A’ja Wilson has been collecting accolades for years, but 2025 just pushed her into an entirely different category.
After another dominant season with the Las Vegas Aces, Wilson has won TIME’s Athlete of the Year award.
However, the coveted recognition came at a time when she had been on a generational run this year.
A’ja Wilson Is TIME’s 2025 Athlete Of The Year
Wilson earned the honor after delivering one of the most impactful years of her career, both on and off the court.
TIME highlighted her historic WNBA run, her leadership, and the way she continues to elevate the sport with each passing season.
WNBA star A'ja Wilson is TIME's Athlete of the Year https://t.co/PuL1wnkUzH pic.twitter.com/mt0o71L207
— TIME (@TIME) December 9, 2025
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Additionally, in 2025, Wilson experienced an unprecedented season, becoming the first player in both the WNBA and NBA to secure the league championship, Finals MVP, and regular-season MVP.
Additionally, it was her record fourth MVP nod and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. She also reached the 5,000-point milestone faster than any other player, ranking her among legends such as Bill Russell and LeBron James.
A’ja Wilson Shares Family Goals With Bam Adebayo
While celebrating her biggest award of the year, Wilson also made headlines for a different kind of conversation.
She recently opened up about her long-term plans with Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo. When asked about marriage and kids, Wilson didn’t shy away.
She made it clear that starting a family with Adebayo is definitely part of the plan, just not something she’s rushing toward in the middle of her basketball peak.
The couple has kept most of their relationship private, but Wilson’s comments offered a glimpse at how she views her future.