The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - GOOD FOLLOW - Will A’ja Wilson Or Napheesa Collier Win MVP? Who To Watch For The End-of-Season Awards.

Episode Date: September 11, 2025

Today on Good Follow, Ros and Angel discuss all things end-of-season awards and break down the significance of August 2nd… Is A’ja Wilson or Napheesa Collier going to win MVP? Will Golden State Valkyries’ coach Natalie Nakase win Coach Of The Year? Will Paige Bueckers be the unanimous Rookie of the Year, or will Washington Mystic, Sonia Citron get some votes? Who will be recognized as Defensive Player of the Year? Who is Most Improved? Who could be Sixth Player of the Year?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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the world has to offer through their own eyes. Light the path to a brighter future with Stellist lenses for myopia control. Learn more at SLR.com and ask your family eye care professional for SLOR Stellist lenses at your child's next visit. You're listening to Draft Kings Network. Hey, what's up, y'all? Welcome to Goodfollow Show, presented by Draft Kings. I'm Ros Gold on Wode. And that is five-time WNBA All-Star and the birthday girl.

Angel McCartrey is back again. What's up, Angel? How was your birthday celebrations? Man, so much fun. I had dinner at Tao. Shout out to Cronwell's advisors. You showed up. I mean, I pulled up.

I had to pull up on you for the celebration, celebrate your birthday. You look so beautiful. Oh, thank you. We have fun. Yeah, no, absolutely. We had a time. We about to have a time on this show. We've got a full menu for you today.

I can't believe we are already at the end of the regular season. Because today's show, what we are talking about, we are discussing all of the end of season awards and the candidates as. as well. And all the cases people have. So damn, time flies, but here we are in award season. Yep. And you guys can like, follow, subscribe, share your comments. We love hearing your comments. Check us out Tuesdays and Thursdays, guys. Absolutely. Okay, Angel, I know it was your birthday yesterday, but, you know, I'm sure your phone was bloop, blue, blue, beep, beep, beep, because with all sorts of notifications. You had a clip from our show that went viral. So is there anything, you know, you want to say to the audience about it? Guys, what are we mad about right now? Why is

everybody mad about this? If somebody offered you 10 grant today, you're going to take it. So stop this hypocritical behavior, number one. Number two, has athletes never gifted their teammates before? Like, I've seen them, you know, Shaq gifted DeWay when it was in Miami, a car. You know what I'm saying? Like, the quarterback, they gift their O line to show appreciation to protect the quarterback like what are we saying here guys it's it's okay i didn't say she had to do it it was a suggestion it's another way to invest in women's sports why not and i said if the brand wanted to give her an extra hundred k and then she could gift her teammates if she wanted to ask for it guys what are we mad about i want us to really think about this right here like we're mad at giving

let's move on ross i don't know what do you have to say about that though no no i mean i feel like if the audience you know didn't necessarily agree with your strategy or suggestion that That's cool. But I think overall, what's important for me is we spoke about the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese for like 18 minutes. And if you actually watch the entire conversation, which I'm not sure that everyone did. And I think that would be fair to do for us. You know, I stand 10 toes down that we had a conversation that was objective. It was nuanced discourse on the situation. We reported on the Chicago Sky and their staffs like role in creating this situation. And as far, is Angel, I think the tone of the conversation was very nurturing and thoughtful and supportive, but also constructive. And so what I do want to say is a message to everyone who pulls up to a Good Follow show. I know Angel is relatively new here, but we kind of started this thing up or relaunched it in January. So actually, the show is pretty new. But Good Follow is not a fan account. We don't cater to any fan base.

team player. And I hope you really love that because when you come here, you can count on this show being a show that is no agenda, agenda free. You can come here and count on energy, preparation, creativity, objectivity. If a player plays good, I'm going to say it. If a player plays bad, I'm going to say it, respectfully and fair. And if there is a situation in the WNBA or in like the larger woman's sports ecosystem that requires, you know, a nuanced discussion about it, we're going to do our best to tackle it on and discuss it in a professional and a respectful way. So I hope you come here and love that about this show, for real. And we appreciate the feedback and the comments and the engagements.

