WNBA

Follow Yahoo Sports for live coverage throughout the 2022 WNBA postseason.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

Each day of the WNBA playoffs, our team of betting experts breaks down the best bets for each game. All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

In case you forgot, the Storm won Game 1 on the road. The team that wins Game 1 in a best-of-five WNBA semifinal or Finals wins the series 66% of the time. The Sun are also at home, have the second-best home record in the WNBA this season at 13-5, and are hungry to not fall to the Sky in the playoffs for the second season in a row. The Storm put the Aces on the ropes early in the series, and they now will do everything in their power to keep this series going (Las Vegas leads 2-1). Line: Storm (-1) Line: Sun (-1)

After routing the Sky in Game 4 of the semifinals, the Connecticut Sun will travel to Chicago for a winner-take-all game on Thursday night.

The Sky are trying to be the first team to repeat as champions since Los Angeles did it in 2001-02. “We talked this entire time how this is going to be a points in the paint series for us. She had 10 points in the third quarter. We have a team that grinds and has grit and that’s the kind of toughness you need to pull off a road win in a big game.” “Big response by our team and the starting group that set the tone early with the aggressiveness at both ends of the floor,” Miller said. DiJonai Carrington had five points during the burst that was capped by Thomas’ layup with 1:01 left in the half. “This series has been told by what happened in the first quarter.” The Sky got back within eight by the end of the first quarter, but couldn’t get much closer as Connecticut had an answer for every Chicago run – thanks to Thomas, Bonner and Jonquel Jones. “Whatever team comes out and puts the ball in the basket is going to win.” The All-Star forward had six points total in Game 3 and seven in Game 2 – both Connecticut losses. It’s the second consecutive playoff series for each team that has gone the distance. DeWanna Bonner and Courtney Williams each scored 19 points to help the Sun rout the Sky 104-80 on Tuesday night.

She started her professional career in Israel, playing her first four seasons as a pro in the Israeli League before winning the Israeli League Most Valuable ...

Watching her flourish this season has been awesome and getting a deeper understanding of how she got here and the play she’s put up throughout her professional career only fosters a further appreciation of her game. To fight through a set of staggered screens, give up the drive due to her shading, and still get the block without fouling is pretty insane. As the lanes have opened more than they did in Game One, Gardner has diced the Sun with backdoor and 45 cuts to take advantage of the attention provided to Chicago’s ball-handlers. She’s adept at gear changing, shifting between speeds to accelerate and decelerate exactly as much as she needs to keep in front of the ball-handler. In a smaller role for the Sky, Gardner has brought the same skill-set and energy. Gardner hits a hesi and scans, noting Burke on the roll but also seeing Avenida’s Five roaming over to tag the roll from Burke as Karlie Samuelson keeps her in front. When I was thinking through All-Rookie after I’d gotten through All-Defense, she legitimately didn’t come to mind because I can count on my hand the number of times I’ve thought of her as a first-year player. Yes, Gardner is a rookie in the league, but she’s been killing it in professional basketball since she graduated from UCLA in 2012. She thrived in transition, feasting with her quickness, continually pushing the defense, and keeping them on their toes even without the ball. Throughout the series with Avenida, she was brought off a baseline cut into ball screens in the slot. Gardner transitioned seamlessly to the Sky this season, which is incredibly impressive considering her role change. You’ve heard about the 32-year-old rookie if you’ve tuned into a Sky game for even a fleeting moment, and rightfully so.

Both Chicago and Connecticut had to go on the road in the third game of their opening-round series and win to reach the semifinals because of the new playoff ...

The Sky are trying to be the first team to repeat as champions since Los Angeles did it in 2001-02. She had 10 points in the third quarter. Connecticut scored the final five points, including a layup just before the buzzer by Carrington that made it 58-41 at the break. The All-Star forward had six points total in Game 3 and seven in Game 2 — both Connecticut losses. DiJonai Carrington had five points during the burst that was capped by Thomas' layup with 1:01 left in the half. It's the second consecutive playoff series for each team that has gone the distance.

Bird, 41, the Seattle Storm guard, had said she would retire after this season. The Storm fell to the Las Vegas Aces in the W.N.B.A. semifinals on Tuesday.

