The fourth time is the new charm.
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo went to the Las Vegas Aces practice facility a few days ago to surprise A’ja Wilson with something.
No, it wasn’t a ring, she has enough of those. Even though the fellow Team USA Gold Medal winner recently confirmed their dating rumours. It was something much better than that, as A’ja teared up.
It was Wilson’s fourth Women’s National Basketball Association, Most Valuable Player award. Now, making her in a company of one.
WNBA legends Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lauren Jackson each have three titles, but with number 22 having doubled up twice, the Nikola Jokić of WNBA dominance is more than just the best in her association. A’ja Wilson is one of the GOATs when you consider everyone who has ever laced them up on the court.
Think of her as a more exciting Tim Duncan. No, wait. He was exciting. Forget all that. The TD and Nikola comparisons are jokers. A’ja is her own incredible individual, killing it as she dismantles defences. Besides, it’s Wilson’s name on the actual ball the Aces play with.
The game is hers.
A’ja Wilson also paired up once again with this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award, but for the first time in history, it was a co-venture. Much like when Elton Brand and Steve Francis shared the NBA Rookie of the Year award for the 1999/2000 season, Wilson shared the honour with Minnesota Lynx stopper Alanna Smith. There was nothing between them that could separate the two linchpins.
Perhaps they’ll settle this in the WNBA Finals. Right now, the Lynx are two games up on a Caitlin Clark less Indiana Fever. Meanwhile, with last year’s New York Liberty champion already out, the Las Vegas Aces start their champagne campaign against the revamped and ready to go Phoenix Mercury, tonight.
As for the WNBA Rookie of the Year, who else but Paige Bueckers, following in the sneaker steps of Clark for the next generation of this game? The Dallas Wing was surprised by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert holding this award at the end of the now Instagram iconic ‘Spirit Tunnel’ on ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’. A hallway hype where guests perform a walk and dance of fame whilst stage and crew hands cheer them on. What a cause for celebration, indeed.
Elsewhere, your 6POY (Sixth Player of the Year) was Atlanta’s Naz Hillmon. A spark-plug off the bench that made sure the Dream didn’t go to sleep in the second and fourth quarters, or whenever she burned the opposition. Naz averaged 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and half a steal per game off the pine wood.
The only way you could improve on that is with Veronica Burton. After being selected by the new Golden State Valkyries franchise in the expansion draft, Burton averaged 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks on the season. She also had six games of 20 plus points, eight of 10 or more assists and five double-doubles. All career highs. Your Most Improved Player of the Year. MIP.
The Golden State Valkyries may just be one of the most successful expansion franchises out of the gate ever. And that’s why they have also received another award. With 53 of 72 votes, Natalie Nakase added Coach of the Year to a trophy cabinet that is just getting started.
The former player and Los Angeles Clippers assistant is forging her own path, like Becky Hammon. Aside from selling out every home game, the Valkyries allowed the fewest overall points (76.3) and the defensive stalwarts even made the playoffs before coming up against the Lynx.
Not even the end of season successful Sparks made it out of the West. And LA had a couple of former Aces up their sleeve (Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby), not to mention two for the future of the franchise (Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink).
Sparks legend, Seattle Storm star and President of the WNBA Player’s Association Nneka Ogwumike also took home the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award for her continued contributions to the game, on and off the court.
And as we head back to the floor for the semis, the W is far from done. These may be the Emmys of the regular season, but the Oscar is yet to come in the WNBA Finals.
Who will be the best picture for that?
