A’ja Wilson: WNBA GOAT Secures Dynasty Status with a Championship, a Sweep, and a Pink Tambourine
Forget the debate. A’ja Wilson isn't just a generational talent; she's currently building her own, separate mountain in the WNBA history books, and she just planted a flag (and rattled a pink tambourine) at the summit.
The Las Vegas Aces cemented their status as the league’s preeminent dynasty on Friday night, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 to complete a dominant four-game sweep of the WNBA Finals. The victory delivered the franchise its third championship in four years, officially making them only the third franchise in WNBA history to achieve that feat.
Everest, Meet A’ja
If the Aces had a rocky start—they hit the All-Star break at .500 and endured a historic 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx back in August—you wouldn't know it watching Wilson in the Finals.
The league’s first four-time MVP elevated her game, securing her second Finals MVP award by averaging a monstrous double-double throughout the series. In the clinching Game 4, she dropped 31 points and pulled down 9 rebounds, effortlessly showcasing the deft spin moves and mid-range jumpers that leave opponents searching for answers.
Aces coach Becky Hammon, who now holds the highest win percentage in Finals history (10-2), didn't mince words. "You have your Mount Rushmore, she’s alone on Everest," Hammon stated. "There’s no one around."
The Roller Coaster to Dynasty
Unlike their previous two title runs, which were relatively smooth cruises, this one involved navigating turbulence. The revamped roster struggled to gel early, leading to the humiliating 53-point loss that, according to Hammon, left her with nothing nice to say.
But the adversity forged a steelier team. After that historic low point on August 2nd, the Aces lost only three more times all year. Guard Chelsea Gray (18 points in Game 4) summed up the turnaround: "There was a lot of doubt in that locker room. We just stayed the course."
In the decisive Game 4, the Aces never trailed, jumping out to a 16-point halftime lead and surviving a brief Mercury rally sparked by Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts' third-quarter ejection. With Gray and Jackie Young adding 18 points apiece, the depth was there, but Wilson set the initial tone, scoring 12 points in the first quarter alone.
Post-game, Wilson celebrated the dynasty's arrival not with a cigar, but with a pink tambourine, rattling the joyful instrument in the press conference. "Good things happen to the right people," she said, reflecting on the arduous journey.
The victory also provided a moment of unified defiance. When Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was booed while awarding the trophy—a reflection of the league's ongoing collective bargaining issues—Gray spoke up for the champions: "We have great players. You need to treat them like that."
With Wilson (age 29) and Young (age 28) still in their absolute prime, the final question now rests with owner Mark Davis, who asked amid the celebration, "Can we do it again?"
With the GOAT leading the way, the safe money says yes.
Given that most WNBA players will be free agents for the 2026 season due to the upcoming CBA negotiations, do you think the Aces can manage to keep their core three (Wilson, Gray, Young) intact for a run at a four-peat?
