A'ja Wilson: TIME's 2025 Athlete of the Year – A Reign of Dominance
It's official: A'ja Wilson, the powerhouse of the Las Vegas Aces, has been crowned TIME's Athlete of the Year for 2025. And honestly? It's hard to argue with the choice.
This wasn't just any year for the 6-foot-4 South Carolina native; it was a year of complete and utter dominance. Wilson secured her second WNBA scoring title, her third Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, and a fourth MVP award – a feat no one in the league had ever achieved before. But that's not all! She then went on to win her third championship, earning her second Finals MVP title. To put the cherry on top, the Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals.
But here's where it gets controversial... Wilson's performance was so exceptional that she became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win a championship, Finals MVP, regular-season MVP, and DPOY in the same season. Furthermore, she's one of only four players in the WNBA or NBA to have snagged four MVP trophies before turning 30. It's almost as if she was destined for greatness.
To celebrate this monumental year, Wilson even sported a Thanos-inspired glove during the championship parade, referencing the Marvel villain's quest for ultimate power. "When you’ve collected everything, that’s Thanos," Wilson told TIME. "And this year, I collected everything... I think people really needed to understand that.”
It's worth noting that Wilson shared the TIME honoree spotlight with other notable figures, including KPop Demon Hunters as the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year, YouTube’s Neal Mohan as CEO of the Year, and Leonardo DiCaprio as Entertainer of the Year.
And this is the part most people miss... Wilson's journey to this legendary status wasn't without its challenges. The Aces faced a mid-season slump, even suffering a brutal 50-plus point loss. But this setback proved to be a catalyst. The team rallied, going on a 16-game winning streak to secure their spot in the playoffs. They then battled through tough series, including a grueling three-game series against the Seattle Storm and a five-game showdown with the Indiana Fever, before reaching the Finals.
"Sometimes you’ve just got to get knocked down to get built back up," Wilson said, reflecting on the season. "I think 2025 was a wake-up call that I needed, to let me know that I can’t be satisfied with anything." This resilience and drive are what make her such an inspiration.
Wilson further solidified her legacy by hitting a game-winning shot in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals against the Mercury. The shot, made with a symbolic 2.2 seconds left on the clock (a nod to her jersey number), clinched the series and catapulted her into the conversation for the WNBA's greatest player of all time. However, Wilson herself remains humble, not quite ready to claim the title just yet. She acknowledges that her career is defined by championships, but she's still searching for that singular, iconic moment.
What do you think? Is A'ja Wilson the greatest of all time? Do you agree with TIME's choice for Athlete of the Year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
