Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson secured a historic fifth WNBA Most Valuable Player award on October 8, 2026, becoming the first player in league history to win the honor in three consecutive seasons. The 30-year-old center received 65 of 74 first-place votes, accumulating 713 points in the voting, according to the WNBA. Her achievement places her alongside NBA legends like Michael Jordan and NHL great Wayne Gretzky, who also won five MVP awards in their respective leagues.
Wilson’s Historic Achievement
Wilson’s fifth MVP trophy extends her record as the most decorated player in WNBA history, surpassing previous benchmarks. She became the first player to win three straight MVPs, a feat she accomplished in 2024, 2025, and 2026. This [MVP] is pretty solidifying in a bunch of different ways, but I am not satisfied,
Wilson said, reflecting on her legacy. I am so grateful and I'm so blessed to be able to do what I do, and obviously getting rewarded is also fun.
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The Aces star also became the first WNBA player to average at least 25 points per game while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range in a single season. Her 26.2-point scoring average in 2026 ranked second in league history, behind her own record of 26.9 points per game from 2024. Wilson’s dominance was further highlighted by her league-leading 1.9 blocks per game and 32.4 Player Efficiency Rating.
Statistical Dominance
Wilson’s 2026 season featured multiple milestones. She led the WNBA in scoring (26.2 PPG), blocks (1.9 BPG), Player Efficiency Rating (32.4), and Win Shares (9.4). She also finished fifth in rebounding (9.4 RPG) and shot 52.7% from the field and 86.4% from the free-throw line. Her 45-point game against the Connecticut Sun on May 15 made her the first player in WNBA history to record multiple 45-point games, according to The Guardian.
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Wilson’s performance earned her all four Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month awards in 2026, a first in league history. She also received the Western Conference Player of the Week honor five times, the most in the league. She’s now standing in a category that no other WNBA player in the history of the league has accomplished,
said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, per The Guardian.
Playoff Challenges
Despite her individual success, Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces face a critical challenge in the playoffs. The third-seeded Aces trail the Golden State Valkyries 2-0 in their best-of-five semifinal series. Wilson, who has led the Aces to three championships (2022, 2023, 2025), has vowed to prioritize her team’s needs over ceremonial obligations. I will be warming up with my team,
she said, declining to participate in a pregame ceremony ahead of Game 3. Everyone in this room knows how much of a competitor I am [and] what my main focus is.
The Aces finished the regular season with a 31-13 record, rallying to win their final seven games. However, their playoff struggles echo past patterns: the team dropped Game 1 of the 2025 semifinals after Wilson received her fourth MVP award and lost the 2026 championship series after celebrating their title rings.
Voting Results and Context
Clark, who became the first player in WNBA history to average 20 points and eight assists in a season, was omitted from 19 ballots entirely. Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles finished second in the voting with 442 points, while Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell placed third with 287 points.
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She is also 12 points away from surpassing Sue Bird for 10th on the league’s all-time scoring list. A woman of our history, and I’m so appreciative to be able to share that moment with her through the phone call and the message of her delivering that I won my fifth MVP,
Wilson said, referencing a voice message from Vice President Kamala Harris.
Honoring the Elite
Wilson’s five MVP awards place her among the elite in professional sports. The NHL’s Wayne Gretzky holds the record for most MVP awards (nine Hart Trophies), while MLB’s Barry Bonds and NBA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar each have seven and six, respectively. This is great, I love it, not going to take for granted, shine her up, let’s do it,
Wilson said, reflecting on her journey from a 15-year-old dreaming of survival to a five-time MVP.
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Wilson’s impact extends beyond statistics. She has become a role model for young athletes, with her mother, Eva, presenting her with the MVP trophy at the ceremony. Each one of these has not been taken lightly,
Wilson said, surrounded by her five MVP trophies. As the Aces prepare for Game 3, Wilson’s focus remains on the court, where her legacy continues to evolve.