A’ja Wilson made WNBA history on Sunday by winning her fourth MVP award, the first player ever to achieve that milestone. Wilson, 29, received 51 of 72 first-place votes from a national panel after leading the Las Vegas Aces to the No. 2 playoff seed with league-best averages of 23.4 points and 2.3 blocks per game. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier finished second in voting, followed by Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas, Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray, and Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell.
Wilson previously won the MVP in 2020, 2022, and 2024, joining Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson as the league’s only three-time winners—until now. Her historic achievement was celebrated at the Aces’ practice facility, where she received the award from her boyfriend, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, in the presence of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, her parents, teammates, and team owner Mark Davis.
During a news conference before the Aces’ playoff opener, Wilson expressed gratitude and emotion, recalling how she once disliked basketball and never imagined her name would be in the history books. Despite her MVP performance, the Aces lost Game 1 of the semifinals to the Indiana Fever, 89-73, with Wilson tallying 16 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks on 6-of-22 shooting.
Aces coach Becky Hammon praised Wilson’s relentless work ethic and leadership, saying, “She’s just a tireless worker. She has led tremendously through some really rough waters.” Wilson also recently shared the Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors with Lynx forward Alanna Smith, her third consecutive season receiving the defensive award.
Wilson closed her remarks by turning her focus back to the playoffs, emphasizing her determination to help the Aces advance, even as she celebrated a historic personal achievement.
