Full Breakdown
A’ja Wilson Makes History with Record Fifth WNBA MVP
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Record-Setting Fifth MVP and Three-Year Consecutive Run
On October 8, 2026, the Las Vegas Aces announced that center-forward A’ja Wilson had captured her fifth WNBA Most Valuable Player award, the first three-peat in league history. The national panel awarded Wilson 65 of the 74 first-place votes and nine second-place votes, giving her a total of 713 points. Rookie Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx finished second with 442 points, while Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark placed third and fourth respectively.
Background & Context
Drafted first overall in 2018, Wilson has been the cornerstone of the Aces’ sustained success, helping the franchise win three championships in the past five seasons and reach the semifinals for an eighth straight year. Prior MVP honors came in 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025, making her the all-time leader in WNBA MVP awards.
Data & Statistics
- Scoring: 26.2 PPG, the second-best single-season average in league history, behind Wilson’s own 26.9 PPG in 2024.
- Shooting efficiency: 52.7 % FG, 40.4 % from three, 86.4 % FT. First player to average at least 25 PPG while shooting at least 50 % overall and 40 % from three.
- Rebounding & Defense: 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks per game (league-leading for the fifth consecutive season), and 1.4 steals.
- Advanced metrics: PER of 32.4 and Win Shares of 9.4, both league-leading.
- Voting: 65 first-place votes, 9 second-place votes, 713 total points.
Official Statements & Responses
Former Vice President Kamala Harris sent a voice message congratulating Wilson, which Wilson described as an “honor.”
Criticism & Opposition
Some commentators questioned the voting outcome, noting the omission of Caitlin Clark from the top five despite a historic season that included a 45-point, 10-assist game on July 17. Clark averaged 22.3 points and 8.3 assists per game.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Defensive Player of the Year award for 2026 had not been announced at the time of reporting, leaving a gap in the full assessment of Wilson’s comparative defensive standing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Each one of these has not been taken lightly,” — A'ja Wilson
- “A’ja Wilson is one of one,” — Nikki Fargas, team president
What’s Next
The Aces head into the next semifinal game against the Golden State Valkyries, trailing the best-of-five series 2-0. Wilson indicated she will forgo the customary pre-game MVP ceremony to focus on preparation, saying she will “warm up with my team” and keep her attention on “getting a game.”