A’ja Wilson has added another milestone to her already towering career after TIME Magazine named her its 2025 Athlete of the Year, cementing her status as one of the defining figures in modern sports.
TIME announced the honor on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, spotlighting the four-time WNBA MVP, three-time champion, and newly minted signature shoe athlete whose dominance this year pushed women’s basketball into a new era of visibility and cultural impact.
Wilson’s 2025 season was nothing short of historic. The Las Vegas Aces superstar became the fastest player in league history to reach 5,000 points, collected her third Defensive Player of the Year award, secured a record fourth MVP, and claimed her second WNBA Finals MVP as she led the Aces to another championship.
She also did something no one in the WNBA or the NBA has ever achieved: winning a championship, Finals MVP, regular-season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
For Wilson, greatness isn’t an abstract idea. It’s a standard she’s actively building.
“I think I’m on my way there,” she told TIME when asked about the growing GOAT conversation. “I’m making it real hard for people to chase after me. That’s what it means to be the GOAT.”
A Year That Redefined Her Reach
Beyond the trophies, Wilson’s year carried cultural weight. Her signature shoe launch placed her among an elite group of WNBA players with their own sneaker line, and her voice off the court has become just as influential.
In her TIME interview, she spoke candidly about her childhood in South Carolina, the Aces’ unexpectedly slow start to the season, and the league’s shifting landscape as the WNBA prepares for high-stakes collective bargaining discussions.
“All of us are going to be at the table,” Wilson said of the negotiations. “And we’re not moving until we get exactly what we want.”
Her comments reflect a broader movement among WNBA players demanding better pay, improved travel conditions, and a financial model that matches the league’s surging popularity.
A Defining Moment for Women’s Sports
Wilson’s recognition comes as women’s basketball hits unprecedented highs, from skyrocketing attendance to historic TV ratings. TIME’s decision signals just how central Wilson has become to the sport’s growth — both as an athlete and as an advocate pushing the league forward.
The TIME Person of the Year issue, featuring Wilson’s Athlete of the Year profile, hits newsstands Friday, Dec. 19. The magazine will announce its overall Person of the Year on Thursday, Dec. 11.
