A’ja Wilson, the center-forward for the Las Vegas Aces, made it five straight MVP awards before Game 3, only to miss 6-of-19 shots in a last-place defeat in her season finale.

Kiah Stokes, the center for the Golden State Valkyries, limited her to shooting 41.7 percent for the series.

That pairing did not go unnoticed online. In a post on X, Underdog framed it as a rarity, writing, “A’ja Wilson is the third player in WNBA history to be swept in a playoff series the same season they won the MVP award.”

Wilson won the MVP award with a 26.2 points-per-game average, but still lost to the Valkyries 71-60, 83-81, and 87-77 after an overtime, with the first game being the lowest point of her season.

Ironically, the Valkyries defeated the Aces with the help of alumni from the team. Stokes, who played for Las Vegas before, was the new guy in Wilson’s role, while Tiffany Hayes, another Valkyries guard and ex-Ace, scored 11 points in the final game.

Stokes contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in 37 minutes of playing time. The 6-for-19 shooting night of Wilson came with a 17-0 run from the Valkyries, who outscored the Aces 16-6 in overtime to overcome their nine-point halftime deficit.

The sweep quickly gained traction on social media, as fans had plenty to discuss regarding the MVP honour's timing and the early elimination. Reactions ranged from legacy concerns to jokes about how individual and team awards differ.

Fans Weigh In on A’ja Wilson’s MVP Trophy and Early Exit

“A’Whistle TRASH,” said a fan.

Wilson established personal bests for made free throws (279) and attempts (323) during the season, which is linked with her whistle by opponents. Wilson shot just 41.7 percent from the free-throw line in the series against Stokes and went 6-of-19 in the finale.

“That’s bad for her legacy,” read another reaction.

Wilson has five MVPs, three championships, and two Finals MVPs, so an outright sweep as defending champions is significant. This is also Coach Becky Hammon’s first sweep since she took control of the team in Las Vegas.

A user commented, “MVP = individual / playoff = team.”

Wilson received 65 of 74 first-place votes after averaging 26.2 points per game during the season. Meanwhile, the Valkyries’ defense limited the Aces to just 60 points in Game 1, their lowest score in the season.

Another said, “I seriously don’t believe she is the most valuable player!”

Wilson totaled 1,073 regular-season points, trailing only Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, who had 1,086 points. Critics also cite Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles as an example, getting six first-place votes and finishing in second place.

Another said, “Most valuable player, least valuable playoff series lol”

In the finale, Wilson went 6-for-19. The late steal by Valkyries forward Gabby Williams led to a Kayla Thornton layup that tied the game at 69-69 with under two minutes remaining.

The critics have their angle, but Wilson is still walking away with five MVPs, three championships, and a record-setting regular season points-per-game average of 22.1 in league history.

The Valkyries will now meet the Atlanta Dream, whom they will face in the Finals on October 17th.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta