A’Ja Wilson Wins AP Female Athlete of the Year
A’Ja Wilson Wins AP Female Athlete of the Year
Photo Credit: Brian Lowe of Women’s Health Mag
By: Joshua Martin
After an incredible season in which her Las Vegas Aces captured their third championship in four seasons, A’ja Wilson achieved one of the highest honors in sports this past Wednesday. The four time WNBA MVP earned The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the first time in her career. Wilson becomes only the fifth basketball player to be given the title since its inception in 1931, joining hoop superstars Sheryl Swoopes (‘93), Rebecca Lobo (‘95), Candace Parker (‘08, ‘21) and Caitlyn Clark (‘24).
“It’s an honor when you think about the group of women who have won before. Just to have my name be a part of it, I’m blessed.”
A group of 47 sports journalists from the AP casted votes to determine the victor. Wilson received 17 of those votes while tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was second with 9 votes.
“The things she’s done on the court have never been done. To me, she’s in a category all her own. People always ask who’s on your Mount Rushmore? I’m saying she’s on Everest, there’s nobody up there with her. Her relatability, her being down to earth makes her a great superstar. Her skill set is unmatched, but she’s also the easiest player to coach. To have that mixture of humility, grace and skill, there’s a reason why she’s doing things that have never been done.” - Aces coach Becky Hammon
This season was unlike any other for A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces. After dominating their previous two championship runs, the team found itself at risk of missing the postseason in its entirety in 2025. Wilson rallied her team to sixteen straight wins to end the season, securing the No. 2 seed and eventually leading the Aces to another championship.
By the end of the year, Wilson had cemented her place in history. She became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP and the scoring title all in the same season. Surpassing legends like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson with her fourth MVP award.
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