The Las Vegas Aces Continue Their Dominance
The Las Vegas Aces have claimed the championship title once again. A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray have firmly established their legacy among the top players in WNBA history, though it’s still open for debate.
With the 2025 championship, Wilson and Young will both earn their third ring.
In contrast, Gray will achieve her fourth title, having previously secured one with the Los Angeles Sparks before joining the Aces.
This brings up an interesting question: where does this place her in the ranks of the league’s legends?
To put it bluntly—it’s quite impressive.
Right now, Rebecca Brunson stands alone as the only player in WNBA history with more championships than Gray. Brunson, who is currently an assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx, amassed four titles with the Lynx, along with one from the Sacramento Monarchs. She’s somewhat in a class of her own.
Gray now joins the ranks of four other players who have also won four WNBA titles—Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore, who were part of the Lynx alongside Brunson, and Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, who secured four consecutive championships with the Houston Comets. Being in this company certainly speaks volumes about Gray’s achievements. Interestingly, in the NBA, there are 45 players who have three or more titles.
On the other hand, Young and Wilson now join legends Candice Parker and Diana Taurasi as the only players with three WNBA titles. Parker stands out as the only player ever to win titles with three different teams: the Sparks, the Sky, and the Aces. Taurasi has had her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury, accumulating three championships along the way.
A fascinating aspect is that Jacky Young, A’ja Wilson, and Chelsea Gray might go on to secure even more championships than these renowned players. Young (28) and Wilson (29) are in their prime years, while Gray (32) still competes at an elite level. This veteran trio is poised to continue playing together and possibly earning further accolades.
A’ja Wilson’s Place in WNBA History
In my opinion, Wilson is right at the top of the all-time greats.
She is unique in WNBA history for winning four MVP awards, and chances are she might well add more to that tally before her career ends. As a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time champion, she also boasts two Finals MVPs. In those championship series, she put up impressive averages of 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.
Wilson holds records for the most rebounds in a postseason and the highest points scored in a single Finals game. Impressively, she’s already third all-time in playoff points.
Maya Moore, for instance, has four WNBA titles, an MVP, one Finals MVP, and six All-Star selections. However, her career ended prematurely after just eight seasons, limiting her accolades.
Diana Taurasi is often regarded as the GOAT, excelling in longevity. The Mercury legend retired having scored the most points in league history, along with one MVP trophy, three WNBA titles, six Olympic gold medals, and 11 All-Star appearances.
Houston Comet legends Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper each have compelling cases for being considered GOATs as well. Cooper has won four WNBA titles, four Finals MVP awards, and two MVP awards, while Swoopes boasts four titles and three MVP awards.
However, it’s worth noting that all these players are now retired. Their ability to add to their lists of achievements has come to a halt.
So, what’s truly remarkable about A’ja Wilson?
