A’ja Wilson Makes History With Major Award Ahead of WNBA Playoffs
With a showdown against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever looming, the Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson received a major award.
A Ja Wilson has recently been honored with the AP WNBA Player of the Year award for 2026, marking her third consecutive win in this category. This achievement surpasses the previous record set by Breanna Stewart, who had previously shared this honor with Wilson. Other notable awards include AP Defensive Player of the Year for Angel Reese and AP Rookie of the Year for Olivia Miles. The AP All-WNBA Team includes Wilson, Miles, Stewart, and Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark from the Indiana Fever.
Wilson has been a consistent MVP contender throughout the season, with Angel Reese considered the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and Miles the favorite for Rookie of the Year. Speaking on the significance of this third consecutive win, Wilson expressed her gratitude and respect for her talented peers in the league. This season, Wilson averaged impressive statistics, leading the league in scoring and blocks while ranking fifth in rebounding. She guided her team, the Aces, to a 31-13 record and secured the No. 3 seed in the WNBA Playoffs.
Facing the reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in their first-round series, Wilson's absence from Team USA's FIBA World Cup earlier this month may have given her an advantage for the postseason. With Las Vegas currently holding the top record in the league and Minnesota as the favorite to win the championship, the competition remains fierce. Reese's Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries also pose significant threats to the championship title.
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