LAS VEGAS—It’s official. At around 5 a.m. local time, A’ja Wilson was crowned as the unanimous WNBA MVP. It’s Wilson’s third MVP in four years, and she joins Cynthia Cooper as only the second player in league history to win the award unanimously.
Wilson also joins Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as the only three-time MVPs in league history, reaching the historic mark in only her seventh WNBA season.
The coronation puts a bow on what was legitimately one of the greatest single-season displays in the history of basketball, man or woman. Wilson’s 34.9 player efficiency rating (PER) this season was the highest in both WNBA and NBA history.
Wilson became the first player in league history to score 1,000 points. She set the single-season rebounding record. She led the league in blocks and steals. She was the Aces’ mitochondria during the dog days of summer when her highly decorated teammates couldn’t find a consistent rhythm.
Some additional stats and numbers, as provided by Aces PR: Wilson had the two highest single-game scoring totals this season, both coming within a week of each other (42 at Dallas on 8/27, 41 at Phoenix 9/1). She scored 20+ points in 34 of 38 games. She set WNBA single-season records for consecutive games with 20+ points (15) as well as consecutive games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds (8). She also led the league in steals to turnover ratio.
Wilson’s speech:
“Basketball has helped me achieve things that I never dreamed I could. To be named MVP is a tremendous honor. It's humbling to walk a path paved by so legends, so many legends of this game. Those who made this league what it is today. And for me to stand up here with my third one. So shout out to the legends because they really did their thing, their big one, with paving the way for young guns like me to thrive in.
On my best days and on my worst, I pray that I'm worthy of all the blessings that have come my way. I hope the fans know that I see every message, every TikTok they make. And still, even the white tees and the silver hair.I love you all. The fact that anything I do gives another person and another black girl the small bit of hope. That's what keeps me going, keeps me trying to be the best that I can be always.
In my seventh season, I love this game more than ever. And I know y'all, everyone in this room knows that I will not be satisfied if I cannot compete at a high level and go try to win another one. So it's playoff time. It's the real time.
And I'm just honored and I'm so thankful to be up here. This is this is such a blessing to be up here. Not just my third time. Yes. But as a whole, this league is incredible and full of elite women. I'm glad that I could just be a part of the 144 and soon to be some more teams and some more people. So, no, thank you guys so much. This is truly special.”