A'ja Wilson was named TIME’s 2025 Athlete of the Year after leading the Las Vegas Aces to their third WNBA title in four years and becoming the fastest player to reach 5,000 points. She also earned her fourth MVP award, third Defensive Player of the Year honor, and became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win Finals MVP, regular season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
Wilson addressed “greatest of all time” conversations by saying, “I think I’m on my way there,” adding, “I’m making it real hard for people to chase after me,” as per News3LV. She also recalled facing early-season criticism, saying, “That’s when I was like, ‘Oh, people are really playing on my name,’” before leading her team on a 16-game run to the championship, as reported by TIME.
A’ja Wilson has taken a leading role in the WNBA’s ongoing collective bargaining talks, saying, "All of us are going to be at the table," and "and we're not moving until we get exactly what we want." According to News3LV, her influence extends beyond the court, and she has also become a cultural figure. LeBron James told TIME, "A’ja Wilson is the definition of female Black excellence, and I am so grateful she is giving my daughter the kind of inspiration I got from Michael Jordan and Ken Griffey Jr," as mentioned by TIME. These actions and statements were cited in her selection as TIME’s 2025 Athlete of the Year.
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