the Thursday matchup will decide it. If Aja can dominate that game against Phee, that is her ticket. What a game that will be right?

I agree. I think A'ja would have to go nuclear (and win), but if she does, I think that could swing it.

I love the NFL, and I'll have both games on, but I think I'm more excited about Lynx-Aces than Cowboys-Eagles.

I could care less about Cowboys Eagles. I hate both teams. I'll watch A'ja vs Phee

[MrDollarBills]

I've given up on any hopes of the Liberty repeating. We're too injured and its way too late in the season to try to figure this out

Congrats to Minnesota.

[MrDollarBills]

Watch on YouTube

This is funny. Look at Dijonai's face before she realizes who knocked into her