The 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend kicks off tomorrow, with the main event taking place this Saturday, July 19. While the game is full of entertainment and usually pretty friendly, there is one award all players want to win. 22 of the best W players get picked as All-Stars every year and get to participate in the game, but only one gets named MVP at the end of the game.
This is an award that is voted upon by members of the media during the game and given to the player who they feel was most impactful in the All-Star game. The MVP award has been given out since the first WNBA All-Star game during the league's third season in 1999. Although there have been six years — 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2020 - where the typical All-Star Game was not held due to various events, like the Olympics and the pandemic.
Every winner of the WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award
Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
1999 | Lisa Leslie | Los Angeles Sparks |
2000 | Tina Thompson | Houston Comets |
2001 | Lisa Leslie | Los Angeles Sparks |
2002 | Lisa Leslie | Los Angeles Sparks |
2003 | Nikki Teasley | Los Angeles Sparks |
2005 | Sheryl Swoopes | Houston Comets |
2006 | Katie Douglas | Connecticut Sun |
2007 | Cheryl Ford | Detroit Shock |
2009 | Swin Cash | Seattle Storm |
2011 | Swin Cash | Seattle Storm |
2013 | Candace Parker | Los Angeles Sparks |
2014 | Shoni Schimmel | Atlanta Dream |
2015 | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
2017 | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
2018 | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
2019 | Erica Wheeler | Indiana Fever |
2021 | Arike Ogunbowale | Dallas Wings |
2022 | Kelsey Plum | Las Vegas Aces |
2023 | Jewell Loyd | Seattle Storm |
2024 | Arike Ogunbowale | Dallas Wings |
2025 All-Star MVP possibilites
The All-Star MVP competition this year should be entertaining because there is only one player on either roster that has won the award previously. Kelsey Plum is the only All-Star who has been given the honor, back in 2022. If she were to win with her new team, the Los Angeles Sparks, not only would she join an elite group of players who have won All-Star MVP more than once, but she'd also extend the Sparks lead of having the most of their own being honored, with six.
There is a very good chance someone new wins this award. An obvious favorite is Caitlin Clark — if she can participate this year, as she may have to sit out due to injury. If the other team captain, Napheesa Collier, takes the accolade, she will be the first from the Lynx since Maya Moore won it three times in a row from 2015-18.
There are three rookies competing in the game this year, Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. They are all having phenomenal seasons and have a lot of fans excited to see them showcase their talents this weekend. No rookie has ever been given the All-Star MVP award — but maybe this is the year that changes.