A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player on Thursday for the third straight year and a record fifth time overall.
Wilson also claimed the honor in 2020 and 2022, becoming the first player in league history to win the award three years running.
The 30-year-old once again led the league in scoring, averaging 26.2 points per game while shooting nearly 53% from the field. He also averaged 9.4 rebounds, a career-high 3.2 assists and 1.9 blocks.
Wilson helped the defending champion Las Vegas Aces reach the WNBA semifinals for the eighth straight season, despite trailing Golden State 2-0 in their best-of-five series.
Wilson received 65 first-place votes and nine second-place votes for a total of 713 points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Minnesota’s Olivia Miles had six first-place votes and 40 second-place votes for 442 points, while Indiana guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark tied for second with 287 and 212 points, respectively.
after the newsletter promotion
No WNBA player has won the MVP award more than three times, with Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson each earning the honor three times. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the NBA record with six MVP awards, while Michael Jordan and Bill Russell each won five.