The W has unveiled the results of its 2025 WNBA individual awards, and here are the main winners and what their achievements reveal about the season.
MVP & Defense
- Most Valuable Player (MVP): A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) captures her fourth MVP award, a record in league history.
- Defensive Player of the Year (co-winner): A’ja Wilson shares the honor with Alanna Smith.
The fact that Wilson dominated both categories—offensively and defensively—highlights just how much she embodied balance and impact on the game this season.
Rookie, Improvement and Bench Impact
- Rookie of the Year: Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings) wins the award with 70 of 72 votes.
- Most Improved Player: Veronica Burton (Golden State Valkyries) takes home the honor.
- Sixth Player of the Year (best player coming off the bench): Naz Hillmon (Atlanta Dream) earned 44 of the 72 votes. Notably, our young French talent Dominique Malonga also received a vote.
Other Notable Honors
- Peak Performers (best statistical leaders of the season)
- Points: A’ja Wilson (23.4 PPG)
- Rebounds: Angel Reese (Chicago Sky)
- Assists: Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury)
- Coach of the Year: Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries)
- Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)
- Executive of the Year: Dan Padover (Atlanta Dream)
- Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award: Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun)
What This Says About the 2025 Season
- A’ja Wilson’s dominance is undeniable: not only did she win MVP, but she also claimed the Defensive Player of the Year award and led the league in scoring. She embodies the complete player the league values. She ultimately secured two major 2025 WNBA individual awards.
- The fact that she also shared the Defensive Player of the Year award shows that the modern game demands stars who can excel on both ends of the floor.
- Bueckers’ Rookie of the Year award confirms that she successfully made a strong transition to the professional level.
- The recognition of players such as Hillmon (Sixth Player of the Year) and Burton (Most Improved Player) highlights the importance of bench depth and individual development within highly competitive teams.
- Finally, the “off-the-court” awards (sportsmanship, community leadership, and executive leadership) remind us that the WNBA also values the social and collective impact surrounding the game.
Recap: Dominique Malonga’s Outstanding Rookie Season
- During a July game in Chicago, the Seattle Storm cruised to a 95–57 victory. Coming off the bench, 19-year-old rookie Dominique Malonga recorded 14 points (6-of-9 shooting) and 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. She also became the youngest player in league history to reach 100 points and 100 rebounds.
- Before that breakout performance, her role was limited, averaging around 9 minutes per game, 4.1 points, and 2.9 rebounds.
- But after that game, her role changed dramatically. Over the next 17 games, she averaged approximately 20.6 minutes, 12.5 points (on 59.5% shooting), 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest.
- She then posted back-to-back double-doubles: 22 points and 12 rebounds in Las Vegas, followed by 20 points and 11 rebounds in Los Angeles. In one of those performances, she became the first rookie ever to record a double-double while shooting over 70% from the field (72.7% and then 75%).
- The coaching staff and her teammates have praised her rapid development, simplicity in her approach, and ability to execute what is asked of her—finishing in the paint, grabbing rebounds, and setting screens—while steadily earning the trust of the team. storm.wnba.com
