Aces' A'ja Wilson no longer considered WNBA's best player

Amid a down twelvemonth for nan Las Vegas Aces, A'ja Wilson now finds herself successful an different position: nan WNBA's three-time MVP and two-time champion whitethorn nary longer beryllium regarded arsenic nan league's apical player.

At least, that is what nan results of an anonymous subordinate canvass conducted by The Athletic tell us.

Among 36 WNBA players polled, 17 told The Athletic that Minnesota Lynx guardant Napheesa Collier is nan league's champion subordinate astatine present. Fifteen players backed Wilson, while Breanna Stewart received 2 votes. Atlanta's Allisha Gray and Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas divided nan remaining two.

MORE: A’ja Wilson stats beryllium she’s successful a convention of her ain successful chaotic Aces decorativeness complete Valkyries

“(Collier) has had an unthinkable past mates years. She conscionable hasn’t rather gotten there," 1 subordinate told The Athletic. "Last twelvemonth she had an MVP season, but A’ja had an insane season, and I deliberation (Collier) is continuing to turn this year.”

Collier, 1 of this year's 2 All-Star Game captains, is nan odds-on MVP favorite arsenic Minnesota's squad leader and franchise player. The reigning Defensive Player of nan Year is averaging a league-best 23.6 points per crippled midway done nan season, and she appears to beryllium a fastener for her 4th All-WNBA action astatine year's end. At 18-4, nan Lynx clasp nan WNBA's apical record, up of nan Thomas-led Mercury.

In contrast, Wilson's Aces person struggled to a 10-11 record; if nan play ended today, Las Vegas would miss nan playoffs, 2 years aft winning a championship. Wilson's mean of 21.5 points per crippled is her lowest successful 3 years, while her section extremity percent has tumbled from 52 percent to 47 percent successful consequence to nan Aces' struggles connected offense.

However, Wilson issued a timely reminder of her greatness connected Saturday, erstwhile nan Aces held disconnected nan Golden State Valkyries astatine Michelob Ultra Arena. In nan constrictive 104-100 victory, Wilson made her return from a right wrist injury and dropped 34 points, while hauling successful 16 rebounds, dishing retired 4 assists and blocking 2 shots.

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