Las Vegas Aces star A’ja was officially named the 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player on Sunday, making history as the first player in league history to capture the honor four times.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, who wrote on X (per sources): “Breaking: Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson has won the 2025 WNBA MVP award, becoming the first player in league history to win the honor four times”
Wilson was named MVP in what had been considered a tight battle with Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. Wilson ultimately received 51 first-place votes and 657 points to finish ahead of Collier in second (18 first-place votes, 534 points). Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (3rd, 3 first-place votes, 391 points), Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (4th, 180) and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (5th, 93) were also finalists for the award.
Wilson’s MVP trophy is just the latest addition to her collection this season. Earlier in the year, she shared the Defensive Player of the Year award with Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith, marking the first time the league has ever split that honor. It also marks the first season Wilson has claimed both awards simultaneously. Wilson led the WNBA with averages of 23.4 points and 2.3 blocks per game for the second-seeded Aces while also contributing 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest.
This year’s award puts Wilson ahead of three-time MVPs Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson. In 2024, Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper of the 1997 Houston Comets as the WNBA’s only unanimous MVP selections; Cooper also is the only other back-to-back honoree, winning the award in the WNBA’s first two seasons (1997, 1998).
Over her career, Wilson has earned two WNBA championships (and is still in contention for a third this year), seven All-Star selections, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, two scoring titles, five block titles, and two Olympic gold medals. She has accomplished all of this in just eight seasons—before even turning 30.
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