For the past 20 years, three or four athletes have been at the forefront of women’s team sports in the US. Megan Rapinoe has been the face of American soccer. She was a key player for the US women’s national team, which has won two World Cups since 2015. Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker will probably get the nod in basketball, with Sue Bird not far behind them.
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Rapinoe and Bird, two legends of their fields, have been together since 2017, got engaged in 2020, and are now married. The sports world’s ultimate power couple went over a few award predictions as the offseason slowly comes to a close.
A’Ja Wilson, the best player in the league right now, and Caitlin Clark, the player with the most hype going into the season, headline the MVP betting odds. However, there’s one player who has seemingly fallen through the cracks despite her domination of both the WNBA and Unrivaled.
Napheesa Collier should be more than just a dark horse for MVP. She just may be the best player in the world. Even though the Minnesota Lynx lost in the 2024 WNBA Finals to the New York Liberty, Collier tore through the playoffs in a monstrous run.
While comparing WNBA players to NBA counterparts has its issues, she may be the closest thing we have to Michael Jordan right now.
“She’s [Collier] is gonna be pissed,” said Rapinoe, regarding Phee’s placement (3rd in Odds) on the MVP ladder. “She just had a dominant Unrivaled season, [and] she had an unbelievable season last year. She is on the rise, and I still feel like she’s getting a little bit overlooked. If I’m her… whatever it is, I’m taking offense to it.”
There is no reason why Collier shouldn’t be placed alongside the game’s elites. The Lynx have also built a roster that is capable of sustaining their winning ways, which is needed for an MVP case.
The team re-signed Jess Shepard and is expecting a big second season from Alissa Pili.
The best storylines in sports often come from a perceived disrespect. Whether that’s Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith or Reggie Miller and Spike Lee, these moments create unforgettable drama. It appears to be no different for Collier, who seems ready to dominate the game.
