Las Vegas Aces’ standout player, A’ja Wilson, was honored as Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, a title well-earned through her exceptional 2025 season. Standing 6-foot-4 and hailing from South Carolina, Wilson secured her second WNBA scoring title, third Defensive Player of the Year award, and an unprecedented fourth MVP award—making her the first in league history to achieve this milestone—just weeks before leading the Aces to their championship victory, where she was named Finals MVP for the second time.
Wilson made history as the first athlete in either the WNBA or NBA to claim a championship, Finals MVP, regular-season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year all in a single season. Additionally, she joins an elite group as one of only four players in these leagues to earn four MVPs before turning 30. To celebrate, she wore gloves inspired by Thanos during the Las Vegas championship parade, symbolizing her all-encompassing dominance.
Reflecting on her achievement, Wilson told TIME, “When you put it all together, it’s Thanos. This year, I put it all together. I don’t say much; I let my game speak. This was the biggest moment because no one had ever done what I did, and I wanted people to understand that.”
Despite her rise, Wilson’s journey included challenges; midway through the season, the Aces rested at a .500 record and suffered a crushing loss to the Minnesota Lynx. However, turning a corner, the team entered the playoffs with a 16-game winning streak and battled through intense series against Seattle and Indiana before reaching the Finals. Wilson acknowledged this tough period as a wake-up call that fueled her drive, saying, “I can’t be satisfied with anything—there’s always someone trying to take your job. You have to be the best every day.”
Wilson secured her legacy and likely the Athlete of the Year honor with a game-winning shot in Game 3 of the Finals, with 2.2 seconds left—a subtle tribute to her jersey number 22—clinching the championship and sparking debate about her status as the greatest WNBA player ever. While she may not fully embrace that title, she feels she’s making it hard for others to keep up. “Greatest of all time players have signature moments, and I didn’t have a single ‘wow’ shot before this,” she said, “but that’s who I am—I’m exactly who I believe I am.”
Wilson’s achievement places her alongside other 2025 TIME winners like KPop Demon Hunters (Breakthrough of the Year), YouTube’s Neil Mohan (CEO of the Year), and Leonardo DiCaprio (Entertainer of the Year).
Fan Take: A’ja Wilson’s historic season and recognition as Athlete of the Year highlight the growing prominence and competitive excellence of the WNBA. This moment not only celebrates a phenomenal talent but also serves as an inspiration, signaling the sport’s bright future and the increasing respect it commands on the global stage.
