Few athletes manage to bend a sport around their presence the way A’ja Wilson has in the WNBA. Year after year, she’s proved her sustained dominance, setting new bars for what greatness looks like on the court. But behind every milestone in women’s sports, there’s often another story, the way support comes from the people closest to them. We’ve seen it before: from Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian building courtside rituals around her dominance, to Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra blending two hall-of-fame careers under one roof.

A’ja Wilson’s career has already redefined dominance in the WNBA. This season alone, she averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, while also becoming the first player in league history with 13 thirty-point games in a single year. Add to that her milestone of surpassing 100 career double-doubles, and it’s clear her résumé stands among the greats. What makes them resonate even more is when the people closest to her get to share in those moments.

In Las Vegas, the moment came when history was made as WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert officially crowned A’ja Wilson the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, marking her fourth career MVP and second in a row. “I’ve admired the way you’ve lived, with grace, humility, humor, and just one of the greatest players to ever be in this league,” Engelbert said in her announcement, recalling handing Wilson her first MVP back in 2020. “You are a global icon and global ambassador, not just for our game, but for all women’s sports.” The crowd erupted in chants of “MVP! MVP!” as Wilson stood visibly emotional.

The surprise of the night came when Engelbert called out Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo, who stepped onto the court to present the trophy. Wilson, overwhelmed by the gesture had fallen, with her knees on the ground, as tears flowed down her cheeks. Her 2025 campaign justified the honor, she averaged over 23 points, 10 rebounds, and elite defense, carrying the Las Vegas Aces to another dominant season while setting a new standard for consistency and leadership.

Adebayo’s surprise gesture highlighted how Wilson’s greatness is now transcending basketball itself, uniting the NBA and WNBA spotlight.

The numbers behind her campaign were as emphatic as her presence on the court. The MVP vote reflected that dominance, garnering 51 first-place votes and 657 total points, edging Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier (534 points) by a wide margin. With every statistical box checked and history books rewritten, this MVP was already destined to stand apart.

As the celebration unfolded, Wilson’s teammates and friends surrounded her in a sea of pink wigs, a tradition Aces fans and players adopted to honor her nickname “The Pink Panther” and to symbolize strength and fun during playoff runs. Her parents joined the embrace on the coourt, while her longtime bodyguard, Tyrone Gathers, was spotted crying openly as he congratulated her. The scene captured not just another milestone for A’ja Wilson, but a moment where Las Vegas rallied behind a superstar whose influence now stretches far beyond basketball.

Wilson’s brilliance can’t mask Aces’ playoff vulnerability

Even as A’ja Wilson racks up milestones, the Aces’ postseason outlook remains fragile because everything still runs through her. Analyst Rachel DeMita nailed it on Courtside Club: “Their biggest strength is also their biggest weakness. And their biggest strength is having A’ja Wilson… She has put this team on her back.” The repeated accolades prove just that. Although when she was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year with Minnesota’s Alanna Smith, splitting an award many believed she should have owned outright. Bam Adebayo, her boyfriend and Heat star, voiced the frustration in real time, posting on Threads: “Can somebody explain Co to me right now..?!” alongside a picture of Wilson staring down at reporters.

Wilson has led the Aces in scoring in 30 of 44 games this season, including a 38-point explosion in Game 3 against Seattle where the rest of the starters managed only 26. When she dominates, Las Vegas looks unbeatable, but their dependence on her shot creation and defensive anchor role leaves them one cold shooting night away from an upset.

That imbalance has raised alarms heading into the semifinals against Indiana. The Fever may not boast the same star power, but Stephanie White’s squad thrives in transition and can torch teams with a five-out, three-heavy attack. DeMita suggested that Indiana might not even need to stop Wilson “she’s going to put some points on your head, I don’t care who’s guarding her” but rather, limit everyone else. If Las Vegas doesn’t find ways to spread the scoring load beyond its MVP, Wilson’s historic dominance could end up highlighting the very fragility of the Aces’ playoff push.