A'ja Wilson, the star of the Las Vegas Aces, has made history by becoming the first player in WNBA history to win five Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. The 30-year-old player was informed of her unprecedented third consecutive MVP award through a message from former Vice President Kamala Harris.
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While a ceremony celebrating this achievement is scheduled for Friday night, Wilson has opted to bypass the festivities. Following the Aces' previous MVP celebrations, the team faced defeats in critical playoff games. In last year’s post-game ceremony, the Aces lost the first match of their playoff semi-final, and they also struggled after receiving their championship rings earlier this season.
To focus on the upcoming must-win game three in their best-of-five semi-final series against the Golden State Valkyries, Wilson stated, "I love the fans, but I will not be doing that. I will be warming up with my team. Everyone knows how much of a competitor I am and what my main focus is."
Wilson previously won the MVP award in 2020 and 2022, making her part of an elite group that includes NBA icons Michael Jordan and Bill Russell. Aces coach Becky Hammon remarked on her monumental status, stating, "I've said before, 'Take her off Mount Rushmore, she's Everest.' Now, I'm taking her off Everest and putting her on a different planet."
In the 2023 season, Wilson led the league in scoring with an average of 26.2 points per game, marking her third consecutive season as the scoring leader. An eight-time All-Star, she achieved at least 20 points in 33 games, the third-highest single-season streak in WNBA history, and tied her own record of at least 30 points in 13 games.
Although Wilson has claimed three league titles with the Aces over the past four years, the team currently trails 2-0 in the semi-finals and faces elimination.