A'ja Wilson Makes History With Record Fifth WNBA MVP Award

A Historic Third Straight MVP

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson has made history once again. She has won her fifth WNBA Most Valuable Player award for the 2026 season. This makes her the first player in the history of the league to win three consecutive MVP awards.

Wilson put up historic numbers this season. She became the first WNBA player to average 25 points, 50 percent shooting, and 40 percent on three pointers. Her 26.2 points per game was the second highest average in league history, behind only her own record from two years ago.

The voting was not close. Wilson received 65 of the 74 first place votes. Olivia Miles finished second in the voting, followed by Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Breanna Stewart.

Joining the All-Time Greats

With her fifth trophy, Wilson joins some of the greatest names in American sports history. She is now tied with NBA legends Michael Jordan and Bill Russell as a five-time MVP. In other sports, only a few players have won more, including Wayne Gretzky with nine in the NHL, Barry Bonds with seven in MLB, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with six in the NBA.

Aces coach Becky Hammon had high praise for her star center. Hammon said that she previously compared Wilson to Mount Everest, but now she has to put her on a different planet. Hammon also called her the most coachable player she has ever been around.

Wilson has been the centerpiece of the Aces since she was drafted first overall in 2018. She has helped lead the team to three league titles, winning in 2022, 2023, and 2025. This year, she played in 41 of the team's 44 games despite dealing with back issues that kept her out of the World Cup in September. She led the Aces to a 31-13 record and the number three seed in the playoffs.

What it means for the next game

Golden State Valkyries at Las Vegas Aces (WNBA, Sat, 10 Oct): Las Vegas Aces win 58%, Golden State Valkyries win 42%; projected score Las Vegas Aces 80, Golden State Valkyries 78. Our safest pick: Valkyries +10.5.

Golden State Valkyries at Las Vegas Aces (WNBA, Sun, 11 Oct): Las Vegas Aces win 46%, Golden State Valkyries win 54%; projected score Las Vegas Aces 82, Golden State Valkyries 82. Our safest pick: Aces +7.5.