Keep it constructive because we do try to check it out and, like, be better for the next time. And we're going to keep, you know, working hard to bring you a great show every Tuesday and Thursday. So subscribe, like, comment, all the things, you know, all the things. But for real, we would truly appreciate y'all. And certainly we hope you receive us in the right way to understand where it's coming from. So beautifully said, drop the mic, Ross. All right, let's get going. All right, let's get to it. Let's get to it. We got end of season awards. Okay. So the MVP race, we're going to start right at the top with it. It literally went from like, we have a favorite to an all-out horse race where it's coming down to the finish line. So at

the all-star break, okay? Nefisa Collier was the clear MVP favorite with minus 700 in the odds, and then followed by Alyssa Thomas for plus 700, and then Brianna Stewart at plus 2000. Asia Wilson wasn't even in the top three, y'all. So, Angel, let me just set this up. This is something that I think is very interesting, okay? August 2nd, 2025 was a fateful day. Do you know why?

Why? okay that was the day the lynx beat the aces by 53 points and nothing was the same nothing was the same from that moment on let me tell you why okay nefisa collier had been dominant for the first part of the season MVP frontrunner and the links were you know comfortably top of the league on august second she was playing in the game against the links they're up big some people are like why was she in the game so late still with them up so big that was controversial late in the third quarter, she hurts her ankle. So it might have cost her the MVP.

Right. Think about it. Think about it. It opened a door. Fee went on to miss seven straight games from that game. She missed 10 total. And during that time, Asia Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, are breaking records after records each game. Let me show you the other side of that. August 2nd, 2025, the Aces get beat by 53 by the links.

this is the same game. This same game, like, sealed so much fate. Yeah. The aces were 14 and 14, sitting 500, and a lot of people were kind of saying, you know what, they're out of it this season. Instead, that was their rock bottom moment. And from that day, they have never lost again. Oh, my God. They won 15 straight from that August 2nd, 2025, including for win number 13 straight, a head-to-head matchup with the links, who remember on August 2nd, 2025, beat them by 53. Guess what? The ACEs won for win number 13 straight.

In fact, Asia Wilson had 31 points on 80% shooting. I mean, they climbed as high as number two in the standings. They now sit at number three and look at how like the world comes at you fast. Asia's actually up in the like odds for MVP right now. And so this is, it's just crazy like how that day was so pivotal to this conversation of MVP. And so, look, fee was dominant up top, but Asia's been on a heater for, you know, the second half plus of the season. Alyssa Thomas continues to rewrite the assists and triple double record books. So just for you, like as a player and also now as an

analyst, like, what's important for you as you evaluate an MVP? To me, what an MVP is, number one, a leader, a person who makes their teammates better, who gets their teammates involved. They how to bite and win. That's what Asia did. I mean, after that 53 point loss, you heard the quote she said. She said, this is not ACE's basketball. This is not who we are. And they listen, they bought in. Now, I'm not going to count out fee. They both have similar stats, which makes it very hard. It could be a toying cost. But this win streak right here is kind of, that's what's giving it away, guys. So, you know, I just was thinking about, like, the fact that that day was so pivotal in the conversation because it really changed, you know, the trajectory of what

Fee was doing and opened the door for everyone else. Like, you know, you look at Asia right now, she could be trying to get her fourth MVP. That's never been done before. So she could, and mind you, if she wins this MVP, Asia's actually talk about a body of dominance. She could have had five MVPs, you know, as far as like the conversation she's been a part of and at the top four. But she's won three. You know, she's had 13, 30-point games. So on top of that, just the amount of dominance at the highest level, nobody's touching that. That statement game against the links was pretty dominant, 31 on 80% shooting.

This is a body of work. This isn't just something that just happened. This is all season. She's leading the league now in points, in blocks, second in rebounds. Now, if you go to the other side for Fee and her credit, Fee is 0.4 behind. in points per game than Asia. You know, we're talking about, so she's number two when scoring, but it's this small. It's for good.

Fee is also third in the league and steals, obviously plays both sides of the court. In leading the best team in the league and the top team in the league, you know, she's also managed to have personal best this season, career highs and points, blocks, field goal percentage. And it's her impact on both ends. I think, you know, Fee's defensive presence on the number one defense in the league is really important. And one thing I'll say about Fee's case, I don't like penalizing her because her team won without her. They went seven and three without her.

