Napheesa Collier Doesn’t Need the Ball, But Now Has the Spotlight

In a league that rarely pauses to reflect, one where attention darts from rookie sensations to superteam drama — Napheesa Collier’s rise to the WNBA throne has been almost stealthy.

The good news is though, according to the 2025 WNBA GM Survey, the quiet part is over. Napheesa Collier is getting the attention she deserves.

In the 2025 WNBA GM Survey, Collier was the runaway favorite for MVP, pulling in 67% of the vote. Additionally, Collier also received votes as the league’s best defender, one of its best leaders, and one half of the best forward tandem (alongside perennial MVP candidate A’ja Wilson).

But it wasn’t just individual shine: the Minnesota Lynx, fresh off a surprise run to the Finals, were named the most likely 2025 champions by a majority of general managers.

The verdict is in.

Collier isn’t the future anymore, she’s the standard.

Reeve’s Revival, Collier’s Coronation

Minnesota’s current dominance is an old-school WNBA story told with a new-school twist.

Collier plays like a throwback star with modern range. To this day, Cheryl Reeve remains the most respected coach in the league, per the survey, and continues to extract more from her rosters than most other coaches dare to expect.

The Lynx’s return to the top is built on chemistry, continuity, and ruthless execution. While the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty drew headlines as superteam experiments (that both went well, as they both capture championships), the Lynx quietly built a title-level team with smart drafting, timely veteran additions, and a culture anchored in accountability.

The Versatile Queen

What sets Collier apart from her WNBA counterparts is how so many different things at an elite level. Collier has the ability to guard all five positions. Moreover, Collier can initiate offense, run the floor, post up, or fade to the corner. She rebounds. She communicates. Also what makes her game quite unique is that she doesn’t require the ball to impact the game.

The cherry on top is that she’s so efficient in her game and because of her confidence, the basketball tends to find her whether or not she is demanding for it.

There’s an unmistakable sense that GMs respect Collier’s substance as much as her stats. Unlike the flashier faces of the league, she’s climbed this mountain without major endorsement campaigns or viral moments.

But the survey results suggest that behind closed doors, her impact is felt more clearly than ever.

Minnesota’s Moment

For all the attention on Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, and the big-market teams, the Lynx feel like the most stable force in the W. In a league defined by parity, it may sound boring, but it means everything.

When General Managers were asked which coach they’d hire to lead a franchise from scratch, Cheryl Reeve won in a landslide. When they were asked which forward pairing they’d take, Collier and Wilson dominated. When asked who’s going to win it all? Minnesota.

If there’s a surprise here, it’s not that Collier’s good — it’s that the league finally seems to realize how good she is.

This is her time. No longer a sleeper pick. No longer in someone else’s shadow. The MVP favorite. The defensive anchor. The leader of the team everyone else has to chase.

The Lynx aren’t coming. They’ve arrived.