NEW YORK — A’ja Wilson is in a class by herself after winning the AP’s WNBA player of the year award for an unprecedented third straight year.
Wilson received 15 of the 17 first-place votes from a national media panel in results announced Sunday. The Las Vegas Aces center topped Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles of Minnesota as well as Indiana Fever teammates Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, who all had stellar seasons.
“It’s big. It’s an honor for me to do it three times in a row. It’s not easy,” Wilson said in a phone interview. “My counterparts in this league are really good. I don’t take it lightly because of how much talent we do have in this league.”
It’s the fourth time overall that Wilson has won the AP award, breaking a tie with Breanna Stewart for most since the awards were first given in 2016.
“That’s got a nice ring to it,” Wilson said. “That’s pretty cool.”