Seattle would lose to the Aces in overtime, and then, on Tuesday, the Storm lost the series. She came in second for the Rookie of the Year Award, but she and the player who beat her — Indiana’s [Tamika Catchings](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/11/sports/basketball/tamika-catchings-hall-of-fame.html) — became the first rookies ever named to the All-W.N.B.A. She is known for her love of sneakers, and her custom Nikes — from the signature line of the N.B.A. 1 overall in 2002](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/20/sports/pro-basketball-connecticut-extends-its-dominance-to-the-wnba-draft.html) out of UConn before the W.N.B.A.’s sixth season. continues to push for the release of Griner, who has been detained in Russia on drug charges since February, Bird has been vocal. record for assists in a playoff game with 16 in Game 1 of the finals against the Aces. The Storm fell to the Las Vegas Aces in the W.N.B.A. In the series-clinching Game 3, Bird spent the end of the fourth quarter on the bench laughing with forward The Las Vegas Aces beat the Storm, 97-92, in Game 4 of their semifinal series on Tuesday to advance to the W.N.B.A. “I kind of feel like the girl that beat Serena,” she said, referring to Ajla Tomljanovic, who beat Serena Williams in her final match at the U.S. For Bird, who had said in June that she would retire after the season, the loss on her home court marked the end of an incredible career. [league’s career leader in assists](https://stats.wnba.com/alltime/?SeasonType=Regular%20Season&PerMode=Totals) and inched higher on the steals and 3-point lists.

The Chicago Sky rebounded with tough back-to-back wins in Games 2 and 3 and have a chance to book their ticket to the WNBA Finals for a second consecutive ...

We came out on top just because we were able to adjust to how physical the game was and what we needed to do.” “We have to play on what we built throughout the season. “We know Connecticut is a physical team,” Parker said. 17 and suffered a noncontact injury to her ankle in practice on Aug. “So we have to do a better job if we want to beat Chicago (with) finishing.” The teams were assessed a combined 34 personal fouls in Game 3.

A couple of decisive Game 4's are set in WNBA Playoff action on Tuesday, as the Aces and Sky each have a chance to move onto the Finals.

[DirecTV Stream](https://www.directv.com/stream/), [FuboTV](https://www.fubo.tv/lp/StreamTV/stream-espn-disney-abc-online/?v=espn&irad=882546&irmp=1810040&subId3=xid:fr1658153970174fgh xid:fr1662370818941fbh), [Sling](https://www.sling.com/programming/sports/basketball) 1-seed to a 110-98 win](https://twitter.com/buckets/status/1566531817158557696). xid:fr1662370818940ehd), [Sling](https://www.sling.com/programming/sports/basketball) (1) LAS VEGAS ACES vs. Bird and Jewell Loyd each ended up with 17 points in the losing effort. However, with just 0.8 seconds to work with, Jackie Young dropped in a layup to send the game into overtime. Brionna Jones, the league’s Sixth Player of the Year, came off the bench to score 12 points. (2) CHICAGO SKY vs. The legend Parker picked up her fifth double-double in the team’s five games so far in these playoffs, scoring 16 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Four of the five Sky starters hit double-digits in the win. Though Connecticut maintained a tight deficit, Chicago was able to hang on

DeWanna Bonner and Courtney Williams each scored 19 points to help the Connecticut Sun rout the Chicago Sky 104-80 on Tuesday night and force a decisive ...

The Sky are trying to be the first team to repeat as champions since Los Angeles did it in 2001-02. She had 10 points in the third quarter. The All-Star forward had six points total in Game 3 and seven in Game 2 — both Connecticut losses. Connecticut scored the final five points, including a layup just before the buzzer by Carrington that made it 58-41 at the break. DiJonai Carrington had five points during the burst that was capped by Thomas’ layup with 1:01 left in the half. It’s the second consecutive playoff series for each team that has gone the distance.

The Las Vegas Aces have the potential to close out the WNBA semifinals against the Seattle Storm and advance to the WNBA Finals on Tuesday.

Game 3 between the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm went to overtime with clutch basket after clutch basket down the stretch. Seattle has to be kicking itself for missed free throws down the stretch. However, Jackie Young sprung free for a layup to send the game to overtime.

