A’ja Wilson’s remarkable, unanimous MVP season came to an unexpected end after the Las Vegas Aces were eliminated by the New York Liberty in the WNBA Playoff series.
Despite her stellar performance throughout the season, Wilson made history in a way no athlete hopes for—becoming the first unanimous MVP in either the NBA or WNBA to not reach the Finals in the same season.
According to Stat Mamba, Wilson is the first to hold this unfortunate distinction, though the stat itself can be seen as somewhat unfair given the limited number of players who have earned unanimous MVP honors in professional basketball.
Wilson, who received 67 first-place votes (670 points) to claim her second WNBA MVP title, joins an elite but small group of unanimous MVPs.
She is only the second player in WNBA history to be named MVP unanimously, following in the footsteps of Houston Comets legend Cynthia Cooper, who achieved the same feat in 1997 during the WNBA’s inaugural season.
In comparison, Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry is the sole NBA player to win unanimous MVP, a milestone he reached during the 2015-16 season.
Interestingly, while Cooper led her team to a championship, Curry’s Warriors lost the Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers despite being up 3-1 in the series.
Though Wilson may be disappointed by not reaching the Finals, she can find some solace in knowing that even other unanimous MVPs, like Curry, haven’t always clinched the championship.
Ultimately, basketball is a team sport where many factors determine success. While Wilson’s historic season will be remembered, her MVP achievement stands as a testament to her exceptional skills and leadership.
