​Sue Bird watched Saturday’s Las Vegas showdown from the front row as A’ja Wilson dominated the Phoenix Mercury, delivering a performance that underscored Wilson’s status as one of the game’s brightest stars. By halftime, the reigning four-time MVP already had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and she finished the night with a 21-point, 15-rebound outing as the Aces overwhelmed the Mercury 106-58. During the break, Bird offered high praise for Wilson, who is quickly earning a reputation as a franchise-changing force.
Last season, Wilson swept nearly every major WNBA hardware award, earning league MVP honors, co-Defensive Player of the Year, and WNBA Finals MVP. Yet even with a Hall of Fame-caliber résumé, she shows no sign of resting on her laurels. Through the current campaign, Wilson leads the league in scoring at 26.1 points per game, sits third in rebounds at 9.7 per game, ranks 10th in steals at 1.6 per game, and paces the league in blocks at 2.0 per game. Her trajectory suggests a strong likelihood of defending both her MVP and DPOY awards, which could solidify Wilson’s standing as perhaps the greatest player in WNBA history, a storyline that Bird acknowledged with admiration.
“She has the size and strength that ensures she’ll always be impactful. But to her credit, she continues to expand her game,” Bird said. “When she entered the league, you could take away her left hand, force her right, and she’d still struggle. Not anymore. She’s building a legacy that could rank among the greatest.”
Bird highlighted Wilson’s efficiency, noting a steady climb in her shooting. In her first four seasons, Wilson shot 46.2 percent from the floor. That figure rose to 52.1 percent across her next five seasons. When she captured the MVP last year, Wilson shot 50.5 percent and averaged 23.4 points per game. In 2026, she’s shooting 52.4 percent and averaging 26.1 points per game, a testament to her ever-improving efficiency and scoring versatility.
As Wilson continues to collect accolades, a potential sweep of the major awards seems increasingly likely—an achievement not lost on other legends. Lisa Leslie, another former WNBA star, shared her thoughts on Wilson’s dominance during an appearance on CBS Sports. “The five-time MVP will be the A’ja Wilson Show because it just continues to keep going. A’ja has been dominating,” Leslie said. “People may tire of seeing the same name at the top, but we should honor the player who earns it. Right now, that’s A’ja Wilson. Her ability to score in a variety of ways—the left hand, the right hand, the jumper, the consistency—sets her apart.”
Wilson remains in her prime at 29, and many observers already argue that she ranks among the greatest women’s basketball players of all time. If she adds more to her résumé in the coming seasons, she could strengthen her case in the GOAT conversation, a debate sure to intensify as she continues to redefine dominance on the sport’s biggest stage.