Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson has been crowned the 2025 WNBA Most Valuable.
Player, securing the honor for a record-breaking fourth time.Wilson, who also won in 2020, 2022, and 2024, received 51 of 72 first-place votes and a total of 657 points, finishing ahead of Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (534 points) and Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas (391 points).
This year’s award places Wilson ahead of WNBA legends Sheryl.
Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson, each of whom claimed the MVP title three times. Drafted No. 1 overall in 2018, Wilson has now won MVP in half of her eight seasons.Emotional Trophy Presentation
Wilson was surprised on Friday when WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, alongside her boyfriend, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo, presented the MVP trophy—crafted by Tiffany & Co.—at the end of practice.
Fighting back tears, Wilson told her teammates:
“It has my name on it, but it’s all of us. They counted us out, they wrote us off, but we showed up every single day. This award belongs to every single one of you.”Engelbert praised Wilson’s impact on and off the court, calling her “a global icon, ambassador for women’s sports, and one of the greatest players in league history.”
Wilson’s Dominant Season The seven-time All-Star averaged:23.4 points (league leader)10.2 rebounds3.1 assists.
She also ranked second in blocks (92) and third in steals (64). Her stellar defensive play earned her a share of the Defensive Player of the Year award—the third of her career—alongside Lynx forward Alanna Smith.
In the playoffs, Wilson has been just as dominant, tying her postseason career high with 38 points in a narrow 74-73 win over the Seattle Storm, propelling the Aces into a semifinal clash with the Indiana Fever.
Aces’ All-Time Great.
Already the Aces’ all-time leading scorer, Wilson had her No. 22 jersey retired earlier this year, cementing her place in franchise history. Her consistency has fueled Las Vegas’ success, including a 16-game winning streak during the regular season when she averaged 26.1 points and 12.0 rebounds.
A Rivalry Building Toward the Finals?
Collier, who had been a strong MVP contender, missed seven games due to injury, which hurt her campaign. Her absence coincided with the Aces’ surge led by Wilson. Still, both players could meet again in a potential WNBA Finals showdown, with the Lynx set to battle the Mercury in their semifinal.Historic Achievement.WNBA
By winning a fourth MVP, Wilson surpasses the icons who previously held the record.
She also becomes just the second player in WNBA history to win MVP in back-to-back seasons, joining Cynthia Cooper (1997, 1998).As Aces coach Becky Hammon summed up
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson admitted she never imagined her name would be etched into basketball history when she first started playing the game.
I was a young girl that didn’t even like the sport. I didn’t want to play,
I didn’t like sweating. But now my name’s in the history books forever,” Wilson said after being crowned the 2025 WNBA MVP. “These are the moments that remind me why I wake up every morning and do what I do.”WNBA
Collier’s Historic Season Falls Just Short
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier was also in the MVP conversation, becoming just the second player in WNBA history to record a 50-40-90 shooting season. She appeared to be leading the MVP race until an ankle injury sidelined her for three weeks.I’m really proud of myself,” Collier said after Wilson was announced as MVP. “50/40/90 is something that’s only been done twice, so to achieve that is special.”Standout Year
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Wilson led the league in scoring with 23.4 points per game and ranked first in blocks with 2.3 per game.
She also averaged 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while earning Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors alongside the Lynx’s Alanna Smith.Aces coach Becky Hammon praised Wilson’s greatness:
By the time it’s all said and done, she’ll be the greatest to ever do it. Four MVPs already prove it. In a league that keeps getting better, she keeps getting better. She’s just 29 and could win four more before she’s finished.WNBA
Leading the Aces Through Adversity
Wilson told ESPN this season was more challenging than previous years, as the Aces struggled early with a 14-14 record before rallying with a franchise-record 17-game winning streak starting in August.Where she took us this year, from where we were—that’s MVP leadership,” Hammon added.Wilson capped the regular season with dominant performances, including a 38-point playoff game against the SeattleWNBA
Storm that tied her career postseason high. That win secured the Aces’ spot in the semifinals for the seventh straight year.
Growth Mindset and Playoff FocusWilson credits her mental approach as the key to her development:I’ve worked on a lot, but my ability to read defenses early in games has improved the most. I know I’ll face every kind of defense throughout my career, so I just let my basketball mind figure it out.”
Despite being a unanimous MVP just a season ago, Wilson noted that many doubted her chances this year:
“This MVP feels different because my name wasn’t in the conversation early on. It was mind-blowing, but I stayed focused on being a better teammate and leader. That’s what this team needed.”Eyes on the SemifinalsWilson and the Aces now face the Indiana Fever in a best-of-five semifinal series. After dropping Game 1, Wilson made it clear her mindset has shifted back to business:WNBA
“Friday was emotional, but now it’s about winning. My main goal is helping this team beat a really good Indiana Fever squad.
