Aces Star A’ja Wilson Named TIME’S 2025 Athlete OfThe Year

Aces Star A’ja Wilson Named TIME’S 2025 Athlete Of The Year

Las Vegas Aces superstar #AjaWilson has been selected as TIME’s 2025 Athlete of the Year, earning yet another major milestone in her historic career.

TIME revealed the honor today (Dec. 9), recognizing Wilson’s dominant year across the #WNBA. The four-time league MVP and three-time champion racked up achievement after achievement this season, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 5,000 points, securing her third Defensive Player of the Year award, claiming a record-setting fourth MVP trophy, and adding another Finals MVP to her résumé. She also made history as the first athlete in either the WNBA or #NBA to win a championship, Finals MVP, regular-season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year all in one season.

Speaking with TIME, Wilson didn’t shy away from the growing GOAT conversation, saying, “I think I’m on my way there… I’m making it real hard for people to chase after me. That’s what it means to be the GOAT.” TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year issue, which includes Wilson’s feature, hits newsstands on Friday, Dec. 19, with the Person of the Year announcement coming Thursday, Dec. 11.