The 2025 WNBA has been part of extraordinary personal performances in the season.
Like experienced stars Minnesota Links‘S Nefeesa colir And Las vegas ekka, A’aza Wilson It has continued to dazzle. Current from Dallas Wings, Piege Beukers till Washington Mistics, Kiki Irafen Has crossed expectations. Other standouts, such as Atlanta dream‘S Alma Gray, Seattle Storm‘S Gabby Williams And New York Liberty‘S Kennedy Burke Maybe there are not always headlines, but they have shown tremendous growth and have been important to help their respective teams make a strong start.
As we contact the half-way mark of the 2025 campaign, and with the all-star game approaching, ESPN centers Andrews, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philipau and Michael Voepel took stock of the WNBA Awards Race, shared the early pics for MVP (and top challenges), year-to-chillies, yearly players, yearly player, yearly player, yearly player, yearly player, yearly player, yearly player, yearly player. We will continue to update our award trackers throughout the season.
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MVP , Year stop , Year’s defensive player
best , Sixth player , Year coach
MVP
Center Andrews: Nefeesa colir, Minnesota Links
Kevin Pelton: Nefeesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
Alexa Philipo: Nefeesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
Michael Vopel: Nefeesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
ESPN’s Front-Runner: Nefesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
She is leading WNBA in Scoring (23.5 PPG), playing for the team in the first place of the league. They are strong MVP credentials. Add to that colir’s career-secretant shooting: 52.1% from the ground and 95.6% from the free throw line. In addition, his rebounding (7.9 RPG), Elite Defense and Leadership.
She was a runner-up for MVP Honor in the previous season, when Minnesota made the WNBA final. Colier immediately established himself as MVP Front-Runner and is still in that role, although our top challenger is on his heel. , Vopel
(Kolier was also a front-raner in June.)
Top Challenger: Elisa Thomas, Phoenix mercury
There is no one else like Thomas in WNBA: a powerful post player (15.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG) which also leads the league in aid (9.5). He is also a top level defender, and is getting a new spotlight this season in Phoenix after 11 years. Connecticut sunThomas ended in the top five in the MVP in the last three sessions, in 2023 in second place. That year, he got the first place (23), but seven points behind the winner. Breena stewartPerhaps this is the season that comes to the top Thomas. , Vopel
Ruki of the Year
Andrews: Piege Beukers, Dallas Wings
Pelton: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Philippou: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Voepel: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
ESPN’s Front-Runner: Page Beukers, Dallas Wings
Bueckers were out with a consent and illness when our final awards fell in check-in; She came out of Gates on returning from the absence of the four-game, which was taking strong control of the Ruki of the Year race.
Among its first year of colleagues, former Uconn Star tops the scoring, aid and theft. But widen the lens and ranks the top -10 in the league in the all -star starter scoring and one of the four players) Sabarina Eonacu, Kelsey plum And Skiler Digins) Gets at least 18 points and five aid. In only 16 competitions, she covers eight games with 15-plus points and five-plus assistance, which is already tied by any crook for the third time. And while the victory has become difficult to get into Dallas – not helping the winged injuries – no player on the roster affects the more winning effects than the beukers.
Top Challengers: Sonia citron, Washington Mistics, Kiki IrafenWashington Mistics
In the WNBA circle, they were eager to get professionals for citron. She has been a Do-It-All Player for mystics, which includes a strong secondary scorer behind Brittany Cyx, and has further influenced her game in clutch conditions. Among the miscreants, he is second in scoring and rebound.
Irafen turned his head with four double-dabbles, including four double-dabbles, in their first five matches, with four double-dabbles. While some of her numbers have been submerged, she is one of the best rebounders in the league (8.4 boards in W in fifth place per game) and a primary reason that mysticists have overcome expectations. , Philippu
(Iriafen was the front-colon in June.)
Year’s defensive player
Andrews: Nefeesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
Pelton: Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
Philippou: Nefeesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
Voepel: Nefeesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
ESPN’s Front-Runner: Nefesa Kolier, Minnesota Links
Collier is the defensive player of the year and becomes the seventh player to win the award in the back-to-back season (Tamica Catching did it twice). 6 -1 Kolier has the strength and technology to fight big post players, as well as the ability to cut entry into the basket. His rebounding average (7.9 per game) is only in this season because two 6-4 are ahead in the links, Alana Smith And Jessica ShepardBoards are also working. The 1.6 block average of the collier would be a career-Best, and its links allowed the WNBA to an average point (74.7) and a defensive rating (97.0). , Vopel
(Natasha Cloud was the front-colon in June.)
