A’ja Wilson Makes WNBA History as First Four-Time MVP
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson has been named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season, becoming the first player in league history to win the award four times.The announcement came Sunday, solidifying Wilson’s place as a dominant force in women’s basketball.
Wilson, 29, surpassed previous three-time MVP winners sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson with the historic win. She garnered 657 total points in voting, receiving 51 of 72 first-place votes. Napheesa Collier of the minnesota Lynx finished second with 534 points,followed by Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury with 391 points.
The 2024 MVP award adds to Wilson’s previous wins in 2020, 2022, and 2023, marking her second consecutive honor. Throughout the season, Wilson averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while also being co-recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award.She led the league in blocks per game and ranked highly in steals.
Despite a challenging midseason stretch that saw the Aces at 11-11,the team rallied to close the regular season with a remarkable 16-game win streak – a turnaround widely credited with bolstering Wilson’s MVP candidacy.
“They counted us out and wrote us all off, but we showed up every single day,” an emotional Wilson said to her teammates after receiving the award. “It has my name on it… but this is for all of us.”
Aces coach Becky Hammon believes Wilson’s impact is only beginning to be fully understood. “By the time it’s all said and done, she will be the greatest to ever do it… Four [MVPs] already says she is.”
Wilson also achieved individual milestones this season, setting a new single-season record for games with 30 or more points and becoming the fastest WNBA player to reach 5,000 career points. She now leads the Aces into the playoffs, aiming to add a championship to her already celebrated season.
