A’ja Wilson Achieves Historic Fifth MVP Award Amid GOAT Debates
A’ja Wilson has made headlines once again, securing her fifth WNBA MVP award in 2026, making her the first player in league history to earn three consecutive MVP honors. Despite her remarkable achievements, three-time MVP Sheryl Swoopes believes the conversation around the greatest player of all time (GOAT) is complex and often misses crucial points.
On a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show on YouTube, Swoopes shared her thoughts on why it’s tough to compare players from different eras. She highlighted the challenges in judging greatness across generations, using Cheryl Miller—a college basketball icon who never played in the WNBA—as an example.
Swoopes emphasized that players today have opportunities and conditions that those from previous generations didn’t have. She voiced her frustration with the ongoing GOAT debates, stating, “I don’t know if it’s fair to compare different generations.”
During the discussion, Swoopes revealed that Michael Jordan holds a special place in her heart as the GOAT in the NBA because she witnessed his remarkable career firsthand. “Michael Jordan is my GOAT because I watched him play. I feel like you’re never going to get it right,” she added, explaining her dislike for the debate.
Swoopes suggested that naming just a few top players is like trying to create a Mount Rushmore of basketball, a task that inevitably leaves out other legends. Draymond Green supported her stance, noting that fans often lack access to comprehensive footage of past games, making fair comparisons even more difficult.
A’ja Wilson’s Outstanding Season Solidifies Her Status
Wilson’s fifth MVP award adds weight to her position in the ongoing GOAT conversation. In the 2026 MVP voting, she garnered 713 points, including an impressive 65 out of 74 first-place votes, easily surpassing second-place finisher, Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles, who earned 442 points.
This latest MVP win follows her previous wins in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025. Remarkably, she also finished the 2026 season with an impressive average of 26.2 points per game, along with 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game, making her the only player in WNBA history to score over 1,000 points in a season multiple times.
Despite Wilson’s individual accomplishments, her team, the Las Vegas Aces, faced disappointment as they were swept by the Golden State Valkyries in the semifinals. The Aces lost the final game in overtime with a score of 87-77.
Reflecting on her MVP award, Wilson shared a personal perspective: “That’s why I cried harder on this one because 15-year-old A’ja wasn’t dreaming about being a five-time MVP. She was dreaming about surviving this world.” Her heartfelt words reveal the deep emotional significance behind her accomplishments.
While A’ja Wilson’s achievements continue to spark discussions about the greatest of all time, Swoopes’ comments remind us that the topic is far from straightforward, and determining a singular GOAT may be a never-ending debate.
