The MVPhee campaign got right back on track as Napheesa Collier returned from a two-game absence due to a back injury. While Napheesa Collier's spot in pole position of the Most Valuable Player race seems increasingly safe, this game in particular was a big one.
Posting a statline of 26 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal is a great night for any player, but having it come against the Atlanta Dream feels increasingly important as Allisha Gray continues to try and make a darkhorse run.
Collier continues to check all the boxes she needs to claim the MVP award and the 2025 WNBA Championship.
Where the MVP race stands
In a game that resulted in a 96-92 overtime victory for Minnesota, it was a missed opportunity for a potential moment of arrival for the Allisha Gray MVP case. For Atlanta, it was more of a team scoring performance than we have seen at times throughout this season, with six players scoring in double figures.
As Atlanta tried to put the game to bed at the end of regulation, Gray did not get the chance to put a shot up as the ball went to Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada. A win with a big-time moment from Gray would have elevated both her MVP argument and the Dream's case as a potential contender.
Across the board this season the superstars of the WNBA, who you would pencil in as MVP contenders, have had a bit of a bumpy path. Reigning MVP A'ja Wilson has a couple of missed games, and the Aces as a whole have struggled to rack up wins as they currently sit under the .500 mark. Caitlin Clark has missed more games than Wilson has, while her Indiana Fever sit directly at 8-8.
Napheesa Collier has already separated herself from the competition
While different players have had different struggles, Napheese Collier checks every box of what makes an MVP: Stats, standings, and a storyline.
Even with Collier's two missed games, she has hit an incredible mark of consistency on both sides of the ball this season averaging 24.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Truly elite-level stuffing of the stat sheet.
For standings, the Minnesota Lynx are currently atop the WNBA as the Liberty have stumbled a bit with injuries starting to come down on their roster. Minnesota holds a 1.5-game lead over the Phoenix Mercury.
Storyline is an incredibly important aspect of an MVP case. As nice as it would be to be able to have it be purely about what the product being put out on the court is, athletes and fans are human, and humans are moved by emotions. With that said a lot of times you must have a story to go with your on-court dominance. Collier has that. Runner-up in both the MVP race last year and in the WNBA Finals, this is a year where we are seeing Collier level up even further.
There aren't many stories better than a revenge tour, and Napheesa Collier is continuing to show why she might be coming for the crown of not only MVP and WNBA Champion, but potentially even the best player in the world.