Las Vega Aces forward A’ja Wilson reached unprecedented territories on Sunday after being named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for a record fourth time, Afrosport reports.
The 29-year-year, who was also named co-Defensive Player of the Year with Alanna Smith, wins the league’s top individual honour for a second consecutive year.
In a closely contested race for the WNBA’s top gong, Wilson edged out Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. She secured 51 first-place votes and 657 points, comfortably ahead of Collier, who finished second with 18 first-place votes and 534 points.
Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas (third, 391 points), Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (fourth, 180), and Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell (fifth, 93) rounded out the top five.
“It hasn’t been easy for us. They counted us out,” an emotional Wilson told her Aces teammates after receiving the award. “They wrote us all off, but we showed up every single day… It has my name on it, but it’s all of us. There is no [award] without each and every last one of you guys.”
🏆🏆 𝟒𝐱 𝐌’𝐕𝐏 🏆🏆@_ajawilson22 is the 2025 @WNBA Most Valuable Player! pic.twitter.com/8onDQ1mfWj
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 21, 2025
The accolade meant Wilson became the WNBA’s first-ever four-time MVP and moves her ahead of Hall of Fame trio Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson — all three-time winners. She also joins Cynthia Cooper as the only other player to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist previously claimed the award in 2020, 2022, and 2024. This season, she topped the league with averages of 23.4 points and 2.3 blocks per game, while also contributing 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
“By the time it’s all said and done, she will be the greatest to ever do it,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “Four [MVPs] already says she is. In a league that has continued to get much better, she keeps getting better.
“You’re watching poetry in motion. You’re watching history. And she’s just 29 years old. She could win four more of these by the time she is finished.”
The Aces started the season with a 14-14 record but recovered to closed out at 30-14, with a franchise-best 16-game winning streak to clinch the second spot. They defeated the Seattle Storm in the first round of the playoffs to reach their seventh straight semi-final, with Wilson scoring 38 points in Game 3 to match her personal playoff best.
“My mental game has grown the most this season,” Wilson continued. “I’ve learnt to read defences quickly and adapt. Every game presents new challenges, but I enjoy figuring it out.”
Wilson and the Aces will now take on the Indiana Fever in the semi-finals, starting Sunday.
