Aces complete 4-0 Finals sweep with superstar center capturing historic triple crown of MVP awards.
A’ja Wilson stood triumphantly in the center of her Las Vegas Aces teammates Friday night, pink tambourine in hand, orchestrating celebrations that matched her season-long dominance on the basketball court. The superstar center had just completed one of the most remarkable individual seasons in WNBA history, leading the Aces to a 97-86 victory over the Phoenix Mercury to complete a 4-0 Finals sweep and capture their third championship in four years.
Wilson’s 31-point, nine-rebound performance in Game 4 capped a historic campaign that saw her become the first player in WNBA history to win regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. The achievement places the 29-year-old in rarified air, with coach Becky Hammon declaring: “You have your Mount Rushmore, she’s alone on Everest. There’s no one around”.
The championship-clinching victory at Phoenix’s Mortgage Matchup Center represented the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for Las Vegas, which started the season 14-14 and appeared vulnerable after suffering a historic 53-point loss to Minnesota on August 2. Wilson’s leadership proved pivotal during the team’s darkest moments, as she sent a stark message to teammates: “If you weren’t embarrassed from yesterday, then don’t come into this gym. You’re not needed or wanted here”.
That wake-up call sparked a 16-game winning streak to end the regular season, with Wilson averaging 26.1 points, 12 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals during the surge. The momentum carried through the playoffs, where the Aces overcame challenges from Seattle and Indiana before dominating Phoenix in the Finals.
Wilson’s Finals performance was historically dominant, averaging 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds while recording the first three consecutive games of 25+ points and 10+ rebounds in Finals history. Her Game 3 heroics included a clutch game-winner in a 90-88 victory, followed by her commanding 31-point finale that sealed the sweep.
The championship represents the third title for the Wilson-Gray-Young core, establishing them as the WNBA’s premier dynasty alongside coach Hammon, who boasts the highest win percentage in Finals history. Only the Houston Comets and Minnesota Lynx have previously captured three titles in a four-year span.
Guards Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young provided crucial support throughout the Finals, combining for 36 points in Game 4 alone. Gray’s playoff excellence moved her to seventh all-time in Finals scoring with 298 career points, while her 34 career Finals steals rank third in league history.
The Aces’ bench also proved instrumental, with acquisitions Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd providing championship experience and timely scoring throughout the postseason. Evans shot 53.3% from three-point range during the playoffs, while Loyd’s versatility allowed her to thrive in a sixth-man role.
With Wilson now holding four MVP awards—more than any player in WNBA history—and two Finals MVP trophies, questions about her legacy have been answered definitively. At just 29 years old, she continues to redefine greatness in women’s basketball while leading a franchise dynasty that shows no signs of slowing.
The celebration in Phoenix featured emotional speeches from both Wilson and her teammates, with the superstar center emphasizing the power of patience and consistency. “Greatness is just being patient, waiting on your turn, waiting on your moment,” Wilson said, tambourine still in hand. “You’ve got to be great when the lights aren’t on you.”
