The Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson did not just win her fourth Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player and Co-Defensive Player of the Year; she also secured her place among the greats. At 29, she is now the first player in league history to claim the honor four times, surpassing legends like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson.
Wilson’s season so far has left little room for debate. She has been averaging 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals. She not only leads the league in scoring, but also is shooting 42% from three and 50% from the field. These are career numbers that not only showcase her growing versatility but also her resilience.
The Aces spent much of the season hovering in the middle of the standings, but everything changed after an Aug. 2 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, a 111-58 blowout against the league’s top team. From that moment, Wilson powered a turnaround. She led the team to a 16-game winning streak, the second longest in league history, to close the season. Wilson averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds during that stretch.
She is now the only player to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in multiple seasons. She logged 13 games with 30 or more points, the most ever in a single WNBA season.
Now with her fourth MVP in hand, all eyes turn to the playoffs. The Aces are currently, as of Sept. 29, 1-1 in the Semifinals against the Indiana Fever. There is no doubt the Aces are chasing that third championship, and Wilson is playing some of the best basketball we have ever seen from the WNBA. If the regular season dominance can continue into October, Las Vegas has every reason to believe another title is within reach. The road will not be easy, though; the Lynx, Phoenix Mercury and Fever all stand a chance as well.
Playoff Predictions
After a fluke 34-point Game 1 from Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, the Aces were able to bounce back and soundly win Game 2. Indiana prevailed at home, tying the series on Friday, with Mitchell having a team-high 25 points. With the dominant trio of Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray leading the Aces, the injury-riddled Fever have a difficult uphill battle in Game five, but, then again, anything is possible in a five-game series.
On the other side of the bracket, the Mercury put up a fight against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. Game 3 was a rocky one, with Napheesa Collier left with a hurt ankle and Coach Cheryl Reeve ejected by the end and later suspended from Game 4. Collier finished second in MVP voting, averaging 22.9 points per game, and was the projected finals MVP. It was shocking to see the star go down when everyone thought the Lynx had the finals secured. Game 4 on Sunday night, without their star power forward, made no difference for the Lynx, as they led the game up until the fourth quarter when DeWanna Bonner scored 11 of her 13 points and locked the Mercury in for the finals with three clutch threes. Alyssa Thomas has also been the engine of the Mercury, proving she is impossible to guard, scoring the team high 23 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists.
This year marks the first time in WNBA history that the finals will be a best-of-seven series, instead of best-of-five. The Aces have a chip on their shoulder, with a winning streak that will go down in history. On the other hand, the Mercury are on a mission and Thomas is making sure they take that championship. The two teams have strong championship pedigrees, so it is impossible to know the outcome. All we know is that this will be a seven-game series of basketball that you will not want to miss.
Armaan and Holland’s Locks: [Disclaimer: This is not gambling advice]
Las Vegas Aces to win 2025 WNBA Finals (+225)
Alyssa Thomas to win WNBA Finals MVP (-140)
Alyssa Thomas over two finals games with 30 PTS (+5000)