WNBA’s MVP race is heating up. There are a lot of candidates who have proved why they deserve the award this year. Front-runners include A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas, who signed a deal worth $215,000 with the Phoenix Mercury.
In the recent episode of her podcast, Sue Bird gave her thoughts on the MVP race between three superstars.
“This one’s tough because I feel like this happens to Alyssa Thomas pretty much every year. She has MVP caliber seasons and then it’s like another player or maybe in this case two [A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier] have been just a little bit better, right? Their team does a little bit better. Their numbers are a little bit better,” Bird said. (0:30)
Sue Bird explained how some of Alyssa Thomas’ qualities get overlooked and doesn’t get valued that much.
“She’s kind of like what Diana Taurasi used to call a ‘point forward’. Like she’s a playmaker at her at her position. And I think that is just undervalued. But I will say it’s hard to say. It’s hard the way A’ja Wilson has been playing the numbers and the win streak and where she has her team now. It’s hard to deny that. And then the same for Phee [Napheesa]. Of course with Phee, there’s the whole injury, miss 10 games that I think voters have to figure out how they’re going to weigh.”
“But that’s what keeps happening to Alyssa Thomas. She has MVP years and numbers in this case. I don’t think a lot of people thought Phoenix was going to finish, you know, in the top four. They’re actually in the top two most of the season, but yeah, I think other parts of her game don’t get valued enough,” Sue Bird concluded.
A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier or Alyssa Thomas – Who has had a better season?
Neither of the three are newcomers to the MVP conversation in the WNBA. Having won the award three times already, A’ja Wilson’s hunger has never decreased. She always wants more. When the Las Vegas Aces were in peril this season, Wilson talked about how she will turn up and promised how Aces will find success.
Wilson’s form after that statement has been unreal and the Aces look good enough to win the WNBA championships. She averages 23.8 points and 10.1 rebounds this season.
Meanwhile, Napheesa Collier has played some of her best basketball this season. The Minnesota Lynx won the NBA Commissioner Cup last season and Collier will be adamant to take them all the way this season. She averages 23.0 points and 7.4 rebounds this season.
Last candidate for the award is Alyssa Thomas. In her first season with the Phoenix Mercury squad, she averages 15.8 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Purely based on numbers, A’ja Wilson stands out, closely followed by Napheesa Collier. However, Alyssa Thomas’ impact on her team can also not be overlooked. Who do you got for the MVP award?
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