With the WNBA current season nearing the two-month mark, fans already have an idea on the players who can win the major awards. As it stands, ESPN identified the strongest challengers to Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson‘s 2024 MVP bid.
Before she entered the WNBA, the Aces star excelled in basketball during her high school career, averaging 24.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game. She led her team to the state championship as a senior, earning the title of National High School Player of the Year in 2014. Wilson was also a Parade and McDonald’s All-American and the top-ranked ESPN HoopGurlz prospect in 2014.
Wilson was drafted 1st overall by the Aces in the 2018 WNBA Draft and has since become one of the league’s premier players. In 2020, she won her first MVP award and helped the US women’s national team win Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games.
The Las Vegas star has continued to dominate the WNBA, winning her second MVP award in 2022 and leading the Aces to their first championship that same year. In 2023, the All-Star guided the Aces to a second straight title while earning WNBA Finals MVP honors.
ESPN Identifies Top Challenges to A’ja Wilson’s 2024 WNBA MVP Award
While Wilson has continued to excel on the court, even put up a competent case to win MVP this year, there are several stars who can challenge her for the said award. In an article written by Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel for ESPN:
“Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx: The heartbeat of the Lynx and MVP of the Commissioner’s Cup championship game, Collier joins Wilson in averaging 20-10 this season while also leaving her imprint in other areas, chipping in 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest.
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty: The reigning MVP continues to do it all for the first-place Liberty, leading them in scoring (19.7 PPG), rebounds (9.2 RPG), steals (2.2 SPG) and blocks (1.5 BPG).
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun: Thomas remains the ultimate Swiss army knife, ranking in the top five in the league in rebounds per game (9.5) and assists (7.5, first overall),” the ESPN article stated.
As the numbers show, all three players have proven their worth for their respective teams and the league as competitors. Even if that was the case, though, Wilson’s averages of 27.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game this season while leading the Aces is no small feat at all.
It remains to be seen whether Wilson can win it all again or lose to one of the other stars listed by ESPN. In any case, a lot of eyes will be on the Las Vegas star as the season progresses.
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