A’ja Wilson is set to snag her fifth WNBA MVP award, and after years of watching her dominate, we’re all still trying to process what her level of success even means. This isn’t just another award; it’s a historical moment that thoroughly distorts our perception of individual basketball success in the WNBA. Her dominance has almost depraved her of the usual dramatic storylines great hoopers often have, because she just wins.
Five MVPs? This Is Wild
We’re talking about Wilson grabbing her *fifth* MVP, her *third-straight* MVP, for crying out loud! Olivia Miles had a historic rookie season this year, but even that wasn’t enough to stop A’ja’s incredible run. Just two years ago, when she grabbed her third MVP, she tied legends like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson for the most in league history. That was already absolutely insane. Then she followed it up last year with her fourth. Now? Barring some generational, impossible four-game run from Miles in these final days, Wilson is holding number five. That’s just wild, right?
GOAT Talk Just Got Real
So, is she the GOAT? When you look purely at WNBA accomplishments, it’s almost impossible to argue against it. Five MVP awards soon, three WNBA championships, soon to be three scoring titles, and three, possibly even four, Defensive Player of the Year awards. We’re not even gonna waste breath listing her All-WNBA First Teams or All-Star nominations, her trophy case is already overflowing. No one in league history has had a prime at this altitude, and no prime in league history has lasted this long. Think about the path of other greats: she didn’t have to wait seven or nine years to win a championship like NBA GOATs LeBron James or Michael Jordan. She hasn’t lacked a historic prime like Diana Taurasi or seen that prime cut short like Maya Moore. The 2020s have undeniably brought us the most talented players in women’s basketball history, with names like Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Olivia Miles. Any other time, these players would be perennial MVPs or totally reinvent the ceiling of skill and dominance upon arrival. But A’ja just keeps that ceiling way up there, still far above their heads. Her dominance is painting a Bill Russell-esque picture of this entire decade in the history books.
College Career? Seriously?
And then you hear some people ask if her *college career* somehow holds back her GOAT status. Are you kidding me? What a ridiculous question to even ponder, honestly. A college career that included a national championship, four AP All-American selections, an AP Player of the Year, a Naismith Award, and three SEC Player of the Years? How could *that* possibly hurt her candidacy for greatest WNBA player of all time? It absolutely does not. If anything, it just piles on to an already unbelievable resume, much like how the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame considers all basketball accomplishments towards a player’s full Hall of Fame resume. It just solidifies her as one of the most decorated basketball players, period.
The WNBA returns on Thursday night for the final days of the season, and while other players are still pushing for their awards, A’ja Wilson is just waiting to officially cement her place in history. Get ready for MVP number five. What a player.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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