2025 WNBA Dark Horse MVP Candidates


Just one month into the 2025 WNBA season, here are the dark horse Most Valuable Player candidates to watch.

Kelsey Plum Los Angeles Sparks
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Top Contenders for the 2025 WNBA MVP Award

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is having an outstanding season in the league with her dominant performance on both ends of the court. After falling short in last year’s finals against the New York Liberty, they aim to win their fifth championship in franchise history in 2025.

Caitlin Clark made a significant impact upon her return to the Indiana Fever last weekend, leading the team to victory against the New York Liberty and handing them their first loss of the season.

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray and Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson continue to excel with their respective teams. Gray has made early impressions with her three-point shooting and scoring ability, while Wilson remains a dominant force in the league.

 Kelsey Plum: Guard, Los Angeles Sparks 

 Kelsey Plum is off to one of the best starts of her career this season with the Los Angeles Sparks. Previously, she spent seven seasons with the Las Vegas Aces, winning back-to-back championships and being named a WNBA All-Star thrice.

Plum is currently averaging a career-high of 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, while playing an average of 36.2 minutes per game throughout 13 games for the Sparks. There were occasions when she played the entire game for Los Angeles, including one instance where she scored a career-high 37 points against the Golden State Valkyries on May 16.

Plum is the only guard to rank within the top 10 in points, assists and steals throughout the first month of the season.

The key question is how the Sparks will perform when the team is fully healthy— particularly with Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, who’s currently dealing with a left knee injury.  A trio consisting of Kelsey Plum, Brink, and Rickea Jackson could make this team a strong playoff contender to watch in the future.

Skylar Diggins: Guard, Seattle Storm

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins is in her second season with the team after spending the first decade of her career as a member of the Dallas Wings and the Phoenix Mercury.

Last season, Diggins set a franchise record by achieving 257 assists in a single season. Additionally, she recorded five or more assists in 12 consecutive games, establishing another franchise record for the Storm. Seattle values Diggins’s leadership as the team focuses on winning now and capturing the franchise’s fifth WNBA Championship.

With her performance and impact she made through 13 games for the Storm, Diggins could be a dark horse candidate for the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player award. She is also one of the names to watch for this year’s WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, in which she is averaging 18.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists.

Diggins is recognized for her well-rounded game, combining scoring, playmaking, and defense for the Storm. She has demonstrated to the league that she can return to All-Star gameplay, especially after missing the 2023 season due to maternity leave.

Phoenix Mercury Forward Satou Sabally

Throughout the offseason, the Phoenix Mercury had questions about which player would lead the team into a new era, especially after the departures of their two longtime franchise cornerstones: Brittney Griner in free agency and Diana Taurasi to retirement.

So far, the new Mercury trio—forwards Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas, along with guard Kahleah Copper, who made her debut on Sunday—has been effective, even though they have only played one game together.

Sabally, known as “the Unicorn,” is in her first season with the Phoenix Mercury after spending the first five years of her career with the Dallas Wings.  Selected No. 2 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Sabally earned the Most Improved Player award and was named a WNBA All-Star in 2023. During that season, the Wings advanced to the semifinals but were defeated by the eventual champion, the Las Vegas Aces.

The Mercury star has scored 20 or more points in eight games for the Mercury, who have an 11-4 record, their best since 2018. She is also one of the key contributors to the Phoenix team, alongside Thomas and several rookies who have made a difference in their depth.

The former Oregon standout is currently averaging 19.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game over 15 games played for the Phoenix Mercury. As the team continues to develop its positionless basketball strategy, other teams in the league recognize that the frontcourt duo of Sabally and Thomas presents a challenging matchup.

 Sabrina Ionescu: Guard, New York Liberty

Guard Sabrina Ionescu is now in her fifth season with the New York Liberty after being drafted first overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft from the University of Oregon. Since joining the franchise, she has been a transformative player for the team and led them to their first WNBA Championship in franchise history last year.

Ionescu has achieved an impressive streak of ten consecutive games in which she has made two or more three-pointers for the Liberty. The Liberty started off 10-1, marking their best start in franchise history.

For the first time in her career, Ionescu has scored 30 or more points in consecutive games for New York, a feat not achieved in the league since Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard did so for three straight games last September. Additionally, she was one of the key players, along with Breanna Stewart, who helped secure the comeback victory against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.

Ionescu and Stewart have been a strong duo, especially when teaming up with Jonquel Jones in 2023, which adds the perfect finishing touch for the Liberty, as New York looks to repeat as champions.

Brittney Sykes: Guard, Washington Mystics

The Washington Mystics have entered a rebuilding phase following the departures of key players from their 2019 WNBA Championship team, including Natasha Cloud and Elena Delle Donne. They have also added new talent through the 2025 WNBA Draft, bringing in guards Sonia Citron and Georgia Amoore—who is currently recovering from a torn ACL—as well as forward Kiki Iriafen.

Guard Brittney Sykes has been with the Mystics since 2023 and understands what it takes to win in crunch-time games. She is recognized as a versatile two-way player, excelling as both a dynamic scorer and defender for Washington.

Sykes is currently averaging 20.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game for the Mystics, who have a record of 6-8. Due to their strong contributions on the court, Washington is considered one of the surprising teams in the league. Sykes has also scored 20 or more points in nine games and reached 30 or more points in two games this season.

How These WNBA Players Are Elevating Their Teams

Many players in the WNBA are dark horse candidates who deserve recognition for their contributions on both ends of the court, yet often go unacknowledged.

Players like Plum and Sabally have made a significant impact on the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury, respectively, during their first seasons with these teams. Meanwhile, Diggins, Ionescu, and Sykes are the seasoned leaders for their respective teams—the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty, and Washington Mystics—demonstrating a strong competitive spirit.

During the 2025 WNBA season, players who are dark horse candidates for the Most Valuable Player award will continue to be discussed throughout the year.





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