Top Challenger: Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
Uconn coach Jeno and Himma will be pleased to see two of his former Hakis as top candidates for the award. They display symptoms that have made Ucon an excellent defensive team for decades. Williams plays with Nonsstop Energy that appears to create anti -space crimes. She is a versatile one-per-one defender and is also working well in a system with her hurricane team colleagues. Williams takes WNBA into theft (2.6 per game) and is in the top five in defensive win shares. , Vopel
most improved Player
Andrews: Alma Gray, Atlanta dream
Pelton: Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valcaries
Philippou: Alisha Gray, Atlanta Sapna
Voepel: Alisha Gray, Atlanta Sapna
ESPN’s Front-Runner: Elisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Gray has continued his incredible jump in this season, earning an all-star to start an all-star to become the first Atlanta player to start the Midson Showcase since 2018. The league in the scoring is shooting sixth, 19.4 points per game, 42.6% from gray ground. She is shooting 3 to 3 to 3 to 41.6% per game per game, which is both career high. In fact, Gray is doing high recordings of career in almost every statistical category.
Last month, we highlighted how much the crime of gray is in the system of coach Carl Smesco in its first year with dreams, and it is still true. After starting the season on a tear, gray production could be stopped, but it remains equally strong and equally efficient.
(Gray was also a front-colon in June.)
0:21
Alisha Gray throws sweet dime to Naz Hilmon for giant bucket
Sapna takes a 5 -digit lead in the fourth quarter as Elisha Gray threw Naz Hilmon near the slick for paste.
Top Challengers: Kayla Thornton, Golden State Volcaries; Azura stevens, Los angeles sparks
Thornton has been a main catalyst for the historical beginning of Valkyries. She is a career-high 15.1 points per game average-five more than her previous best (2019) and 10 points more than what she was scoring in New York in the previous season. Her minutes have also seen a large -scale jump – 20.2 last season 30.1 – because she has moved from the role player to the star. All this connects Thornton to become the first player in league history, named All-Star in the opening season of the franchise.
Stevens were a top challenger a month ago. She is scoring a career-high 14.9 points and is trying 10.5 shots per game, which matches the high of her career in 2023. At the defensive end, Stevens looks comfortable as usual, holding a career-secretary 8.5 boards per game. , Andrews
Sixth player of the year
Andrews: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
Pelton: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
Philippou: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
Voepel: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
ESPN Front-Runner: Kennedy Burke, New York Liberty
The biggest threat to the condition of the bark as a front-raner when we finally checked in this race, it has originated for the initial lineup. Burke has started the last three matches as Sandy Brondelo has favored small units in the absence of Jonkel Jones, giving them a total of six starts in 19 matches. Burke has actually been more productive as a reserve, an average of 7.7 PPG as 10.0 PPG and a starter from the bench, but its hot 3-bindu shooting is over. Burke is making 48% of 3S as a reserve and 50% in the beginning, in addition to the major perimeter defense supply for a Liberty team, which lost both Thorndon and Betinjah Luni-Hamilton from last year’s championship team.
(Burke was also a front-colon in June.)
1:59
Liberty win 6th straight vs.
New York Liberty won his sixth straight game against his rival, Las Vegas Aces 87-78.
Top Challenger: Jessica ShepardMinnesota Links
Shepard was last ranked last time before two weeks disappeared to participate in Eurobacket with Slovenia. Shepard had 12 points and 15 boards in his first game in his first game, but has not scored in double figures, which could open the door for team partner Natasha Hadman who was emerging as the top candidate of Links. Atlanta Naz Hilmon Apart from this, there is a case for her important role that gives the dream more shooting and athleticism in the frontcourt when she replaces the beginning Britney Grinner And Brona jones, Pelton
1:57
Veronica Burton led Valkyries for a commanding win over fever
Veronica Burton scored 21 points to lead the Golden State Volcaries for a win of 80-61 over Indiana fever.
Year coach
Andrews: Natalie Nakez, Golden State Volcaries
Pelton: Natalie Nakez, Golden State Volcaries
Philippou: Natalie Nakez, Golden State Volcaries
Voepel: Natalie Nakez, Golden State Volcaries
ESPN’s Front-Runner: Natalie Nakez, Golden State Volcaries
Valkyries may be one of the best and most amazing stories in sports right now. And when they overcome the expectations, it is not impossible to creating the naked. He has expressed confidence in his team from day 1. But this is one thing that your players have to believe and believe in yourself, but it is really another to go out and perform. Is Valkyries.
The Golden State is 10-9, good for the sixth seed in WNBA. Their 10 wins are the most from an expansion franchise in history – and we are only half the way through the season. Valkyries MVP Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces and Indiana fever of Cetaline Clarke, also keep a better record than estimating two teams, which we estimated that they could be the title contenders. The Golden State has the second best rescue in the league only behind Minnesota, as well as the top -10 crime.
Top Challenger: Nat Tibbets, Phoenix Mercury
In their second season with Phoenix, and the first with this main group of players, Tibbet has turned the mercury into a contender. He has the second best record in WNBA behind links.
Going to the season, questions were about how well Thomas had the new Big Three of Mercury, how well, Satou sabally And Kahlih Copper The rent, and how their depth will perform behind them. Thomas is in the MVP conversation, he and Sabli are all-stars, and Phoenix is one of the best benches in the league. , Andrews
(Tibbets were front-colon in June.)
