A'ja Wilson leads the WNBA MVP race

The WNBA has had a great year, thanks to a great rookie class. However, we have to continue to acknowledge the veterans who are building the game. A'Ja Wilson is one of these players who has consistently pushed herself to do better. She currently sits at the top of the MVP conversation as she continues to average a historic 26.9 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game. She is one of two, the other being Napheesa Collier, continuously having these 20-point double-double nights.

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Current WNBA MVP ladder

Right now, Wilson's competition for MVP includes Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu, to name a few. These women have been relatively steady, just like Wilson.

Collier is currently averaging 20.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The Minnesota Lynx are first in the Western Conference and third in the league, giving them a playoff spot. Her season high is 31 points and 13 rebounds at the moment, but she isn't as consistent as Wilson in scoring. She was the 2019 Rookie of the Year and a 2024 Olympic gold medalist.

Stewart is a consistent lock in the MVP race, winning the award in 2018 and 2023. She's currently averaging 19.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. The forward was on fire during the Olympics, earning gold. Her season high in scoring is 33, and her season high in rebounding is 17. The New York Liberty sits in first place for the Eastern Conference and first place for the league.

The Liberty also has Sabrina Ionescu as an MVP possibility. She's averaging 19.9 points and 6.0 assists per game. Her season high in points is 31, and her high in assists is 12. She hasn't won MVP before, but she is a gold medalist and a two-time All-WNBA player.

Wilson's last showings for the Aces

The Las Vegas Aces had a tough loss against the Minnesota Lynx the other day. They are currently in fifth with a record of 15-10. They will most likely be making the playoffs this season. Even with this loss, Wilson still had a solid game.

The Lynx defense is strong, but Wilson still had 15 points and nine rebounds against them. She was 7-14 from the field in this one and 1-2 from the charity stripe. This was one of the few games where Wilson wasn't the lead scorer.

In their win against the Los Angeles Sparks, Wilson had 34 points and 13 rebounds. She was 12-20 from the field and 10-11 from the free throw line. This is the much more typical performance we see from Wilson that has catapulted her to the front of the MVP race.

Wilson's career so far

The Center has been with the Aces since her career started in 2018 when she was drafted No. 1 overall. Her team won the WNBA Championship in 2022 and 2023, and she was named Finals MVP in that 2023 win. She's also been named WNBA MVP in 2020 and 2022.

A'Ja Wilson has been named Defensive Player of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, as well as making the All-WNBA team multiple times and captaining the All-Star game. She is a consistent star and leader for her team. As of this moment, she is fourth in points per game in WNBA history, putting her name on a list of very impressive players.

If Wilson wins MVP this season, it will show that she is one of the most dominant players in WNBA history. The Aces are also high on the ladder for winning the chip this season, which would put her in the conversation for Finals MVP, too.

Article originally written by Elizabeth Della Piana