‘It’s Not Even Close’ — Dawn Staley Makes Feelings Clear on the ‘Greatest Women’s Basketball Player Ever’
· Yahoo Sports
A’ja Wilson has already accomplished more than most players could dream of in the WNBA. The Las Vegas Aces superstar has won multiple championships and MVP awards, putting her right up there with some of the greatest players in women’s basketball history.
Her latest MVP award has only added to that conversation. It also caught the attention of someone who knows her game better than most, bringing back memories of a controversial MVP vote from three years ago.
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Dawn Staley Declares A’ja Wilson the Greatest Women’s Basketball Player Ever, Revisits Polarizing MVP Vote
On Thursday, Wilson made WNBA history by winning her fifth MVP award, becoming the first player to reach that mark. The 30-year-old also became the first player to win the honor in three consecutive seasons, adding to her previous MVP trophies in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Following Wilson’s historic MVP win, GamecockCentral’s Chris Wellbaum took to X with a question for Dawn Staley. The longtime South Carolina women’s basketball reporter wanted to know if the Gamecocks coach now considers her former player the greatest women’s basketball player ever.
“This means it is time for my annual question for @dawnstaley: Is A’ja the best women’s basketball player ever?” Wellbaum wrote.
Staley didn’t hesitate to answer. She also used the opportunity to revisit a voting decision that had bothered her since 2023.
“THE BEST! 5/9 of your pro career you’re the MVP, especially the controversial one when some voter gave her a 4th place vote……it’s not even close anymore!” Staley responded.
The vote Staley was referring to happened in 2023, when Wilson finished third in the MVP race behind Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas. It was a close one, too. Stewart won with 446 points, followed by Thomas with 439 and Wilson with 433.
Wilson was the only player among the three finalists to receive a fourth-place vote. The ballot drew criticism because of how close the final results were, with just 13 points separating Wilson from Stewart.
Staley publicly criticized the voter at the time, writing on X, “Your hate is real & on display.” Three years later, the South Carolina coach clearly hasn’t forgotten the decision.
Her support for Wilson goes back well before the Aces star entered the WNBA. Staley coached the 6-foot-4 forward at South Carolina from 2014 to 2018, helping her develop into one of college basketball’s most decorated players.
In 2017, Wilson helped South Carolina win its first NCAA championship, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds against Mississippi State in the title game. She was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player and went on to win several National Player of the Year awards the following season.
Wilson has carried that success into the professional ranks. Along with her five MVP awards, she has won three WNBA championships and established herself as one of the league’s most dominant scorers and defenders.
Her latest MVP season included averages of 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 52.7%. She received 65 of the 74 first-place votes.
Wilson has a strong case, but there are other legends worth considering. Lisa Leslie won three MVP awards and two WNBA championships, while Maya Moore won one MVP and helped the Minnesota Lynx capture four titles. Candace Parker won three championships with three different franchises and earned two MVPs, and Stewart has two MVP awards and three titles of her own.
Those accomplishments give each player a place in the conversation, especially when comparing different eras and the impact each had on women’s basketball.
Wilson now owns an MVP record no other WNBA player has matched, with plenty of her career still ahead of her. For Staley, who watched her develop from a college star into a professional champion, the fifth award has only reinforced an opinion she already held.
Others may still favor the championships or legacies of past greats, but Wilson’s growing list of accomplishments makes her increasingly difficult to overlook. Staley’s answer leaves little doubt about where she stands.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.