A'ja Wilson Wins Record 5th WNBA MVP, Third in a Row

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson has won a record fifth WNBA Most Valuable Player award for the 2026 season, according to ESPN, becoming the first player in league history to capture three consecutive MVP honors.

Wilson received 65 of the 74 first-place votes cast by the panel that determines the award, along with nine second-place votes, ESPN reported. Olivia Miles finished second with 442 points and six first-place votes, while Kelsey Mitchell took third with 287 points and two first-place votes.

What statistical case sealed Wilson's fifth MVP?

Wilson became the first WNBA player to average at least 25 points a game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent on 3-pointers in the same season, per ESPN's report. Her scoring average ranked second-highest in league history — trailing only her own mark from two years earlier — as she continued what ESPN's report described as a "legendary pedigree."

Who else received MVP votes?

Caitlin Clark finished fourth with 212 points and one first-place vote, and Breanna Stewart placed fifth with 171 points, according to the tally ESPN published. None of the four runners-up — Miles, Mitchell, Clark or Stewart — came close to unseating Wilson atop the ballot.

How does five MVPs compare with past WNBA winners?

Last season Wilson became the league's first four-time MVP, surpassing Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson, who each won three, ESPN reported. With a fifth trophy, Wilson joins NBA figures Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, both five-time MVPs in their own league, the outlet noted.

Where does Wilson rank among MVP leaders across U.S. pro sports?

Across major North American leagues, Wayne Gretzky holds the record with nine Hart Trophies in the NHL, according to ESPN. Barry Bonds won seven MVP awards in MLB, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six in the NBA, and Peyton Manning collected five in the NFL — the same total Wilson now holds in the WNBA, per ESPN's accounting.

What does a "first-place vote" mean in MVP balloting?

In WNBA MVP voting, a panel of media members ranks players on each ballot; a first-place vote assigns the highest point value to that player, while points also accrue for lower rankings such as second place, based on the vote breakdown ESPN published. Wilson's total of 65 first-place votes out of 74 ballots reflects near-unanimous support from the voting panel, the figures show.

The award keeps Wilson's name in rare company among American professional team-sport MVPs, trailing only Gretzky, Bonds and Abdul-Jabbar in total honors across the leagues ESPN compared her to, while matching Manning, Jordan and Russell at five apiece.