A’ja Wilson continues to demonstrate her dominance on the court, and after a historic season, she wins the AP Player of the Year award for the second consecutive time. Las Vegas Aces star surpassed Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier and Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas, who also had outstanding seasons.
Wilson was also named AP Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in four seasons. Considering that coach [Dawn] Staley was so hard on me about my defense in college, I’m glad to be able to have some success at the professional level several times. The WNBA will announce its postseason awards during the playoffs, which begin on Sunday. Wilson is a strong favorite to win the WNBA MVP for the second consecutive season. Wilson led the league in scoring (23.4) and blocked shots (2.3).She has worked hard and passes all the tests, the math tests, the optical tests, she is the most exciting player in the W. And most importantly, she is also the most exciting player on the defensive end. She will do something once per game defensively that will make you jump out of your seat. She is the only player in this league that I have seen who consistently has defensive highlight plays.
Becky Hammon, Aces coach
Paige Bueckers Wins Rookie of the Year Award
Paige Bueckers was recognized as the AP Rookie of the Year. The No. 1 pick of the Dallas Wings averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists in her first season. She also had a 44-point performance, the highest-scoring game of any player in the WNBA this season. The former UConn star finished with the third-most points by a rookie and the second-most assists.Bueckers was joined on the AP All-Rookie team by Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen from Washington, Leila Lacan from Connecticut, Janelle Salaun from Golden State, and Dominique Malonga from Seattle.I am very grateful for everyone who voted and saw me fit for Rookie of the Year. I have always felt that individual awards are a way of recognizing the team around you and that is exactly what this award means to me. My teammates, coaches, support staff, and everyone from top to bottom in the entire Dallas Wings organization played a very important role in this.
Paige Bueckers
Greetings to this incredible class of rookies. There were many unique trips and a lot of basketball, so we definitely represent the class.
Paige BueckersOther notable awards
Wilson, Collier, and Thomas headlined the first AP All-WNBA team. The trio was unanimously chosen. They were joined by Allisha Gray of Atlanta and Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana. In the second team were Sabrina Ionescu from New York, Bueckers, Nneka Ogwumike from Seattle, Kelsey Plum from Los Angeles and Jackie Young from Las Vegas.
- Coach of the Year: Natalie Nakase. She led Golden State to a playoff spot in the expansion team’s inaugural season. It’s the first time a first-year team has reached the postseason.
- Most Improved Player of the Year: Shakira Austin. The Washington Mystics forward missed most of last season with a hip injury and a subsequent ankle sprain. Austin averaged 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds this season.
- Most Improved Player: Veronica Burton. The Golden State Valkyries guard made the most of her opportunity with the expansion franchise. Burton averaged career highs in points (11.9), assists (6.0), rebounds (4.4), and minutes (29.4).
- Sixth Woman of the Year: Naz Hillmon. The Atlanta Dream forward had a career season, averaging 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds to help the Dream secure the third seed in the postseason. She came off the bench in 27 of the team’s 44 games and has played in 151 consecutive games overall.
AP WNBA Power Poll
Las Vegas, with a 16-game winning streak, finished at the top of the poll, with Minnesota in second place. Atlanta and New York finished third and fourth, respectively. They were followed by Phoenix, Indiana, Seattle, Golden State, and Los Angeles. Connecticut, Washington, Dallas, and Chicago completed the poll.
