A’ja Wilson became just the second player to unanimously win MVP, receiving all 67 first place votes on September 22..
Wilson became the first person since Tina Charles in 2016 and just the third person in WNBA history (Lauren Jackson 2007) to lead the league in both rebounds and points, and became the first person in WNBA history to lead the league in points, rebounds, and blocks. The center became the first person in WNBA history to average over 26 points per game, averaging 26.9 points per game.
“Hopefully when I look back and reflect, that definitely touches my heart,” A’ja said Sunday after unanimously winning the reward. “It means a lot, it really does.”
The Aces’ forward finished a campaign that set league records in total points and rebounds. Wilson also set records in player efficiency (34.9), win shares (10.9), and most games with 20 or more points (34) which also accounted for nearly 90 percent of her games.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier finished second in voting with 467 points, Breanna Stewart finished third with 295 points, rookie Caitlin Clark finished fourth with 130 points, and Alyissa Thomas finished fifth with 83 points. Clark was named the Rookie of the Year.
“What she (Wilson) did this season was crazy. To set all those league records are things that you don’t see in most (professional) leagues,” Newtown high school student Hudson Wheat said.
Wilson collects her third MVP, after previously winning the prestigious award in 2020 and 2022. She becomes just the fourth person to win three MVP’s, joining Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson. All three players that have won the prestigious award three times currently lie in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Last season, A’ja finished third in MVP voting behind Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas.
“It propelled me a little bit as I started my offseason workouts, but around February I was over it,” Wilson said. “I didn’t want to give that person that energy, that’s when I started to lock in.”
In the first round of the WNBA playoffs, Wilson averaged 22.5 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, 3.5 blocks per game, and 2 steals per game to lead the Aces to the semifinals with a 2-0 series win over the Storm.
After winning WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, A’ja will attempt to lead the Aces to the second ever three peat in WNBA history. Previously, the Houston Comets were the first and only team to do so, winning the first four championships in league history.
However, unlike the last two seasons when the Aces finished first in the regular season and cruised their way to two championships respectfully, this season has been a brutal battle. Injuries have battled stars Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum who have both missed over 9 games this season due to injury, while solid players like Tiffany Hayes and Chelsea Gray have also missed time as well. Wilson however, has played in 38 of the teams 40 games to help place them fourth in the league overall.
Wilson will look to carry the momentum against the Liberty in the WNBA semifinals and will ultimately aim to propel the Aces to the finals.
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