There's a key reality about the WNBA that pretty much anyone involved in the league — players, coaches, analysts, reporters, fans — needs to know: A'ja Wilson is the face of the league. She's a leader on the court and off, and is very likely going to be named WNBA MVP sometime in the coming weeks.
But her crown has been threatened by a newcomer. The Minnesota Lynx drafted Olivia Miles as the No. 2 overalll pick this season, and she's exceeded every expectation the team could have possibly had, and even invented some new expectations that didn't exist before. Many have posited that Miles is more than deserving of the MVP nod, and she's a clear lock for Rookie of the Year.
Though Miles will certainly get some votes this years, the MVP momentum certainly seems to be swinging in Wilson's direction. The Associated Press named Wilson its WNBA Player of the Year for the third year in a row Sunday morning, just before playoffs began. The AP also noted Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, both of the Indiana Fever, were deserving of the nod.
This marks the fourth time Wilson has won the AP's top player award. She was previously tied with Breanna Stewart, who the AP has named top player three times.
The award couldn't have come at a more perfect time. While Wilson will be focused on the Aces' upcoming game against the Indiana Fever today, it undoubtedly feels good to head into what's expected to be an intense match with the award under her belt.
The AP also announced a slew of other awards: Angel Reese was named Defensive Player of the Year, Cheryl Reeve was named Coach of the Year, Caitlin Clark was named Comeback Player of the Year, Jessica Shephard was named Most Improved Player, and Janelle Salaun was named Sixth Women of the Year.
As per usual, the WNBA will announce its own end of season awards throughout the postseason. In addition to MVP and Rookie of the Year, the WNBA will announce Most Improved Player and Coach of the Year, as well as Defensive Player of the Year. The Coach of the Year race is a fairly tight on this season: in addition to Reeve, who has helmed the Lynx through an enormously successful season, both Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries) and Sydney Johnson (Washington Mystics) are very viable candidates for the league.
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