WNBA: Will A’ja Wilson’s third MVP award be unanimous?

Will it be unanimous?

That’s the only question. Will A’ja Wilson’s third MVP award be unanimous?

Edwin Garcia makes the case for Las Vegas Aces superstar’s absolute and undisputed excellence, while Chelsea Leite gives love to a more than worthy runner up in the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier.

A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)

Sometimes, we make things far too complicated. Simply put, A’ja Wilson isn’t just having a MVP season; she’s having a career year as part of a Hall-of-Fame career. Not only should she win this award, but it should be a unanimous decision.

Averaging almost 27 points per game, no player scores more than Wilson. She has become the first WNBA player to reach 1,000 points for a season. Like scoring, but love defense? She’s also a solid candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Wilson is leading the league in blocks with 2.6 rejections per game; she’s second-best in rebounding with nearly 12 boards a night.

With the Aces struggling in the middle of the standings for much of the season, Wilson rose to the challenge time and time again, willing her team to victory. A 41-point performance to start September against the Phoenix Mercury, 24 points and 20 rebounds in a win in July versus the Seattle Storm and a league-high 42-point game against the Dallas Wings in a loss. Wilson also is somehow getting better as a player. She has record numbers in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks and a career-low in turnovers. Thanks to her year, the Aces are still a force to be reckoned with. They have won eight of their last 10 games and are eyeing a dynasty.

When you add all her accolades up, no other player can measure up. She’s the best player on the court regardless of who she shares the floor with. Good luck thinking of another player who should be the M’VP of this league. — Edwin Garcia

Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)

Napheesa Collier is having the kind of season that would be a MVP season, if only A’ja Wilson wasn’t having the best season in WNBA history. Collier’s game screams Most Valuable Player in that she’s everywhere, all the time.

Need a bucket? She averages 20.4 points per game. Crash the glass? This year she has a career-high 9.7 rebounds per game. Defense? Collier gets 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. She can also pass, making 3.4 assists per game. On top of the pure numbers of it all, Collier can change her pace with the ebb and flow of a game. If her teammates are shooting lights out from distance, she can space the floor and be a wall on defense. If her team is struggling, she can pick up the offensive burden and get to work in the post.

Ultimately, despite this incredible season, there is just no way Collier gets the award over Wilson. Wilson is just untouchable. Yet, Collier likely will be the second-ranked player on a lot of ballots. And she very well should be a unanimous selection for the All-WNBA First Team. — Chelsea Leite