Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson named WNBA MVP for second time

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A'ja Wilson has been named the Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.

In 2020, Wilson became the seventh player in league history to win the award more than once, joining three-time winner Lauren Jackson and two-time winner Cynthia Cooper.

The announcement came one day after Wilson and the Aces closed out their semifinal series against the Seattle Storm.

Wilson won the defensive player of the year award.

Wilson said that winning her second award doesn't seem real. It's something you don't think about much. The list of people who have won more than one is amazing. I smile because our league is so difficult.

Wilson was the winner of the media panel's vote. Wilson got 31 of 56 first-place votes and 478 total points, while Stewart got 446 points.

Wilson will get a trophy and $15,000.

The Connecticut Sun forward was fourth with 94 points, while the Las Vegas guard was third with 181 points. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player was fifth with 78 points and a first-place vote.

Wilson is trying to get the first title for the Aces franchise, which was located in Utah. She became the face of the franchise after being the top pick in the draft. She was the leader of the team that lost to Seattle in the semifinals of the 2020 NBA playoffs.

The home team in the best-of-five series will have the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd. The loser of Thursday's Game 5 of the other semifinal will face off against the winner of the other semifinal.

Wilson received two individual awards, as well as being named the league's Most Improved Player and the coach of the year.

Getting a title is the most important thing for Wilson. She led the league with 17 double-doubles during the regular season. During the playoffs, she averaged 20 points, 10.8 rebound and 2.3 blocks. In the second and third games against Seattle, she had 30 points and 15 assists.

Wilson had a triple-double in Tuesday's 97-92 victory over the Storm.

He was a member of the South Carolina team that won the first national championship in the school's history.

Wilson points to her relationship with her parents as one of the reasons she's ready for a pro career.

Wilson wants to be a vocal leader and emotional leader of the team. I'm not making them do things. It has to be about respecting one another. I have formed bonds with each of my teammates in a way where I know they will do the same for me.

I'm still evolving who I am as a player and a person. It hasn't been easy, but I wake up every day with the belief that I have another chance to have fun.