A'ja Wilson named WNBA MVP, Lynx's Dangerfield wins top rookie
Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson is the 2020 WNBA Most Valuable Player, the league announced on Thursday.
Wilson, who received 43 of 47 first-place votes, averaged 20.5 points on 48% shooting, 8.5 rebounds, and two blocks for Las Vegas in her third professional season. The 24-year-old helped the Aces overcome star center Liz Cambage's season-long absence to finish tied for the WNBA's best regular-season record at 18-4.
The Minnesota Lynx took home both Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year honors, with Crystal Dangerfield and Cheryl Reeve winning those respective awards.
Dangerfield becomes the first player selected outside of the first round to earn Rookie of the Year. She's the second straight Lynx member to win the award (Napheesa Collier), and fifth in team history. The 22-year-old averaged a team-best 16.2 points across 21 regular-season contests.
Meanwhile, Reeve guided Minnesota to a 14-8 record this season despite dealing with numerous injuries and player absences. This marks Reeve's third time winning the award (2011, 2016). Only two other coaches in WNBA history have won Coach of the Year on three separate occasions.