October 8, 2026 - 4:32 pm

With A’ja Wilson winning her fifth WNBA MVP award, the Las Vegas Aces center takes her place among the best of the best in sports history.

Wilson joins the following North American professional sports athletes who have won exactly five league MVPs.

— Michael Jordan, NBA (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)

— Bill Russell, NBA (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965)

— Peyton Manning, NFL (2003 co-MVP, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)

Wilson’s run of five MVPs in Las Vegas spanned seven seasons, with her winning them in 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026.

And assuming her reign atop the WNBA isn’t finished, there are other sports legends she can match with future MVPs.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most NBA MVPs with six.

Wayne Gretzky has nine Hart Memorial Trophies, Barry Bonds has seven National League MVPs and Gordie Howe has six Hart Trophies.

Lionel Messi in terms of league awards has won two MLS MVPs in North America to go along with six La Liga Player of the Season awards in Spain. He has eight Ballon d’Or awards for the best player across European clubs.