A'ja Wilson wins record fifth WNBA MVP and third in a row
In short
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson won her third consecutive WNBA MVP award on October 8, becoming the first player to win it three years in a row. The award was her record fifth overall after a season in which she averaged 26.2 points per game.
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A'ja Wilson added a fifth WNBA MVP award to her career total on October 8, setting another league record with her third consecutive win. The 30-year-old Las Vegas Aces center became the first player to take the award in three straight years. She had also won in 2020 and 2022. [ 1 , 2 ]
Wilson received 65 first-place votes and nine second-place votes for 713 points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, Associated Press reported. Minnesota's Olivia Miles received six first-place votes and 40 second-place votes for 442 points. Indiana guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark followed with 287 and 212 points, respectively. [ 1 ]
Wilson again led the league in scoring at 26.2 points per game while shooting nearly 53% from the field. She averaged 9.4 rebounds, a career-best 3.2 assists and 1.9 blocks, according to AP. Newsweek reported that her scoring average was the second-highest in WNBA history, behind her own 26.9 points per game in 2024. [ 1 , 2 ]
No other WNBA player has more than three MVP awards. Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson each won three. Wilson had already broken the league record with her fourth award last year, Newsweek reported. She is playing her ninth WNBA season, meaning she has now won the award in more than half of her seasons. [ 1 , 2 ]
The defending champion Aces have reached the semifinals for an eighth consecutive season but trail the Golden State Valkyries 2-0 in the best-of-five series. Newsweek reported that Golden State could complete a sweep with a win in Game 3 on Friday. Wilson won three championships with the Aces in her previous eight seasons, including last season. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
Wilson extended her lead in career MVP awards; no other WNBA player has won more than three. The recognition came with the defending champion Aces trailing Golden State 2-0 in a best-of-five semifinal series.
Key facts
- Wilson won a record fifth WNBA MVP award. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She became the first WNBA player to win the award in three consecutive years. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Wilson received 65 first-place votes and nine second-place votes. [ 1 , 2 ]
- She led the league with 26.2 points per game and shot nearly 53% from the field. [ 1 ]
- Minnesota's Olivia Miles finished second in the voting with 442 points, behind Wilson's 713. [ 1 ]
- The Aces trailed Golden State 2-0 in their semifinal series. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- No open questions in the coverage so far.