That just means that they're well coach, Coach Reeves, Coach of the Year case, and also that they're talented, you know? I just think this win streak from me, Ross, I just, it's something about that. And do you know how hard it is to score 30 points? Like, people take it for granted because you're so good and you make it look easy. But that is one of the hardest things to have consecutive 30-point games. Like, that's hard to do. At the center of what this turnaround for the Aces, who for a second there, Becky Hammond was questioning their, we're not just talking basketball.

She was questioning their heart. Yeah. She was questioning their head. This was happening publicly in the media. Yeah. And, you know, and you just kind of felt like, you know what, there's been too much erosion of the Aces over the year. They've lost coaching staff members. They've lost key players over the years.

The new players were trying to figure out, you know, what the fit is. And they had, you know, they struggled defensively. Like in this win streak, they've been better defensively. They've been better rebounding. The team has also risen to the occasion. But this is very much centered around the dominance of Asia Wilson and her defiance and fire. I do want to make sure we mention Alyssa Thomas, who I think is the next closest person in the MVP discussion. she has again rewrote the triple double record book I mean she's breaking her own records

including recently the fastest triple double ever so she has eight yes the fastest one ever done in a game she just like barely got it but she got it eight triple doubles this season which is the most in a season child she is number one an assist as a forward and it is not it's not even close like it's nine point three and the next highest is Courtney Williams at 6.2. And like all of the other top assist makers are in this are around six. She's at nine. And if you like have just followed the season for the Phoenix Mercury, just all the injuries they had and all the kind of less experienced players that they've been leaning on, she has carried them through that. So and also she's number four in

steals. So, you know, Alyssa Thomas has been incredible as well. Yeah, she has to kind of inch and get one one of these years because she does deserve it. And every team, goes to. She just takes them to another level. I mean, who's a forward is the number one passer? Like, you know, it's so special, so unique. That's why we call her the point forward, but her time is coming. It has to. There's no doubt about it. Yeah. It's crazy. This might be her best season yet. And she's like a vet vet. And she spent, you know, the first 11 seasons of her career with Connecticut. And obviously, like, you know, all three of these players, not only are the MVP candidates. They're all defensive player of the year candidates.

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Let's move along because we have other awards to discuss. Yes. Coach of the year, let's move along. I think, you know, look, you got to look at your Natalie Nakase of the Valkyries. You got to look at Cheryl Reeve of the links. You know, I'm going to, before I dive into my favorites, I'm also going to say who else is in the coach of the year conversation, you know, call smells go up the dream. a number two seed

29 wins franchise record and so far and I mean so far I think there's a game left I'm not sure and then so far

there's a 13 game improvement from last season which is bonkers like what the heck huge and I and I they are the number two

rated offense and defense in the league have you seen how they should that is a strong case it's strong oh yeah oh Ryan out there

Ryan and and Alicia having great seasons. They're having great seasons. Just the way they move the ball, the way they hit threes. Honestly, obviously being an Atlanta dream player, all my years,

I don't think I've ever seen it that strong, and it's a beautiful thing to see, just being an alumni. Like, I'm excited, and I'm hoping, because the city of Atlanta's been waiting for so long. They need one, you know, and they deserve it.

So I'm hoping, man. But my coach of the year pick, Ross. Yeah. Because I know what it's like for a new franchise, to come in. Like, when I came to Atlanta,

they only won four games. It's very hard to organize a franchise, get all the staff, where you're going to practice. All those things, it's not an easy thing to do. To make the playoffs in your first years of franchise,

and no one has done that in the WBA. I'm going to go with Natalie Asake. Yep. Absolutely. Just the way she has the team playing, their confidence, they're young. Once again,

they have young mixed with some vets. Tiffany Hayes, one of my long-term teammates. I'm going to go with Natalie, only just because it's a new franchise, and that's so hard to do. So hard to do. Yeah. I totally feel you would be one of many who believe Natalie Nakase, you know, should get this Coach of the Year award for a franchise that has honestly had a triumphant first season in existence for the Valkyries. For me with Natalie Nakase, she's, what's impressive

is she's created an identity in one season of the existence of this franchise, the team's identity. They're tough, physical, rebound, they defend, they play with pace, they shoot threes, and they do it by committee. And by committee, I mean it. Like, literally, I don't know a team that has had more players in and out of their lineups and rosters between hardship players, injured players, during Eurobasket, international plays. I see a new alert from the Valkyries. I can't keep up with their roster. So imagine being a coach. Imagine being a coach through all that, you know? And, and, and, and, um, She has squeezed the most out of these players and empowered, you know, career role players into playing big.

