A’ja Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces superstar, has etched her name in WNBA history. She’s become only the second player ever to win the Most Valuable Player award unanimously. This incredible feat marks a milestone in the league’s 27-year history.
A’ja Wilson’s Historic MVP Win
Wilson’s stellar performance throughout the season left no doubt in voters’ minds. She joins Cynthia Cooper-Dyke as the only players to receive every first-place vote for MVP. Cooper-Dyke achieved this back in 1997, during one of the most dominant seasons ever seen in the WNBA.
This marks Wilson’s third MVP award, putting her in elite company. She now stands alongside legends Sheryl Swoopes, Lauren Jackson, and Lisa Leslie as the only three-time MVP winners in WNBA history.
Record-Breaking Season Highlights
Wilson’s 2024 season was nothing short of spectacular. She rewrote the WNBA record books with several groundbreaking achievements:
- First player to lead the league in points, blocks, and rebounds in a single season
- Set new highs in points per game and total rebounds
- Became the first player to score over 1,000 points in a season, finishing with 1,021
Aces head coach Becky Hammon praised Wilson’s consistent excellence:
“I don’t want it to ever get lost on how good (A’ja) is,” Hammon said. “She just does it all. She’s in the middle of a run that sometimes I want to shake her and say, ‘Do you know how good you are?’ But then I don’t want to shake her because I don’t want to wake her up. She can just stay in whatever zone she’s in.”
From Motivation to Domination
Interestingly, Wilson found motivation in an unexpected place last year. At the Aces’ victory parade, she thanked a lone MVP voter who had ranked her fourth:
“Whoever you are out there that voted me fourth (for MVP), thank you. Thank you so much,” Wilson said. “I wanna say I appreciate you, ’cause that just means that I got a lot more work to do.”
Clearly, Wilson took those words to heart. Her dominant performance this season left no room for doubt about her status as the league’s top player.
Beyond Individual Success
Wilson’s impact extends beyond her individual accolades. She played a crucial role in leading the USA Women’s National Team to another gold medal. Her steady performance on both ends of the court proved invaluable for the national team.
Moreover, Wilson’s dedication to her team shines through. In a heartfelt moment with her Aces teammates, she said:
“I cannot thank you all enough. I hope you guys understand how much you mean to me. I hope you guys know that this trophy is nothing without y’all. We’ve been through the ringer – and we gon’ continue to go through the ringer – but one thing y’all don’t ever have to worry about is A’ja going anywhere.”
Looking Ahead to the Playoffs
Wilson’s historic season has set the stage for an exciting postseason. The Las Vegas Aces enter the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. They’re set to face the Seattle Storm at home on September 22.
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