A’ja Wilson or Napheesa Collier? That is the question as the WNBA prepares to crown its next MVP in just a few hours. The league named five finalists, but the spotlight shines brightest on these two. Wilson, already a three-time MVP, carries the weight of her legacy and the Aces’ continued dominance. Collier, meanwhile, led the Minnesota Lynx to the league’s best record, building a powerful case of her own. And while the two appear neck and neck, Becky Hammon suggests Wilson holds the slightest edge.

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon recently sat down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, where the conversation naturally turned to her star forward. Hammon couldn’t hold back her admiration, calling A’ja Wilson’s personality “special.” She went beyond the stat sheets, pointing to the small but meaningful gestures that set Wilson apart: “She’s the first one to grab a bundt cake for someone’s birthday, the first to pick up balloons, the first to decorate a teammate’s locker when there’s something to celebrate.”

According to Becky Hammon, A’ja Wilson tends to shy away from compliments. Yet, that humility quickly gives way to the qualities that truly make her a “well-balanced person”. Hammon told ESPN’s Malika Andrews, “If she’s the best ever to play in the WNBA, Malika, I could make a strong argument she is the best ever to walk this planet.”

Calling your player the “best ever to walk this planet” is as high a praise that a coach can give. However, over the last couple of games in this WNBA season, the Nike brand athlete has continued to prove herself in contention for that title. In the 40 regular-season games in which she started, A’ja Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

Not just that, Wilson improved upon that stat during the playoffs, as she averaged 29.3 points over the course of 3 games by shooting 10.3-18.7 (55.4%) field goals, 0.7-1.7 (40.0%) 3-pointers, and 8.0-10.7 (75.0%) free throws.

For much of the season, the Las Vegas Aces were reportedly an afterthought in the championship conversation, and so was the notion of A’ja Wilson securing another MVP. The doubts only grew louder after a crushing 111-58 defeat to none other than Napheesa Collier’s Minnesota Lynx on August 2. That blowout dropped the Aces to an even 14-14 record, leading many to believe the title window had slammed shut.

But Wilson had other plans. From that moment on, the Aces didn’t lose another regular-season game, scoring off a remarkable 16-0 run under her leadership. The streak included a statement 97-87 comeback win over the Lynx on September 4. By season’s end, Wilson had firmly reestablished herself as the league’s most dominant force, leading the WNBA in points (23.4) and blocks (2.3) per game, finishing second in rebounds behind Angel Reese, and edging Collier with a league-best 33.4 PER compared to 30.2.

If A’ja Wilson wins the MVP honor, she will be the first ever WNBA player to do so 4 times! If not, then there is always next year. With any hope, she and Napheesa Collier do not end up as co-MVPs. After all, that didn’t work out well for the head coach earlier.

Becky Hammon Shared Disagreement With Both A’ja Wilson and Alanna Smith Winning DPOY

The WNBA recently went into unexpected territory. When the decision came to name the Defensive Player of the Year, the award was given to both A’ja Wilson and Minnesota Lynx star Alanna Smith.

Both Smith and Wilson received 29 votes each from 72 sportswriters and broadcasters who were selected as part of a panel. The race wasn’t even close for the other candidates, as Gabby Williams got only 9 votes, Alyssa Thomas got 3, and Napheesa Collier got 2. Despite this, for Becky Hammon, the race shouldn’t have been a tie for first place at all.

During a presser after the DPOY announcement, the Aces head coach was asked about her reaction to A’ja Wilson being named the (Co) Defensive Player of the Year. Hammon openly admitted, “I guess I’m just confused by the ‘co.’ You guys said (Collier) was the best defensive player last year, and then now, she’s not. I mean, I don’t know.” Hammon added, “I’d love to make the voting public. I don’t know how it came to a tie, but apparently it did. To me, there’s no comparison. A white-tailed deer looks really good until an elk walks into the room.”

Sports Illustrated’s Grant Young said it best when he said that Becky Hammon tends to give out her criticism “when it pertains to her players.” When it comes to A’ja Wilson, the same is “especially apparent” in all regards. Therefore, if there was a DPOY to be given, Hammon wanted it solely to go to her player.

A’ja Wilson or Napheesa Collier? Who would you choose for MVP? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.