Home / Sports / Aces Star Wilson Wins 5th WNBA MVP Amidst Guard Surge
Aces Star Wilson Wins 5th WNBA MVP Amidst Guard Surge
9 Oct
Summary
- A'ja Wilson secured her fifth WNBA MVP, third consecutive.
- Guards featured prominently in top MVP voting spots.
- A guard hasn't won MVP since Diana Taurasi in 2009.
Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson clinched her fifth WNBA MVP award, securing her third consecutive title on Thursday. Wilson dominated the voting, receiving 65 out of 74 first-place votes. The results highlighted a surprising trend of increased guard influence in the league's top honors.
Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles finished second, followed by Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell in third. Caitlin Clark placed fourth for the second time in her career, while New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart rounded out the top five. This marks a significant shift as three guards landed in the top five, a departure from the league's historical dominance by forwards and centers.
The WNBA has historically favored forwards and centers for MVP, with 79.3% of past winners coming from these positions. However, the 2026 results saw four out of the top six players as guards, indicating a growing emphasis on pace and shooting. This trend is expected to continue as dynamic guards enter the league.
A guard has not won the WNBA MVP award in 17 years, with Diana Taurasi last achieving the feat in 2009. The league's focus on shooting and pace suggests that future MVP candidates might need to adapt their games, with forwards and centers increasingly incorporating shooting into their play.
