A'ja Wilson Wins Historic 5th WNBA MVP Award
Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson just claimed her fifth WNBA MVP award in nine seasons, cementing her place as one of basketball's greatest players. Her boyfriend, NBA star Bam Adebayo, had to keep the exciting secret for over a week.
When A'ja Wilson learned she'd won her fifth WNBA MVP award Thursday, it was news to her but old news to her boyfriend, who'd been quietly celebrating for days.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo was asked last week to record a video congratulating Wilson on her latest MVP win. That meant keeping a massive secret from his partner, the Las Vegas Aces superstar who just made basketball history.
The secret stayed safe. Wilson's fifth MVP award is heading to the Miami home she shares with Adebayo, adding to a trophy collection that keeps growing.
"You really can't put five MVPs into words," Adebayo said after a Heat preseason game Thursday night. "You literally just have to sit there and admire greatness."
Wilson's dominance in the WNBA goes beyond impressive. In her nine professional seasons, she's captured 54% of all first-place MVP votes cast during that span. That means Wilson alone has received more first-place votes (274) than every other WNBA player combined (233) over the same period.
Her MVP résumé tells the story: seventh place her rookie year, eighth the next season, then first, sixth, first, third, first, first, and first. She's also an eight-time All-Star with a 22.1 career points-per-game average, the highest in WNBA history.
Why This Inspires
The relationship between Wilson and Adebayo shows how champions lift each other up. They met through USA Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, starting as close friends before becoming partners. Now they regularly attend each other's games, celebrating wins and supporting through challenges.
"I try to do my best to remind her of who she is, and vice versa," Adebayo explained. "When you have those types of moments, those need to be celebrated."
Their mutual support extends beyond basketball. Wilson was courtside in Miami last season when Adebayo scored 83 points, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. Now it's his turn to celebrate her latest achievement.
Between them, the couple has five MVP awards, and Wilson has earned every single one.
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Based on reporting by Yahoo Sports
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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