Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for an unprecedented fourth time. This historic accomplishment was confirmed by a source familiar with the voting process, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the absence of an official announcement. ESPN was the first to report on Wilson’s latest accolade.
Wilson, who previously secured the MVP title last season as a unanimous choice, also earned the award in 2020 and 2022. With this latest honor, she surpasses the legendary achievements of players like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson, each of whom won the award three times. Notably, Wilson and former Houston Comets star Cynthia Cooper are the only players to have won the MVP award unanimously. Cooper also made history by winning it in consecutive years during the league’s inaugural seasons in 1997 and 1998.
Outstanding Performance in 2023
During the 2023 season, A’ja Wilson led the league in scoring with an impressive average of 23.4 points per game. Additionally, she topped the charts in blocked shots, averaging 2.3 per game. Her stellar performance was instrumental in helping the Aces secure a strong finish to the regular season, winning their last 16 games and earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
The competition for the MVP award was stiff this year, with finalists including Napheesa Collier from the Minnesota Lynx, Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury, Kelsey Mitchell from the Indiana Fever, and Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream. Despite this strong field, Wilson’s remarkable statistics and consistent performance set her apart.
Earlier this month, Wilson was also honored as the AP Player of the Year, further solidifying her status as one of the premier talents in women’s basketball today. As the WNBA playoffs approach, her leadership and skill will be crucial for the Aces as they aim for a championship title.
