Story by
Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson wins second WNBA Finals MVP
- Story by
- Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson wins second WNBA Finals MVP
PHOENIX -- After leading the Las Vegas Aces to their third title in four seasons, forward A'ja Wilson was named WNBA Finals MVP on Friday at Mortgage Market Center.
She finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as the Aces swept the Mercury by winning Game 4, 97-86, at Mortgage Market Arena in the first best-of-seven series.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
"God is good, he's been working on this team from the jump," Wilson said as she accepted her Finals MVP Award. "For us to be able to celebrate this, it's truly special. We worked our butts off to get to this point and now it's time to have some fun.
"I wish I could take the credit, but this is God working."
A'ja Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She was the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Aces after leading the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to an NCAA championship. See her basketball career from South Carolina to Las Vegas to Team USA.
(Candice Ward, Getty Images)
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks goes up against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts to their 65 to 66 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)
Teaira McCowan #15 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs battles for the tip-off with A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
A'ja Wilson #22 and head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks hold the NCAA trophy and celebrates with their team after winning the championship game against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks wipes away her tears as her coach Dawn Staley is interviewed after their win over the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
Jonquel Jones #35 of Team WNBA looks to pass against Aja Wilson #9 of the USA Women's National Team during the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 14, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Team WNBA defeated the USA Women's National Team 93-85.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
USA's A'ja Wilson dives for the ball in the women's preliminary round group B basketball match between Nigeria and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 27, 2021.
(THOMAS COEX, AFP via Getty Images)
A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket against Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.
A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States shoots against Yuki Miyazawa #52 of Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.
(Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images)
Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Connecticut Sun during the second quarter in game one of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, USA TODAY Sports)
Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first quarter in game two of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, USA TODAY Sports)
Team Wilson frontcourt Cheyenne Parker (32) and frontcourt Aja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against Team Stewart during the second half of the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports)
Portrait of Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson. Wilson is a two-time NBA champion and will be part of the USA National Basketball Team competing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Photographed at the Ace's training complex in Henderson, NV.
Gold medalist A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States poses for a photo during the Women's basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
1
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'ja Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She was the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Aces after leading the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to an NCAA championship. See her basketball career from South Carolina to Las Vegas to Team USA.
(Candice Ward, Getty Images)
1
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'ja Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She was the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Aces after leading the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to an NCAA championship. See her basketball career from South Carolina to Las Vegas to Team USA.
(Candice Ward, Getty Images)
2
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)
3
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks goes up against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)
4
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts to their 65 to 66 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)
5
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
Teaira McCowan #15 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs battles for the tip-off with A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
6
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'ja Wilson #22 and head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks hold the NCAA trophy and celebrates with their team after winning the championship game against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
7
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks wipes away her tears as her coach Dawn Staley is interviewed after their win over the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
8
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
Jonquel Jones #35 of Team WNBA looks to pass against Aja Wilson #9 of the USA Women's National Team during the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 14, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Team WNBA defeated the USA Women's National Team 93-85.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
9
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
USA's A'ja Wilson dives for the ball in the women's preliminary round group B basketball match between Nigeria and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 27, 2021.
(THOMAS COEX, AFP via Getty Images)
10
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket against Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.
11
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States shoots against Yuki Miyazawa #52 of Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.
(Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images)
12
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Connecticut Sun during the second quarter in game one of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, USA TODAY Sports)
13
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first quarter in game two of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, USA TODAY Sports)
14
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
Team Wilson frontcourt Cheyenne Parker (32) and frontcourt Aja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against Team Stewart during the second half of the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports)
15
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
Portrait of Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson. Wilson is a two-time NBA champion and will be part of the USA National Basketball Team competing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Photographed at the Ace's training complex in Henderson, NV.
16
/16
See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics
Gold medalist A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States poses for a photo during the Women's basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
BUY: USA TODAY's commemorative page print
Wilson averaged 26.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.5 blocks per game in the postseason going into Game 4. It's been a special season for Wilson, who was also named regular season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-WNBA and All-Defensive team.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
"I said this when she got her fourth MVP. Who do you have on your (WNBA) Mount Rushmore? She's sitting alone on Everest," Aces coach Becky Hammon said. "There's no one around."
In eight seasons, Wilson arguably has a résumé that defies logic. She now has three championships, two Finals MVP selections, four regular-season MVP awards , three Defensive Player of the Year awards, two scoring titles and a Rookie of the Year nod.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aces' A'ja Wilson wins second WNBA Finals MVP
