A’ja Wilson states case for MVP as Aces extend win streak to 10 games

Aces star A’ja Wilson balled up her fists and roared as she slid on the baseline at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.

Her energy was matched by teammates Dana Evans and Chelsea Gray, who both nodded and yelled as they helped her up. Wilson was headed to the line after driving the full court for back-to-back 3-point plays six minutes into the fourth quarter of the Aces’ matchup Saturday with the Mystics.

Wilson finished with 36 points and 13 rebounds in the 91-81 victory as the Aces (24-14) extended the WNBA’s longest win streak to 10 games.

The stretch of wins is the longest single season streak since the Aces moved to Las Vegas, as well as the longest streak in the WNBA this season and since 2021.

But as she sat with Wilson to address reporters for the postgame news conference, Aces coach Becky Hammon was more focused on the greatness she’s observed from the reigning MVP this season than the string of victories.

“There’s zero doubt in my mind,” Hammon said when asked if she believes Wilson is the current MVP of the league.

That short answer was the catalyst for Hammon to make her case for Wilson, the reigning MVP, to earn what would be a league-record fourth such honor.

Wilson grinned as Hammon interrupted a follow-up question to assert that she is not only the league’s most dominant player, but potentially the easiest to coach because of her genuine desire to receive feedback and improve.

“This one wants to be coached hard, and then she backs it up,” Hammon said of Wilson.

Wilson’s double-double was her 19th this season. She is now the only player in WNBA history to have multiple seasons with more than 10 30-point games and has passed herself for the most 30-point, 10-rebound games over a single season in WNBA history with nine. No one else this season has recorded more than one such performance.

“Who’s as good as A’ja Wilson?” Hammon asked. “That’s where you start with the conversation, that’s your answer. She’s top three in every major statistical category but, most importantly, efficiency. She’s No. 1 in efficiency. And to me, people need to do that kind of homework.”

Wilson is A’leader

Hammon unintentionally predicted Wilson’s stat line before the game.

“At times, I can look down at the stat sheet and I’m like, ‘Oh s—, she had 36 or 34 (points).’ You don’t even notice because it’s become so normal,” Hammon said.

She emphasized postgame that Wilson’s contributions on and off the court shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Wilson had a custom version of her signature Nike shoe, the A’One, made for teammate Megan Gustafson to wear as the Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday. It was a kind gesture to match a themed corgi night at the arena in honor of the release of Gustafson’s debut picture book “Pancake’s Passport.”

“It’s not normal, what she’s doing,” Hammon said of Wilson. “And yet she has the thought process and the forethought to do something nice for somebody else. And that’s — I could get emotional. I’m gonna stop there. But anyways, nobody’s doing what she’s doing.”

Wilson also leads the league with 2.2 blocks per game. Hammon compared Wilson’s block to a “poster dunk in the WNBA” and said she hasn’t seen any other WNBA players consistently excite the crowd in that way.

Rookie Kiki Iriafen had 21 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for the Mystics (16-21). Iriafen said before the season began that she was most looking forward to competing against Wilson.

“(She’s) someone that I’ve looked up to since I started playing basketball,” Iriafen told Candace Parker in a podcast appearance.

Boosting young fans

Wilson was seen spending extra time with young fans, like Iriafen once was, following the win in D.C.

“If I can give them a chance to believe in a dream as they just watch me run up and down the court. I love that,” Wilson said when asked about those moments. “My biggest advice is just be true to you. Don’t let anyone shake you from your goals, your dreams.”

Evans added 21 points in 23 minutes off the bench for the Aces, a season-high since she joined the team via a trade from the Chicago Sky in the offseason.

Unprompted, Evans praised Wilson postgame for encouraging her through the ups and downs this year.

“(Wilson) is a great leader on and off the court,” Evans said. “There are a lot of things people don’t see, like when players are struggling. When I was struggling, she was always there to pick me up, always sending me messages to stay focused and to just stay ready.”

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.