2025 WNBA awards roundup: A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier headline All-Defensive Team selections

Award season is underway in the WNBA, and on Monday the league announced the 2025 All-Rookie Team. As expected, this quintet was highlighted by Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, who put together a historic debut campaign for the Dallas Wings. Fellow lottery picks Dominique Malonga, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen also made the cut. 

The two biggest awards went to Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson, who won a record fourth MVP and was was named co-Defensive Player of the Year along with Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith in a first for the league. 

Other award winners thus far include Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, Most Improved Player Veronica Burton, Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase, Sixth Player of the Year Naz Hillmon and Executive of the Year Dan Padover. Still to come are the All-WNBA teams.

MVP: A'ja Wilson

As expected, Wilson was named MVP after leading the Aces on an incredible 16-game winning streak to close the regular season and earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. She won her second consecutive scoring title and finished second in the league in rebounding, fourth in steals and first in blocks. Wilson is the first player in WNBA history to win the award four times and joined Cynthina Cooper-Dyke as the only players to win it in back-to-back seasons. 

2025 WNBA MVP: Aces' A'ja Wilson becomes first player to win award four times after leading Vegas to playoffs

Jack Maloney

Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx and A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Smith and Wilson each received 29 votes for Defensive Player of the Year, and because the WNBA only collects one first-place vote for every award besides MVP, there was no tiebreaker. As a result, Smith and Wilson became the first players in league history to split the award. Smith was the stabilizing presence for the Lynx's league-leading defense, while Wilson almost single-handedly ensured the Aces remained competent defensively. Wilson also led the league in blocks with 2.3 per game, while Smith was third in that category at 1.9. 

Aces' A'ja Wilson, Lynx's Alanna Smith named WNBA co-Defensive Players of the Year in voting first

Jack Maloney

Rookie of the Year: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, fell two votes shy of being the unanimous Rookie of the Year after putting together one of the best debut campaigns in league history. She averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game on 47.7% shooting, and finished fifth in the league in scoring, ninth in assists and sixth in steals. She also had the highest-scoring game of the season and tied the WNBA's single-game rookie scoring record with 44 points. 

Paige Bueckers named WNBA Rookie of the Year as Wings' No. 1 draft pick caps impressive season

Isabel Gonzalez

All-Rookie Team

To no surprise, Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers highlighted the All-Rookie Team, alongside fellow lottery picks Dominique Malonga, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. This is the first time since 2014 that the top-four picks from the same class all made the All-Rookie Team. Janelle Salaün, the 24-year-old undrafted rookie out of France, was the fifth and final honoree. 

The WNBA did not announce the full voting results, so it's unclear who else received votes for the All-Rookie Team. 

All-Defensive Teams

First Team

All five first team selections are versatile forwards, capable of defending in space and protecting the rim. The co-Defensive Players of the Year, Smith and Wilson, were locks for All-Defensive First Team honors, and they are joined by Gabby Williams, Alyssa Thomas and Napheesa Collier. Collier's inclusion gives the Lynx a pair of first team honorees. 

Second Team

The second team continues the theme of versatile forwards earning top defensive honors. Magbegor joins her Seattle teammate in Williams in getting an All-Defensive nod (the fourth of her career), as the Storm and Lynx both end up with a pair of All-Defensive honorees. For Breanna Stewart, it's her seventh time earning an All-Defensive team selection, while Burton, Howard and Boston all make it for the first time in their career. 

Most Improved Player: Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries

The Valkyries selected Burton from the Connecticut Sun in their expansion draft last December, which turned out to be a brilliant move. Burton started all 44 games and averaged career-highs across the board -- 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, six assists and 1.1 steals -- as she helped the Valkyries become the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. Burton had more total points, rebounds and assists this season with the Valkyries than she did in her first three seasons combined. 

WNBA awards: Veronica Burton named Most Improved Player after leading Valkyries to playoffs

Isabel Gonzalez

Coach of the Year: Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries

Another brilliant move the Valkyries made last offseason was hiring Nakase, who had spent the past three seasons as an assistant for Becky Hammon with the Las Vegas Aces, to be the first coach in franchise history. Under Nakase's leadership, the Valkyries went 23-21 to become the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. Nakase built an elite defense and got the absolute most out of every player on a roster lacking a traditional star. She has now established herself as one of the best young coaches in the league. 

Valkyries' Natalie Nakase named WNBA Coach of the Year amid expansion club's historic season

Jack Maloney

Sixth Player of the Year: Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream

Hillmon had a breakout season in her fourth year with the Dream, becoming the first Atlanta player to earn Sixth Player of the Year honors. Hillmon averaged 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game -- all career-highs -- and suddenly became a 3-point threat for the Dream, knocking down 53 triples in Atlanta after making just one in her first three WNBA seasons. With Hillmon providing a lift off of the bench, the Dream had their best regular season performance in franchise history, going 30-14 to earn the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. 

Executive of the Year: Dan Padover, Atlanta Dream

Dream general manager Dan Padover was named Executive of the Year after receiving eight first-place votes from the voting panel of the league's other top executives. Padover, who also won the award in 2020 and 2021 with the Las Vegas Aces, is the first three-time winner in league history. He made a number of key moves during the offseason, including hiring Karl Smesko as coach and signing Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner in free agency. Those three helped the Dream win a franchise-record 30 games and earn the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.