A’ja Wilson was named WNBA MVP on Sunday following a remarkable late-season surge to surpass fellow finalist Napheesa Collier for the award, the WNBA announced.

Wilson, who also won in 2020, 2022 and 2024, is now the first four-time MVP in WNBA history. She was previously in a four-way tie with three-time MVPs Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Lauren Jackson for the most in league history.

The voting, perhaps surprisingly, wasn’t that close. Wilson earned 51 of 72 votes to earn the win.

Collier finished second, picking up 18 first-place votes. Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas was the only other player to receive first-place votes. She picked up three.

Wilson was surprised by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo, who presented Wilson with the award.

Wilson broke down in tears upon hearing the news.

From out of the race to MVP

Wilson’s MVP candidacy didn’t gain traction until the last month of the season.

Through July, her Las Vegas Aces were an afterthought among title contenders alongside her MVP candidacy.

That all changed following a 111-58 drubbing at the hands of Collier’s Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 2. The loss dropped the Aces to 14-14 and at risk of not making the playoffs.

But that was their last loss of the regular season. Paced by Wilson, the Aces finished the season on a 16-0 run to vault back into tile contention, two years removed from a repeat.

They finished tied with the Atlanta Dream for the second-best record in the league at 30-14 and entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed behind Minnesota.

When the season was done, Wilson had averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. She shot 50.5% from the field and a career-high 42.4% on 1.5 3-point attempts per game.

A two-time Defensive Player of the Year in previous seasons, she shared the award this season in a split vote with Alanna Smith.

Wilson led the league in points and blocks per game and finished second in rebounding average to Angel Reese. Wilson’s 33.4 player efficiency rating (PER) was the best in the league. It added up to another remarkable campaign for Wilson and one that ultimately made WNBA history.

Collier denied her first MVP

Before Wilson’s ascension, Collier had emerged as the standalone frontrunner for MVP, which would have been her first. The Lynx separated themselves from the rest of the league as they raced out to a 20-4 record at the All-Star break.

When the season was done, Collier was the unquestioned best player on the WNBA’s best team. A force on both sides of the floor, she averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 53.1% from the floor.

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She progressed as a 3-point shooter while averaging 40.3% on a career-high 3.8 attempts per game, honing an all-round offensive package that resulted in a 30.2 player (PER) that was the best of her career and trailed only Wilson’s this season.

The Lynx ultimately earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a 34-10 regular-season record.

A late-season ankle sprain sidelined Collier, putting her MVP campaign on pause. She missed 11 of Minnesota’s 44 games. While Collier sat injured, Wilson surged and swiftly made up ground in the MVP race.

Wilson missed just four games and arguably posted a superior statistical profile for a team that finished with the second-best record in the league. Ultimately voters saw fit to award her her fourth MVP.