NEW YORK (AP) — A’ja Wilson has truly set herself apart by winning the Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year award for an unprecedented third consecutive season. On Sunday, Wilson secured 15 of the 17 first-place votes from a nationwide media panel, outperforming other standout players like Minnesota’s Olivia Miles and Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, all of whom had remarkable seasons.
Wilson expressed her pride in a phone interview, emphasizing the difficulty and significance of winning the award three years running. “It’s a huge honor to do it three times in a row,” she said. “The competition in this league is incredible, and I don’t take this recognition lightly because of the immense talent we have.”
This marks Wilson’s fourth time claiming the AP award, surpassing Breanna Stewart’s previous record since the accolades began in 2016. “That sounds pretty great,” Wilson remarked on her record-breaking achievement.
The voting panel, consisting of 17 members, conducts weekly polls and has awarded these honors for 11 years. Meanwhile, the WNBA postseason awards will be announced throughout the playoffs, which start this Sunday, with Wilson favored to win the league MVP for a third straight year.
Wilson once again dominated as the league’s top scorer, averaging 26.2 points per game with nearly 53% shooting accuracy. She also posted averages of 9.4 rebounds, a career-high 3.2 assists, and 1.9 blocks.
Angel Reese took over as the AP Defensive Player of the Year, ending Wilson’s reign which had spanned three of the last four seasons. Reese thrived after moving to Atlanta, ranking third in steals and demonstrating the versatility to defend multiple positions, while leading the league in rebounds for the third year in a row.
Rookie Olivia Miles made an impressive debut season and was unanimously named AP Rookie of the Year. The Minnesota Lynx’s No. 2 draft pick averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds, helping her team achieve the best record in the league. She also set a new WNBA rookie scoring record, surpassing Caitlin Clark’s 2024 mark.
The AP All-Rookie team also includes Dallas’ Azzi Fudd, Chicago’s Sydney Taylor, Seattle’s Flau’jae Johnson, New York’s Pauline Astier, and Toronto’s Kiki Rice.
The AP All-WNBA First Team featured Wilson, Clark, Miles, and Mitchell, joined by New York’s Breanna Stewart. Reese earned a spot on the second team alongside teammate Rhyne Howard, Dallas’ Paige Bueckers, Las Vegas’ Jackie Young, and Golden State’s Gabby Williams.
Other notable AP award winners were:
— Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve, who earned the honor for the third time (previously in 2020 and 2024). She guided the Lynx to the top playoff seed despite missing star Napheesa Collier for the season’s first half due to ankle surgery. Reeve bested nominees Golden State’s Natalie Nakase and Washington’s Sydney Johnson.
— Comeback Player of the Year: Caitlin Clark, who returned strong after missing much of the previous season with injuries. She played all 40 games this year, averaging 22.3 points, 8.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. Washington’s Georgia Amoore and Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot also received votes.
— Most Improved Player: Jessica Shepard, who joined the Dallas Wings as a free agent and posted career bests with 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 31.7 minutes per game. Shepard recorded six triple-doubles this season. Washington’s Shakira Austin and Seattle’s Dominique Malonga followed in voting.
— Sixth Woman of the Year: Janelle Salaun, who came off the bench in all 40 games for the Las Vegas Valkyries, averaging 12.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 39.2% from beyond the arc. She led all reserves in scoring, contributing to the Golden State bench’s 36+ points per game average. New York’s Marine Johannes was the next in line.
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For WNBA fans, this recognition of Wilson’s dominance and the rise of young stars like Miles underscores the increasing talent and competitiveness of the league. These awards not only celebrate individual achievement but also highlight the growing excitement and visibility that can propel the sport to new heights.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