Like, look at Kayla Thornton, career role player. Oh, my gosh. She wanted to Chip with the Liberty last year. This year was an all-star. Look at Veronica Burton, who absolutely was being nurtured by Natalie La Casse. Also, shout out to Sugar Rogers, working with her on the point guard side, working with her on all aspects of this. And she's probably the frontrunner for most improved players. So you've got two NCs.

you've got an all-star and an end season awards winner out of a roster that people didn't think was decorated to start the season. On top of also getting the most wins for an expansion franchise in a season and getting the team to the playoffs is very impressive. Very impressive. So to me, she's my pick. Okay. But I think we need to have more commotion for Cheryl Reeve.

I don't think that Coach Sherrill Reeve is getting enough chatter, y'all. And it might be just fatigue of greatness. That happens. Right. So the links were, for the most part of the season, much better than the rest of the league. You know, many games and wins better than the rest. And it's only recently because she started to rest players at the end of the season that they've kind of chalked up a couple of losses. Yeah.

But she's just such an elite coach. I was talking with Kayla McBride and she was telling me how this season, Cheryl is pushing them even harder than they've ever had before and like really practices are so intense but like they love it they enjoy being pushed by her again the team has an identity no matter who's on the court you know this team defends they shoot threes they share the ball they take care of the ball in fact their MVP candidate and effisa collier missed 10 games this season guess what they want seven and three in those games it talks about a well coach team it talks about a coach who has elevated the the play and the potential and the ceiling for players that on past teams were kind of overlooked. And now you've got players like Courtney Williams, who's having a renaissance is an all-star, a renaissance for Caleb McBride's career. Atlanta Smith is now a defensive player of the year candidate.

Look at DeGenay Carrington fitting so well in her role with this team. I just think, you know, it's hard. People overlook sometimes excellence, but like there's a lot of great coaching that's making the links as dominant as they are. Absolutely. She definitely births Hall of Famers. And I think you said, you said it great, the fatigue of greatness. We're so used to her being so dominant, especially from the past years that it's just kind of like, oh, that's what she does. But right? But it's still worthy of saying that she's one of the candidates. I also want to make sure we shout out Becky Hammond of the Aces because her squad is on a 15 game winning streak. And she made mad adjustments to lineups, to philosophies, you know, strategies. like having the team write up their own scouting reports, and she just showed flexibility as a coach. And Nate Tibbitts, you know,

establishing a new culture, era and identity in Phoenix. There's a lot of change there, and you put the puzzle pieces together. So we shall see who wins that, but we'll be back. We got more awards discussions coming up. When I found out my friend got a great deal on a wool coat from winners,

I started wondering, is every fabulous item I see from winners? Like that woman over there with the designer jeans. Are those from women? winners? Ooh, are those beautiful gold earrings? Did she pay full price? Or that leather tote? Or that cashmere sweater? Or those knee-high boots? That dress, that jacket, those shoes? Is anyone paying full price for anything? Stop wondering. Start winning. Winners, find fabulous for less. Welcome back to Goodfollow, y'all.

Today's episode is presented by Draft Kings. Draft Kings, the crown is yours. Angel, let's keep going through the awards. We got defensive player of the year right now. First of all, I think any of our MVP candidates could win this one. They're all great defenders. And sometimes, you know, they end up. giving it to the, to one of them that didn't win the MVP, we shall see, you know, in your

fees, your asias, and your ATs. But I think, you know, two people that are leading the way, Gabby Williams, leading the league in steals and locking it down on D, but Atlanta Smith for the number one defense in the league in the Minnesota links, this is one of them ones where you got to watch, right? You can't always see her impact, but she's someone in there that is blocking shots, changing shots, you know, timely play. She's number three in the league in blocks and defensive rating. And I'm just really proud of her. This is someone who was out of the league, wasn't in the WNBA, and like found her way back to find a role with the links. And now is in awards

