The Sportsnusts| Las Vegas
Five WNBA MVP awards. Three consecutive seasons. One A’ja Wilson.
The Las Vegas All-Star and consensus best women’s player in the world has yet another entry in the records book next to her name becoming the first player in history to win five most valuable player awards and the first capture the honor, three consecutive seasons.
“One thing about greatness is it never hides; it always shines. So hopefully I can shine bright so everyone can see.” Wilson told Forbes in September.
The 30 year-old, who previously won the award in 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025, has now reached a level of individual excellence no other player in the We 30 year history has never achieved.
The 2018 number one draft pick out of the University of South Carolina delivered another dominant regular season, averaging leading 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assist, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals regular season games.
But for Wilson, the moment was about more than basketball. It was about the young girl who never imagined she would make it this far.
“Fifteen-year-old A’ja wasn’t sitting up here dreaming about being a five-time MVP. She wasn’t dreaming about being a three-time champion. She was dreaming about surviving this world,” Wilson said after learning she’d won the award.
“I think that’s why I cried a little bit harder on this one.”
She also shot 52.7% in the Field, 40.4% from three point range and 86.4% from free-throw line all around MVP season on both ends of the court. Part 26.2 points per game mark the second highest scoring average in WNBA history trailing only her own record setting 26.9 points in 2024.
Yet, surrounded by teammate staff, Wilson made it clear, the individual honor belong to more than just her.
“ This is a great individual word, but I always said, I don’t get this without each and one of y’all.” She told her teammates.
” From the text messages to the hugs, to the calls, to the prayers, just a simple ‘hey Ace’ just to check in on me. It goes along, long way.
“As a young girl, you dream so big, and you write your goals out, and you just never imagine that you were able to just check them off,” Wilson said.
In recognition of being named the 2026 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, Wilson will receive $60,000 and a trophy designed by Tiffany & Co.
With the growth of the game and so many players, ascending to an elite level, conversations have swirled around, who is the greatest woman’s basketball player in the world.
Five MVP trophies later, that conversation has certainly shifted. A’ja Wilson is inevitable.