Sue Bird's career came to an end Tuesday night as the Las Vegas Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals with a win over the Seattle Storm in Game 4.

On this night, the aftermath of the result was all about Bird and the conclusion to her two decades as a pillar to the Storm franchise and the WNBA. Gray scored consecutive buckets later in the fourth to keep the Aces ahead, but her miss and Gabby Williams’ driving layup pulled Seattle even at 82 with 2:40 left. Breanna Stewart tied the WNBA playoff record with 42 points, just the fifth player to score 40 or more in a postseason game, and Jewell Loyd added 29. It will be the third Finals appearance in franchise history for Las Vegas. The Aces won the best-of-five series 3-1, all the games tense, pressure-packed and filled with spectacular shot-making. SEATTLE (AP) — This time there were tears, on the court and in the stands.

In the process, the Aces ended Sue Bird's legendary WNBA career. The Storm point guard, a 13-time All-Star and four-time champion in Seattle, announced in June ...

Fellow All-Star [Jewell Loyd](https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987869/jewell-loyd) added 29 points, surpassing the 26 she scored in Game 1 as a new playoff career high. Wilson (23 points, 13 rebounds) had her second double-double of the series, [Jackie Young](https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4065870/jackie-young) scored 18 points and [Kelsey Plum](https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3065570/kelsey-plum) 15. The Storm never got closer than three points again. Said Hammon: "It's kind of like [Ajla Tomljanovic] that beat Serena [Williams]. I'm proud of of everything we've accomplished here."

SUEATTLE, WA (September 6, 2022)—The Las Vegas Aces punched their ticket to the WNBA Finals, Tuesday, as Chelsea Gray became the first player in WNBA ...

It is the fifth such game in WNBA history (regular season and playoffs). Gray scored 15 of her 31 points in the fourth, while Jewell Loyd scored 11 and Breanna Stewart added 10 for the Storm. Chelsea Gray netted 9 points to lead all scorers, while the Storm only got points from Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd (6 points each). Chelsea Gray scored the next five points of the game, giving the Aces a lead they would never relinquish. The Aces had to overcome a 42-point effort by Breanna Stewart and 29 points from Jewell Loyd to advance to the Finals for the second time in three seasons. Breanna Stewart scored 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting, including 3 for 3 from three-point range, while Kelsey Plum led the Aces with 10 points.

The semifinals of the 2022 WNBA playoffs will continue on Thursday with Game 5 between the Sky and Sun.

20 (Game 2s) [Connecticut Sun cruised past the Chicago Sky with a historic offensive performance](https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/sky-vs-sun-game-4-takeaways-connecticut-keeps-season-alive-with-historic-offensive-performance/) to even that series at 2-2. 18 (Game 1s) 15 (Game 3) The first round was best-of-three, and the semifinals and Finals will be best-of-five. The 2022 WNBA playoffs continued with a pair of semi-final Game 4s on Tuesday.

It capped Storm stalwart Sue Bird's career, as the legend announced this would be her final season. The crowd gave her an emotional send-off.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

The WNBA's Sue Bird era ended after the Storm lost to the Aces on Tuesday. Celebrities across social media gave the four-time champion her props after a ...

You gave us all so much ❤️❤️🔥❤️❤️🔥 [pic.twitter.com/XTFLAGc7nh] [September 7, 2022] [September 7, 2022] Although her final season didn't end in a championship, Bird walks away from women's basketball as one of the game's greatest players. "But I mean, I have no regrets. And I'm excited for the next chapter." Bird scored eight points along with eight assists in her final contest.

Legendary basketball player Sue Bird bid farewell to the sport Tuesday night when her Seattle Storm lost to the Las Vegas Aces, who advanced to the WNBA ...

She alluded to an ESPN show she did with Diana Taurasi during the Final Four, saying cheekily, "Maybe that becomes a thing." When she announced her retirement in June, Bird said she was looking forward to things that basketball seasons keep a player from, pointing out she won't have to set an alarm for early morning workouts and she can take real vacations without an eye on the next year. She looks forward to retirement, saying she was excited and, "I get to start this new life." She also was on four World Cup-winning teams and multiple title-winning teams in Russia's professional league and the EuroLeague. The Sun beat the Sky on Tuesday night to force a winner-take-all Game 5. Breanna Stewart led Seattle with 42 points, tying Angel McCoughtry for the most in a WNBA playoff game.