consideration. So, I mean, how much heart does that show? That shows a lot of hearts. And to me, that's not only defensive player of year. That's also, like, the most improved, too. She could be in that category, like, just not being in the league. But I just love watching her defense, her tenacity. I always say defense is just heart and effort. It's not, it's like you can't, it's something you can't really teach. It's just something you just want to go get. I always look at the ball as gold. Go get your gold. You know what I mean? And she has that in her eye. She wants it. She wants that gold. So to me, she's my number one pick. I mean, obviously the links all around are doing some amazing things, but defensive player here, I'm going with Smith.

Absolutely. And usually these awards go to big players. Guards have such a hard time. It sucks getting these defensive awards or wings. So shout out to Gabby Williams. We see the effort in how you've locked up this season. All right. Let's move along. Rookie of the year. This one seems a little bit more kind of like a given at this point.

But at one point, it was kind of close between Paige and Sonia Citron and people was debating that. And also shout out Kiki Area Finn. She had a really strong start to her rookie season. You know, after I went to the Sparks game and they played Dallas Wings and I watched Paige. I was sold. She doesn't play like a rookie. She's so mature. Just her, she's smooth, her moves. She does move that, like, players, a lot of players still don't know how to do. She knows how to keep her dribble. I love that you said that because sometimes these awards need

an eye test too. Like, we're so busy comparing stats and percentages and this and that. And it's like, yo, Paige is the only player, rookie regular of any age that had a 40, that had a 40 piece this season. Her bag is so deep. She's so highly skilled. And the thing with Paige is like, I'm just excited to see her putting consecutive healthy seasons together, which she never really had the chance to do in much of her career. And so like, imagine her finally getting a break this off season. It's a chance to rest, then a chance to work out and unrivaled, and then come back. And I pray health. And like, the future is very bright for Paige. So, you know, Shout out to Kiki and Sonia.

Guess what? The Mystics have three first round draft picks in next season's draft. The youth movement. The future is bright over there. So, you know, it was really cool to see rookie talent this season. Yes. All right. We have to move.

We are running out of time in the show. Most improved. Who do you got? Veronica Burton, 12 points per game. Playing for the Valkyries. They're in the playoffs this year. And I got a chance to watch them. I'm like, I'm really impressed.

I just was, I was so impressed. What do you think, Ross? Yep. I think a favorite here is Veronica Burton. You know, she 4xed her points per game from 3 to 12. Her assists from 2 to 6. Her rebounds from 1.4 to 4.4. You know, more than doubled her minutes, 12 to 29,

and still had her most efficient season of career high fuel gold percentage. And she was just critical to winning, you know. And again, I think she, Natalie Nakase, Sugar Rogers, really worked hard together. And after Caleb Thornton, went down with the injury, she helped lead this team to continue to win and get their way to playoff. So, you know, she's really important. But you also can say Kayla Thornton had a most improved player case. She went from five and a half points per game with the Liberty to 14 points

per game in an all-star bid. And then Azare Stevens, shout out to her career season, career highs along the board, really flourished in L.A. and that new system of Lynn Roberts and the freedom there and she could show her versatility in her three-point shooting and Nas Hellman. All right. Sixth player of the year. We only have time for names right now. Kennedy Burke. Oh, you want to Kennedy Burke?

Why? I watched her play the other day when I was to the movie game and I'm like, I was hearing things about her, but I'm like, she's it. Sixth player. Yeah. Okay. And for me, I cover the Liberty. So Kennedy Burke, like her impact, her huge jump in three-point shootings, her coming off the bench and bringing size and rebound and rebounding.

She's made the most of the extra minute she's gotten this season. But I do want to shout out Nas Hillman, who is a burst of energy and leadership for the number two seed Atlanta Dream. Her numbers are up. Her threes and assists are up. But when she speaks, people listen to her on the Atlanta Dream. I love her energy. And she's also a candidate for six player of the year. Absolutely.

Damn, this show is too short. We gotta go, y'all. That'll do it for this episode, a good follow. Presented by Draft Kings. Thanks for rocking with us, and we hope to see you next time.