A'ja Wilson Named WNBA Most Valuable Player for Fifth Time
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson was named the 2026 Most Valuable Player of the WNBA, the top US women's professional basketball league, on 8 October. She is the first player in league history to win the award three years in a row.
A'ja Wilson, a post player for the Las Vegas Aces, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2026 WNBA season on Thursday, 8 October. The WNBA is the top women's professional basketball league in the United States and is marking its 30th year. It is Wilson's fifth MVP award in seven years (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026), and she is the first player in league history to win it three years running.
The voting
The award was decided by a vote of journalists and television commentators. Of 74 ballots, Wilson was named first on 65 and second on nine, finishing with 713 points. A first-place vote was worth 10 points, second place seven, third place five, fourth place three and fifth place one.
Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles was second with 442 points and six first-place votes. Indiana Fever defender Kelsey Mitchell was third with 287 points and two first-place votes. Her Fever teammate, point guard Caitlin Clark, was fourth with 212 points and one first-place vote, while New York Liberty center Breanna Stewart was fifth with 171 points.
Wilson's season
In her ninth WNBA season, Wilson averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals over 41 games.
In the playoffs, the Aces have lost both games so far against the Golden State Valkyries: 71:60 on 4 October and 83:81 on 8 October. The next game in the series is scheduled for 10 October.
