A'ja Wilson Wins Record Fifth WNBA MVP, First Player to Three-Peat

A'ja Wilson has rewritten the WNBA record book again. The Las Vegas Aces superstar was named the league's 2026 Most Valuable Player on Thursday, becoming the first player ever to capture the award three years in a row and lifting her career total to five — the most by any player in history, ahead of Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson on three each.

Wilson dominated the voting, collecting 65 of 74 first-place votes for 713 points. Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles finished second with 442 points and six first-place votes, while Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark followed with 287 and 212 points respectively, and New York's Breanna Stewart was fifth on 171.

The numbers behind the award were staggering. The 30-year-old led the league in scoring for the third straight season with 26.2 points per game, adding 9.4 rebounds, a career-high 3.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals across 41 games. She previously won the award in 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025.

Wilson learned of the honor from commissioner Cathy Engelbert and declined a pregame trophy presentation, choosing instead to focus on the Aces' playoff fight — they trail the Golden State Valkyries 2-0 in their semifinal series.