Without a doubt, the WNBA is going through a season marked by criticism over how it handles its top players. Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever star, is the clearest example: 11 games in just 20 days left physical consequences and forced the team to sign hardship contracts just to stay competitive.
For a league trying to promote its most marketable player, this schedule felt more like a hurdle than a boost, reducing recovery windows and worsening her injuries. But Clark isn’t the only one affected. The lack of balance in the schedule also threatens another major star: A’ja Wilson.
A’ja Wilson could be at a disadvantage
The Las Vegas Aces, currently riding a winning streak, faced a forced eight-day break before playing the Minnesota Lynx. What could have been a strategic advantage might turn into a risk of losing competitive rhythm. Angel McCoughtry, former MVP and league icon, explained it on the Good Follow podcast: “Rust comes quickly. Three days without playing and you lose your spark. Eight days is too much in the middle of the season.”
The break, rather than a benefit, could slow down Wilson’s momentum as she fights for the MVP.
Debate in the WNBA
Ros Gold-Onwude, national journalist, sees things differently. For him, this pause gives the Aces a chance to adjust schemes, fix mistakes, and strengthen Wilson’s leadership. The numbers back her season: 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
Her most recent performance against the Atlanta Dream, with 34 points and 9 rebounds in a key win, reinforced her MVP candidacy. Still, the big question remains: will the break keep the team fresh or disrupt its rhythm at the most critical point of the season?
Napheesa Collier enters the MVP race
While Wilson tries to maintain her reign, Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx are emerging as the biggest threat. Her 23.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game make her the main rival in the race for the award. She also leads a Lynx team with 12 consecutive wins, establishing herself as the top alternative to Las Vegas’s dominance.
The head-to-head matchup between both stars, scheduled for September 4, could decide everything. For many journalists, including the ESPN team, that game will be decisive in casting their MVP vote.
Wilson vs. Collier: the clash that will define the 2025 MVP
The last time the Lynx and Aces faced off, Minnesota dominated with a 53-point win that exposed Las Vegas and forced Becky Hammon to rethink strategies. Since then, the Aces have responded with grit, but the upcoming matchup will be a true trial by fire.
The stage couldn’t be more exciting: A’ja Wilson, two-time MVP and current favorite, versus Napheesa Collier, the breakout star of the season. Two different styles, two strong leaders, and one shared goal: to become the face of women’s basketball in 2025.
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