A'ja Wilson has accomplished something no player in WNBA history has ever done. Now she faces a situation that could make her historic week considerably less enjoyable.
The Las Vegas Aces superstar was named the 2026 WNBA Most Valuable Player on Thursday, becoming the first player in league history to win the award five times.
Wilson also became the first player to capture three consecutive MVP awards. The announcement added another extraordinary achievement to a career already filled with championships, individual honors and statistical records.
But Wilson doesn't have much time to celebrate. The defending champion Aces face elimination Friday night against the Golden State Valkyries.
Wilson joins an exclusive group of basketball legends
Wilson received 65 of the 74 first-place votes in the MVP balloting, finishing with 713 points. Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles finished second with 442 points, followed by Indiana Fever stars Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart rounded out the top five.
U’nmatched greatness. MVP No. 5 🖐️🏆 A’ja Wilson is your 2026 @Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player! Averaging 26.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG and 3.2 APG, Wilson led the league in scoring and adds a record-extending FIFTH MVP to her historic resume. #KiaMVP | #WNBASeason30 https://t.co/Klo5rvaDeK
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2026Wilson averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 blocks during the regular season. She led the league in scoring for the third consecutive year while continuing to establish herself as one of basketball's most complete players. Her fifth MVP award puts her in remarkable company across professional basketball.
Michael Jordan and Bill Russell each won five NBA MVP awards. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar collected six. Wilson has now matched Jordan and Russell's total, although the NBA and WNBA have different histories and voting contexts. She also has accomplished something neither league's previous five-time MVP winners achieved in the WNBA: winning three consecutive awards.
MORE: Aces face stunning elimination threat after Valkyries' dramatic playoff win
Golden State threatens Wilson's championship hopes
The celebration arrives at an uncomfortable moment for Las Vegas. Golden State leads the best-of-five semifinal series 2-0 after winning Wednesday's Game 2 by an 83-81 score. Wilson scored 24 points in that defeat, but the Aces couldn't overcome Veronica Burton's late three-pointer and Golden State's defensive execution.
Las Vegas must win three consecutive games to reach another WNBA Finals. The first opportunity comes Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET. A victory would keep the defending champions alive. Another defeat would end their season despite Wilson's extraordinary individual campaign.
That creates one of the postseason's most compelling storylines. The league's newly crowned five-time MVP is trying to prevent her season from ending just one day after receiving the award.
Wilson already has secured her place in basketball history. Friday will help determine whether her latest historic season includes another championship run.
