Wilson Wins Third Straight AP WNBA Player of the Year

The Associated Press named A’ja Wilson its WNBA Player of the Year for a third consecutive season, while Angel Reese received the AP’s Defensive Player of the Year honor, ending Wilson’s run as the recipient. Wilson earned 15 of 17 first-place votes from a national media panel, according to the award results released Sunday. The honor was Wilson’s fourth AP Player of the Year award since the distinction began in 2016, moving her past Breanna Stewart for the most in the award’s history. Wilson, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces, averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and a career-best 3.2 assists per game this season, according to the AP results. She led the league in scoring and helped the Aces reach the playoffs as the No. 3 seed. Reese, a forward for the Atlanta Dream, was recognized for her defense in her first season with the team. She averaged 12.1 rebounds per game and ranked third in the league in steals, according to the award coverage. Reese also led the league in rebounds for a third consecutive season. The AP honor marked a change from recent seasons, when Wilson had received the defensive award in three of the previous four years.