A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces made history Sunday by being named the WNBA Most Valuable Player for a record fourth time. The 29-year-old surpassed former three-time MVPs Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson.
The Reign of A’ja Wilson
Wilson claimed 657 total points in the MVP voting and received 51 of 72 first-place votes. She finished ahead of Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx (534 points) and Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury (391 points). Her season featured averages of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She also co-won Defensive Player of the Year, leading in blocks per game and ranking high in steals.
The Aces endured a rough midseason stretch, sitting at 11-11 at one point. But they closed the regular season with a 16-game win streak — the turnaround that many believe sealed Wilson’s candidacy. After receiving the award, Wilson addressed her teammates emotionally: “They counted us out and wrote us all off, but we showed up every single day. It has my name on it… but this is for all of us.”
This 2025 MVP is Wilson’s second consecutive award, adding to her wins in 2020 and 2022. By earning a fourth MVP, Wilson sets a new standard in WNBA history.
Her coach, Becky Hammon, praised her impact: “By the time it’s all said and done, she will be the greatest to ever do it… Four [MVPs] already says she is.” Wilson now leads the Aces into the playoffs — aiming to add a championship to this celebrated season.
Wilson set a new single-season record for number of games with 30 or more points. She also became the fastest WNBA player to reach 5,000 career points. Defensively she stood out, leading the league in blocks per game and ranking highly in steals.