On Thursday, A’ja Wilson added another line to her already extensive basketball resume, reaching another level of WNBA greatness by becoming the league’s first five-time MVP. The Las Vegas Aces superstar has claimed the coveted trophy for the third consecutive season, becoming the first player in league history to win three consecutive MVP awards. It marks his fourth MVP title in the last five years. Aces coach Becky Hammon believes Wilson’s resume already places her among the best players in basketball. In addition to her WNBA accomplishments, Wilson won an NCAA Division I national championship at South Carolina. DREAM MOVE TO A WIN FROM FIRST WNBA FINALS APPEARANCE SINCE 2013 FOLLOWING OVERTIME WIN WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) presents A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces with the 2024 WNBA MVP award during a press conference before Game 1 of the WNBA 2024. First round of the WNBA Playoffs between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 22, 2024. Wilson was the unanimous winner of the award, which she also won in 2020 and 2022. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) “(Like) I said, take her off Mount Rushmore, she’s Everest,” Hammon said previously on the playoffs. “Now I’m taking her off Everest and I have to take her to a different planet. She just has it all.” Hammon also emphasized that talent alone does not guarantee the type of sustained team and individual success that Wilson has achieved. “Because you can be a really talented, skilled basketball player and not win as much as her, and not become as individually great as her.” Wilson may not have put together the most statistically impressive season of his career, but he remained dominant across the board. Her 26.2 points per game led the WNBA in scoring, while her 79 blocks were also a league high. He ranked among the league’s top five rebounders in rebounds per game during the regular season. Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese led the WNBA with 12.1 rebounds per game and was named the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Other notable former WNBA players with multiple MVP awards When Wilson won her fourth MVP award in 2025, she broke a tie with Hall of Famers Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson for the most MVP trophies in WNBA history in that moment. The three featured players largely traded the award between 2000 and 2010, winning every MVP except 2008, when Candace Parker claimed the honor, and 2009, when Diana Taurasi won. SUBSCRIBE TO OUTKICK’S DAILY NEWSLETTER In NBA history, only three players have received at least five MVPs: Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan. With his fifth MVP, Wilson is now among a select group of legendary basketball players. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces wins her fifth WNBA MVP award on October 8, 2026 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) “If you’re able to set a standard, if you’re able to rewrite things and engrave yourself in the history books, it means a lot,” Wilson said at a news conference in Las Vegas on Thursday. “I’m very grateful to be able to share these moments with so many different people. But it’s always fun when you’re able to set the standard and give people and yourself something to chase after.” Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) celebrates during the 2025 WNBA Championship Parade at Toshiba Plaza on Oct. 17, 2025. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images) OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Wilson was the overwhelming MVP choice, receiving all but nine of the votes for first place. Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles finished second with six first-place votes, followed by Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell with two. Mitchell’s teammate Caitlin Clark received the remaining first-place vote and finished in fourth place. A’ja Wilson’s latest challenge is to guide the Aces through unprecedented territory. They would have to become the first team in WNBA history to erase a 2-0 deficit against the Golden State Valkyries and win a best-of-five playoff series. If Wilson leads the comeback, it would further cement his place in basketball history. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night as the series moves to Las Vegas. Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
