Wilson earns WNBA's Most Valuable Player award

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson is the WNBA's Most Valuable Player, the league announced Thursday.

The No. 1 overall pick three years ago led the Aces to an 18-4 record during the shortened season and the top seed in the WNBA playoffs. Wilson averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and two blocks this year for the Aces. She received 43 of the 47 first-place votes in easily outpacing Breanna Stewart, who finished second and Candace Parker who was third.

Wilson was surprised with the award on Thursday by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The Aces player thought she was going to a meeting with league referees when Engelbert surprised her.

Minnesota Lynx guard Crystal Dangerfield, right, is fouled by Las Vegas Aces guard Danielle Robinson while driving to the basket during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)

The 24-year-old is the first player from the franchise to win the award going back to when the team was in San Antonio and before that Utah.

The league also announced that Minnesota's Crystal Dangerfield was the league's rookie of the year and Cheryl Reeve earned coach of the year honors. Dangerfield was the runaway winner for rookie of the year.

The second-round draft pick became the second consecutive Lynx player to win the award, joining Napheesa Collier. Dangerfield, who averaged 16.2 points and 3.6 assists this season, became the lowest drafted player to ever win the award. Before Thursday, the lowest draft pick ever to win the league’s top rookie honor was Tracy Reid, who was drafted seventh in 1998.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reacts to a play during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)

Dangerfield particularly excelled in the fourth quarter, scoring the second-most total points in the league in the final period behind only Arike Ogunbwale. The UConn grad averaged 6.5 points a game in the final period.

Dangerfield received 44 votes. Atlanta Dream guard Chennedy Carter finished second with two votes and Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally was third with one vote.

Reeve helped the Lynx to the No. 4 seed in the playoffs despite missing their star center to a calf injury for more than half of the season. It's the third time that Reeve has won the award as she also earned it in 2011 and 2016. She's now tied with Van Chancellor and Mike Thibault for most times winning the award.

Reeve received 25 votes from a national panel of 47 sportswriters and broadcasters. Bill Laimbeer of the Las Vegas Aces finished second with 17 votes, Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Sparks and Thibault of the Washington Mystics tied for third with two votes each

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Athletes Unlimited announced a final roster Thursday featuring 20 returning players and 20 newcomers for its fifth season of women's basketball starting Feb. 4 in Nashville.

Among the returners are Tina Charles, the WNBA's all-time leader in rebounds and made field goals, with other WNBA veterans like Ariel Atkins, Alysha Clark, three-time Olympian Kia Nurse, Odyssey Sims, Aerial Powers, Kiah Stokes, Brianna Turner, Isabelle Harrison and Bria Hartley.

Lexie Brown, chair of the AU Pro Basketball Player executive committee, also will have her father, former Celtics star Dee Brown, on hand. His title is player enhancement specialist. He will be working with Danielle Viglione helping coaches Zak Buncik, Edniesha Curry, Chaz Franklin and Kia Vaughn.

Other players competing include Aneesha Morrow, Nalyssa Smith, Jacy Sheldon, Te-Hina Paopao, Zia Cooke, Deja Kelly, Kaitlyn Chen, Jaylyn Sherrod and Aaliyah Nye.

Megan Perry, vice president of basketball for Athletes Unlimited, said this roster features players who want to test themselves against the best. AU’s format features 5-on-5 basketball.

“The depth across all 40 spots is exceptional, and it’s going to make this one of the most challenging and compelling seasons we’ve had,” Perry said.

The 2026 season will be played for a second straight year at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville from Feb. 4 to March 1.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

FILE - Las Vegas Aces' Alysha Clark (7) looks to pass during the second half of a WNBA basketball semifinal game against the New York Liberty, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

FILE - Los Angeles Sparks guard Lexie Brown dribbles down the court during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx June 11, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr. File)

FILE - Chicago Sky guard Ariel Atkins, left, drives to the basket as Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) watches during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, June 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh, File)