A’ja Wilson’s legacy has already been etched into WNBA history, but the Las Vegas Aces star added yet another milestone on Sunday when she was named the 2025 Kia WNBA MVP, her fourth, the most in league history. What made the moment unforgettable was how she received the award: not only from commissioner Cathy Engelbert, but from her boyfriend, Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo.
Bam Adebayo surprised his girlfriend A’ja Wilson with her FOURTH WNBA MVP trophy 🥹❤️
(via @WNBA, @LVAces , @NBA) pic.twitter.com/BWOq078bNA
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 21, 2025
The scene played out at Aces practice, where Wilson’s teammates gathered in anticipation before Engelbert and Adebayo walked in with the trophy. The surprise left Wilson emotional, with tears flowing as her peers celebrated her record-breaking achievement.
Picture perfect moments for the 4x M’VP ✨@_ajawilson22 // @WNBA pic.twitter.com/AeovqlTUsT
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 21, 2025
At just 29 years old, Wilson has put together one of the most absurd résumés in professional basketball. She’s now a 4-time MVP (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025), a 2-time WNBA champion, a Finals MVP, a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, a 7-time All-Star, and the 2018 Rookie of the Year.
Add in two Olympic gold medals and an MVP performance at the 2024 Paris Games, and Wilson’s trophy case looks more like an entire wing of the Hall of Fame.
Her latest award came after another dominant season where she led the league in scoring (23.4 points), ranked second in rebounding (10.2), and topped the charts in blocks (2.3). She also shot a career-best 42.4 percent from three, showcasing the continued evolution of her game.
The Aces finished on a 16-game winning streak, powered by Wilson’s two-way brilliance, to lock up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
The decision to have Adebayo deliver the trophy wasn’t just a cute surprise, it was symbolic of how the couple has supported each other in their respective careers. Their relationship became public around the 2024 Olympics, and since then, they’ve had several viral moments.
Earlier this year, Adebayo wore Wilson’s signature pink A’One sneakers in an NBA game, helping promote her brand on the men’s stage.
This time, he got to play a direct role in a career-defining moment. Social media exploded with fans calling it “fire” and praising the couple for showing a different side of sports greatness, one where love, partnership, and family stand right alongside trophies.
Wilson now stands alone. Legends like Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lauren Jackson topped out at three MVPs. Wilson has four, and she may not be done yet. For a player who once said she wanted to be “the face of the W,” the mission looks complete, and yet she keeps raising the bar.
What makes it even sweeter is that she continues to share the journey. From thanking her teammates to celebrating with Adebayo, Wilson made her fourth MVP less about individual dominance and more about collective triumph.
It was, in every sense, a surprise fit for history.
