A’ja Wilson capped another historic year in 2025 by winning her unprecedented fourth WNBA MVP and leading the Las Vegas Aces to their third championship in four seasons, earning her the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award for the first time. Wilson is only the fifth basketball player to receive the AP honor since it was established in 1931, joining a select group that includes Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Candace Parker, and Caitlin Clark.
Wilson received 17 of 47 votes from sports journalists, edging out tennis star Aryna Sabalenka and UConn guard Paige Bueckers. Her coach, Becky Hammon, praised Wilson’s unique impact, saying, “She’s on Everest — there’s nobody up there with her.”
This season, the Aces faced significant adversity, finding themselves at .500 with a month remaining and coming off a record 53-point loss. Wilson responded by leading her team to 16 consecutive wins to close the regular season, securing the No. 2 playoff seed. She elevated her play in the postseason, guiding Las Vegas through challenging elimination games and ultimately sweeping Phoenix in the WNBA Finals, including hitting the title-clinching shot in Game 3.
Despite her numbers being similar to her unanimous MVP campaign in 2024, Wilson faced doubts and criticism, which she used as motivation. She led the league in scoring (23.4 points per game) and blocks (2.3 per game), becoming the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP, and lead the league in scoring in a single season.
Off the court, Wilson continues to expand her influence, launching a successful shoe and clothing line with Nike. Her signature shoe sold out within minutes of release. She also fulfilled a personal dream by meeting her idol, Beyoncé.
Wilson’s blend of humility, dominance, and consistency continues to set new standards for women’s basketball. As ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo noted, “Every year, you wonder how she’ll get better, and she always does.”