A celebration from one of the NBA's brightest stars added a personal touch to one of the biggest nights in WNBA history.

A'ja Wilson was officially named the 2026 Kia WNBA MVP on Thursday, becoming the first player in league history to win the award five times and the first to capture three consecutive MVPs. She received 65 of 74 first-place votes, finishing well ahead of the field. 

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo delivered a warm public congratulations to his girlfriend after the news. He recorded his message during the Heat's media day, keeping the secret for roughly a week before the official announcement. 

"Shout out to my sweets. A'ja Wilson for winning her fifth MVP,” said Adebayo via espnw Instagram. “You know, I took the time out of media day to celebrate you. And that's what it's all about, celebrating you as you do and have done all these amazing things. So congratulations to you and your fifth one.”

The honor capped another dominant season in which Wilson led the league in scoring at 26.2 points per game while averaging 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 blocks.

Wilson later confirmed that Adebayo had known the result in advance and managed to keep it from her. Their relationship, which developed after they competed together for USA Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics, has long been marked by mutual support. Adebayo often attends Aces games when his schedule allows, and Wilson has been a regular presence at Heat games during her offseasons.

Adebayo spoke further about the achievement following a Heat preseason win. 

"It's good to celebrate somebody that honestly deserves it," he said. "You really can't put five MVPs into words. You literally just have to sit there and just like admire greatness. So, yeah, can't wait to get home, get on FaceTime and talk about the moment."

Wilson stays focused on the court

Wilson's latest MVP arrived in the middle of a difficult playoff series. The Aces entered Game 3 of their semifinal against the Golden State Valkyries trailing 0-2, and Wilson made clear her attention remained on basketball. 

She declined a planned pregame ceremony to honor the award so she could warm up with her teammates. 

"I love the fans, but I will not be doing that," she said, per ESPN. "I will be warming up with my team... Everyone in this room knows how much of a competitor I am [and] what my main focus is."

The decision reflected her long-standing approach: individual accolades take a back seat when the season is on the line. With Las Vegas facing elimination, Wilson prioritized preparation and team cohesion over celebrating a personal milestone, underscoring the competitive edge that has defined her five MVP seasons.

Do you think Wilson's fifth MVP firmly places her in the conversation as the greatest WNBA player of all time? 

Written by

Zaid Quraishi