The Minnesota Lynx punched their tickets to the Semi-Finals with a win over the Golden State Valkyries, but MVP candidate Napheesa Collier dropped a shocking revelation after the game.
Minnesota defeated the Valkyries behind a go-ahead bucket from Courtney Williams with less than 35 seconds on the clock. Collier spoke to the media after the game and recapped what she remembered from the moment.
Before answering the question, Collier shook her head and responded. “I black out during the Games. I have no idea,” Collier responded to the press.
Minnesota Focus
Last season, the Lynx came within one game of capturing the franchise’s fifth WNBA championship. However, the New York Liberty dashed Minnesota’s hopes by defeating them 67-62 in Game 5.
Needless to say, Minnesota is locked in behind the leadership of Collier, who is a strong candidate for MVP. At the beginning of the season, she was a clear favorite to take home the honors.
Colliers’ MVP chances changed on August 2, after she suffered a right ankle sprain after the team blew out the Las Vegas Aces. On the flip side, Aces star’ A’ja Wilson took it personally after the teams embarrassing loss to the Lynx.
ESPN’s Michael Voepel wrote on the MVP race origins for 2025 and now how it may not be as clear-cut anymore. “After the All-Star break, an Aug. 2 injury cost Collier the next seven games. During that absence, the Aces went unbeaten, with Wilson leading them to an eventual 16-game winning streak to end the regular season,” wrote Voepel on September 18.
MVP Race Over?
While most fans, critics, and analysts focused on Collier and Wilson, did Alyssa Thomas strengthen her case to be crowned MVP?
“Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas had eight triple-doubles in the regular season and also deserves consideration, but the MVP debate largely narrowed to Wilson vs. Collier, who returned Aug. 24.”
“Both players ended the regular season on a high note. Collier finished averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists and became just the second player in WNBA history, following the retired Elena Delle Donne, to shoot 50/40/90 for the season,” wrote Voepel.
Lynx fans should be excited about Collier averaging 50/40/90, because the year Delle Donne averaged that feat, the Washington Mystics went on to win the championship.
A Coach’s Perspective
Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve and Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon voiced their opinions on their MVP candidates. Nonetheless, Reeve voiced her reason why Collier should win. “I don’t know how long it will be before it happens again,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “She deserves MVP,” (Voepel, 2025).
On the flip side, Hammon expressed how dominant Wilson has been this season. “Coach Becky Hammon compared Wilson after the game to both a gazelle and a lion, saying, She can dance around you, or she can eat you up,” Voepel wrote.
This year’s MVP race has been one of the closest the league has seen in two decades. The Lynx will face the winner of the Mercury-Liberty series in the WNBA Semifinals, while Las Vegas takes on the Indiana Fever in a best-of-five showdown.
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