Through its 28 years of existence, no WNBA player has simultaneously topped the league in points, rebounds, and blocks during a single season.

However, A’ja Wilson made history in 2024, achieving incredible stats as the forward for the Las Vegas Aces with a league-leading total of 1,021 points, 451 rebounds, and 98 blocks. Her outstanding performances throughout the season brought her a unanimous third MVP award, announced by the league on Sunday.

Wilson garnered all 67 first-place votes, while Napheesa Collier from the Minnesota Lynx received 66 out of 67 second-place votes. Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark, and Alyssa Thomas followed with 295, 130, and 83 points, respectively.

This accolade adds to Wilson’s impressive achievements, including leading the American women’s basketball team to an unprecedented eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in August. Renowned as the best player globally on both ends of the court, Wilson was also named MVP of the basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics.

Only three other players in the history of the WNBA, namely Sheryl Swoopes, Lauren Jackson, and Lisa Leslie, have won three MVP awards.

On September 15, Wilson made history as the first player in WNBA history to surpass 1,000 points in a single season.

Earlier in the season, Wilson set a record by being the first player to score at least 20 points and secure at least 10 rebounds in eight consecutive games. Despite averaging a career-high of 34.4 minutes played per game this season, Wilson’s year has been remarkable, setting personal bests in points per game (26.9), rebounds per game (9.8), and steals per game (1.8). She concluded the regular season with an all-time league scoring average of 26.87, breaking the previous record of 25.29 held by Diana Taurasi since 2006.

Wilson also holds the title of the reigning defensive player of the year, a title she is anticipated to be a contender for once more this season. She finished third in MVP voting last season, having previously won the MVP award in 2020 and 2022. Additionally, she guided the Aces to consecutive WNBA championships in the last two seasons.

The Aces entered the 2024 playoffs on Sunday as the fourth seed, facing off against the fifth-seeded Seattle Storm. Las Vegas aims to become the first team since the Houston Comets to achieve three straight titles, as the Comets won four championships from 1997 to 2000.

This is the first time since 2015 that the MVP came from a team that was not in the top three. That year, Elena Delle Donne was awarded the MVP while playing for the Washington Mystics, who finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, boasting averages of 23.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks.

Contact Lindsay Schnell  on Twitter @Lindsay_Schnell