With the WNBA playoffs started, the Las Vegas Aces are seeking to become only the second club in history to win three consecutive championships. A significant reason why they have shot to do so is because of outstanding player A’ja Wilson. Before the Aces opening round playoff game against the Seattle Storm, A’ja Wilson won her third career WNBA MVP award.
During Wilson’s acceptance speech, she delivered a stunning take as to what this honour means to her.
“On my best days and on my worst, I pray that I’m worthy of all the blessings that have come my way,” Wilson said. “The fact that anything I do gives another person and another Black girl a small bit of hope, that’s what keeps me going. Keeps me trying to be the best that I can be, always.”
A’ja Wilson won her first WNBA MVP award during the 2020 season. Her second award came during the 2022 season. This year, there was no doubt all season long that Wilson was the MVP. Her selection, voted on by members of the media, was unanimous.
Wilson finished third in the MVP voting last season, and there was one strange fourth place vote from someone in the media.
A’ja Wilson’s dominant season for the Aces
To say the 2024 season has been a fantastic one for A’ja Wilson is an understatement. The Aces star set a record for most points in a single season while concurrently becoming the first player in league history to score 1,000 points in one year.
Wilson also established the league record for most rebounds in a single season. Although she earned the MVP award, it’s possible she’s not done taking home hardware. She’s a serious candidate for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award as well.
The No. 1 overall choice in the 2018 WNBA Draft, Wilson is already one of the finest players to ever play the game. She participated in 38 games for the Aces this year at a little over 34 minutes per game.
She averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.6 blocked shots with splits of 51.8 percent shooting from the field, 31.7 percent shooting from the three-point line and 84.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Wilson’s points, rebounds, steals and blocked shots are all career-highs. And now, the 2022 WNBA Finals MVP will aim to capture her third straight championship. It seems fitting that the last player to be a unanimous MVP recipient, former Houston Comet star Cynthia Cooper, was also part of the only club to three-peat so far.
About The Author
