A'ja Wilson will celebrate her 30th birthday when the Las Vegas Aces take on the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. A four-time WNBA MVP and three-time champion, Wilson is already at the top of the game with plenty of years left to play. So as Wilson enters this new decade of her life, it might be the perfect time to ask: has she already achieved GOAT status?
There are currently a few legends in the conversation for "Greatest of All Time," including the league's all-time leading scorer, Diana Taurasi, who retired with six Olympic gold medals and three WNBA championships. We will discuss more of Wilson's achievements below, but right away, we can point out that she already holds the most MVP awards and has three WNBA titles while still very much in her prime.
Watch the WNBA on Paramount+ all season long. Paramount+ and CBS are airing a record 20 games during the 2026 regular season, including Aces at Lynx this Saturday.
In June, Wilson told CBS Sports that she doesn't take the "gift of playing basketball" lightly, and being able to show what she worked on during the offseason helps her perform at the top of her game. However, she was a little more candid during All-Star weekend when talking about what motivates her to achieve more.
"My haters. I really do love proving people wrong," she said. "I love showing up as my true self and just making random people mad. I think that's really kind of what I love doing. Now, does it come with rings, banners and trophies? Of course, that's cute. But there's nothing like showing up as your true self in life, loving in that, and loving in that space. Being in that space is always fun."
While there is no unanimous guideline on what makes an athlete the GOAT, there are certainly some factors we can all agree on. Here is a closer look at Wilson's resume and how she compares to other WNBA legends:
Wilson already holds the record for most MVP awards and is currently the top candidate for this season. Her first one came in 2020 during the shortened bubble season. In 2022, she won her second while leading the Aces to their first-ever championship. She was the unanimous MVP in 2024 after setting a single-season scoring record, and got the award again in 2025 while also being named Defensive Player of the Year.Ā
And let's be honest, it could have probably been five MVP Awards. It's hard to forget how she lost to Breanna Stewart in 2023, with Alyssa Thomas being another top candidate. Wilson said "it hurt like hell" to lose that one, but she let the Aces' championship trophy that year — and a t-shirt with the voting breakdown printed in the back — do the talking.
There is no doubt that Wilson is one of the top defenders in the league. She has led the league in blocks per game in five different seasons (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and has already entered the top 10 for most career blocks in the WNBA, currently sitting at No. 6 with 591 and counting.
Tamika Catchings has the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards record with five (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2012) and Sylvia Fowles is in second place with four (2011, 2013, 2016, and 2021). Wilson is tied with Sheryl Swoopes at three, while also being one of the favorites this season.
However, her combination of MVP and DPOY awards makes Wilson stand out. Notably, she is the WNBA's all-time leader in career scoring average at 21.9 points per game while also ranking fourth in rebounds per game (9.4) and blocks per game (2.0).
Wilson is looking for her fourth WNBA title this season, which would tie her with legends like Cynthia Cooper, Maya Moore, Sheryl Swoopes and Sue Bird.
The only player in WNBA history to win five titles is Rebekkah Brunson. Wilson's teammate, Chelsea Gray, won a championship in 2016 with theĀ Los Angeles SparksĀ before joining the Aces and winning three titles alongside Wilson. If Las Vegas wins this year, Gray would make history with her fifth ring.
Keep an eye on Wilson this weekend because she has played well on her birthday:
Her 30th birthday is also a good time to reflect on how much she has achieved in her 20s compared to other top players. For the under-30 crowd, she is first in points, second in rebounds, third in blocks, tied for first in Defensive Player of the Year awards and first in MVPs and All-Star nods.