A’ja Wilson Makes WNBA History as first 4-Time MVP
LAS VEGAS -โค A’ja Wilson โof the Las Vegasโฃ Aces has been named โthe WNBA’s โMost Valuable Player for the 2024 โseason, becoming the first player โin league history to win โคthe award four times. โThe declaration cements Wilson’s place as a โขdominant force โฃin the WNBA and caps โฃa remarkableโฃ season where sheโข led the league in both points and blocks per game.
Wilson shared the Defensive player of the Year award โขthis season wiht Alanna โฃSmith, further โshowcasing her โขall-around impact. She averaged 21.8โ points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 โsteals, and 3.2 blocks perโ game, while boastingโฃ a league-leadingโ player efficiency โrating (PER) of 33.4. This individual achievement arrives as the Aces โsecured the second-best โrecord in the league at 34-10.
For muchโข of theโ season,โข Napheesa Collier of โthe Minnesota โขLynx was considered the frontrunner for herโข first MVP award. The Lynx raced to a 20-4 record beforeโ theโข All-Star break, and Collier was a driving force,โ averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals,โข and 1.5 blocks per game onโฃ 53.1% shooting. She also improved her three-point shooting, hitting 40.3% on a career-high 3.8 attempts โper game, resulting in a career-bestโ PER of 30.2.
However, a late-season ankleโข sprain โsidelined Collier for 11 games, โhalting her MVP momentum.โข During โฃthat time,Wilson surged,capitalizing on the opportunity toโ strengthenโ her โcase. Wilson missed onylโ four games and ultimately convinced voters of her superior overall impact, securing her fourthโข MVP โtitle.The Lynx finishedโฃ the regular season with a 34-10 record, earning theโค No. 1 seed in the โฃplayoffs.