The Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson, playing center, secured the WNBA Finals MVP award while guiding her team to a clean sweep against the Phoenix Mercury. This achievement concludes an exceptional individual season, further enriching her already impressive career.
She has etched her name in the WNBA record books as the first player to simultaneously hold the regular-season MVP title, Defensive Player of the Year honor, and Finals MVP award in a single season.
The Aces clinched their third WNBA title on Friday, defeating Phoenix on their home court with a final score of 97-86. Wilson contributed significantly with 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals.
The former standout from South Carolina showcased her talent throughout the series, averaging 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks.
She delivered outstanding performances in each game, starting with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in an 89-86 victory. Wilson followed up with 28 points and 14 rebounds in a subsequent 91-78 win.
Game 3 proved to be a closely contested affair, with the Aces narrowly securing a 90-88 victory. Wilson excelled in this game, recording 34 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, marking her best performance of the series.
This accomplishment signifies Wilson’s second WNBA Finals MVP award, previously earning the title in 2023 when she spearheaded the Aces to a 3-1 series triumph against the New York Liberty.
Wilson also joins Breanna Stewart (2018, Seattle Storm) as the only players to capture both the WNBA MVP and the WNBA Finals MVP in the same season. With eight seasons under her belt, Wilson has claimed the WNBA MVP award in half of those years, resulting in a league-leading total of four WNBA MVP awards.
The road wasn’t always smooth for Wilson and the Aces, who faced challenges and held a 14-14 record after 28 games. However, Las Vegas demonstrated resilience, securing 16 consecutive victories to conclude the season with a 30-14 record, earning the No. 2 playoff seed in the WNBA.
Las Vegas successfully navigated demanding matchups against the Seattle Storm in the initial round and the Indiana Fever in the semifinals before ultimately facing Phoenix in the league’s inaugural best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
Ultimately, Wilson and the Aces rose to the occasion, with the Las Vegas star shining brightly once again. Her performance earned her a well-deserved MVP award and contributed to the team’s third WNBA championship in four seasons.
