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A'ja Wilson joins illustrious company with fifth WNBA MVP award
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

A'ja Wilson joins illustrious company with fifth WNBA MVP award

By Eric Smithling  |  Last updated Oct 8, 2026 5:49 PM ET
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A'ja Wilson stands among giants.

On Thursday, the Las Vegas Aces eight-time All-Star center added a remarkable fifth WNBA MVP award to her hardware collection, joining a select group of icons across major North American sports.

Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Gretzky won nine Hart Memorial Trophies, the NHL's equivalent to other leagues' MVP awards, followed by fellow Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, who earned six.

Only three NBA players (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell) received a least five MVP honors, while Barry Bonds, who finished his MLB career with seven first-place MVP finishes, is the only player in major league history to win more than four. Peyton Manning is also the only NFL player with five MVP trophies.

A'ja Wilson in elite company after earning fifth WNBA MVP award

Among those in the five-timer club, only Gretzky, who earned his fifth MVP by the end of his sixth season, and Abdul-Jabbar joined the ranks faster than Wilson. Selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft, the former South Carolina Gamecocks star is in her ninth season, which ties her with Russell for the third-fewest seasons needed to get five MVP awards.

PLAYER
 LEAGUE
 TOTAL MVPS
 FIFTH MVP SEASON
 YEAR OF PLAYING CAREER
Wayne Gretzky
 NHL
 9
 1983-84
 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
 NBA
 6
 1976-77
 8
Gordie Howe
 NHL
 6
 1959-60
 14
Barry Bonds
 MLB
 5
 2002
 17
Michael Jordan
 NBA
 5
 1997-98
 13
Peyton Manning
 NFL
 5
 2013
 15
Bill Russell
 NBA
 5
 1964-65
 9
A'ja Wilson
 WNBA
 5
 2026
 9

Wilson also joins a select group of athletes to win three consecutive MVP awards. In MLB, Shohei Ohtani (2023-25) was the most recent to accomplish the feat, followed by Bonds (2001-04). Gretzky capped a remarkable eight-year stretch of Hart Trophy wins in 1987, while quarterback Brett Favre (1995-97) is the only player in the Super Bowl era to win three NFL MVP awards in a row. Larry Bird (1984-86) was the most recent NBA player to receive the recognition in three straight seasons.

Other winners of three consecutive MVPs, according to ESPN, include Wilt Chamberlain (1966-68), Russell (1961-63) and Bobby Orr (1970-72).

The scary thing for the rest of the WNBA is that Wilson has shown no signs of slowing down. This season, she averaged 26.2 points per game on 52.7 percent shooting, both the second-best marks of her career. The two-time Finals MVP has also developed a reliable three-point shot, making over 40 percent from her attempts from beyond the arc in each of the past two seasons.

Few players across the professional sports landscape have ever dominated their sport quite like Wilson has over the last decade, and after Thursday, she has the MVP awards to prove it.

Eric Smithling
X Muck Rack

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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