A'ja Wilson named WNBA MVP for third consecutive year, fifth time overall as Aces star extends all-time record

Las Vegas Aces star forward A'ja Wilson has been named the 2026 WNBA MVP.

The WNBA announced the news on Thursday.

Wilson received 65 of 74 first-place votes and 713 points from a panel of WNBA media. WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx finished second in voting (six first-place votes, 442 points).

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (two first-place votes, 287 points), Fever guard Caitlin Clark (one first-place vote, 212 points) and Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (171 points) finished in third through fifth place, respectively.

Wilson played in 41 games this season. She averaged 26.2 points per game, the second-highest mark of her career, and the highest in the WNBA this year.

The forward also averaged 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.

Here is a look at how Wilson stacked up with the other MVP finalists.

Wilson has now won the award three years in a row, and this is the fifth overall MVP award in what is assuredly a Hall of Fame career. The Aces forward was already in the conversation among the greatest basketball players ever, and this latest honor only adds to her lore.

Across the NBA and WNBA, only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) has more MVPs. Wilson's fifth ties her with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell. Wilson already held the WNBA record for most MVP Awards with four, after she surpassed Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson, who each won three, last year.

Wilson's career accolades are almost unbelievable when you break them down. The 2026 season was just her ninth year in the league, and she's now been named the MVP in more than half of the seasons she has played.

The Aces forward has already won three WNBA championships and has been named WNBA Finals MVP twice.

Wilson has also been a three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time All-Star, three-time scoring champion, and six-time blocks leader.