Stewart and Loyd combine for WNBA-record 71 points. SEATTLE – Breanna Stewart tied a WNBA record with 42 points and Jewell Loyd added a personal ...

The Aces jumped up quickly with 10 of the first 12 points of the period, building a 54-49 lead at the 5:29 mark. The Aces answered right back, scoring eight-straight to make it 20-19 with 44 seconds left in the period, but Loyd drained a three at the with one second left to give Seattle a 23-19 edge at the end of the first. The Storm responded with a long 20-5 run with Stewart accounting for 13 of those points including a three-pointer to make it 20-11 at the 3:10 mark.

Seattle Storm fans showed their appreciation for WNBA legend Sue Bird following the final game of her illustrious career Tuesday night.

In 580 career regular-season games, Bird posted averages of 11.7 points, 5.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals. Of course I'm sad, but there's happiness too, to be able to have a moment like that with the fans, to have them chant the way they did. Remarkably, the 13-time All-Star never played for a WNBA team other than the Storm.

DeWanna Bonner and Courtney Williams led the way for Connecticut in the dominant win.

“We talked this entire time how this is going to be a points in the paint series for us. She had 10 points in the third quarter. “Big response by our team and the starting group that set the tone early with the aggressiveness at both ends of the floor,” Miller said. DiJonai Carrington had five points during the burst that was capped by Thomas’s layup with 1:01 left in the half. We have a team that grinds and has grit and that’s the kind of toughness you need to pull off a road win in a big game.” “This series has been told by what happened in the first quarter.” The Sky got back within eight by the end of the first quarter, but couldn’t get much closer as Connecticut had an answer for every Chicago run—thanks to Thomas, Bonner and Jonquel Jones. The All-Star forward had six points total in Game 3 and seven in Game 2—both Connecticut losses. “Whatever team comes out and puts the ball in the basket is going to win.” “A huge win and sending it back to Chicago for Game 5. It’s the second consecutive playoff series for each team that has gone the distance. DeWanna Bonner and Courtney Williams each scored 19 points to help the Sun rout the Sky 104–80 on Tuesday night.

Sue Bird broke down in tears on the court after playing the final game of her incredible WNBA career.

So it was a combination of those two things." Twitter Tweet Unavailable Sue spoke to reporters after the game ... Bird was understandably overwhelmed with emotion ... breaking down in tears on the court as fans chanted, "Thank You, Sue!"

Sue Bird's career came to an end, and the Las Vegas Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals with a 97-92 win over the Seattle Storm in Game 4 of their semifinal...

[Connecticut](https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/tag/connecticut-sun/) or [Chicago](https://www.nbcchicago.com/tag/chicago-sky/) in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday. On this night, the aftermath of the result was all about Bird and the conclusion to her two decades as a pillar to the Storm franchise and the WNBA. “When Chelsea is rocking and rolling my biggest thing is just getting the hell out of her way,” Wilson said. And I then think as the emotions started to come to the surface that was also what I know deep down in that was my last game,” Bird said. January played for four teams with most of her career spent in Indiana. is just the fact that we’re no longer going to be on the court with Sue,” Stewart said. Seattle pulled even at 67-all, only to have Gray hit a 3 as the shot clock expired. Breanna Stewart tied the WNBA playoff record with 42 points, just the fifth player to score 40 or more in a postseason game, and Jewell Loyd added 29. She wiped away tears while the crowd cheered and cried along with her, and chanted “Thank you, Sue.” The finality of the situation finally hitting Sue Bird and the thousands that showed up hoping to see her career continue for at least 40 more minutes. It will be the third Finals appearance in franchise history for Las Vegas. I felt sad about the season and the game.

Between Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson, the battle for The Next's 2022 WNBA MVP award was closer than any in league history.

But what happened happened, and I had Nneka Ogwumike fifth because she provided a bright spot offensively and consistency to a tumultuous season for the Sparks. [Emma Meesseman]was the most valuable player on a Sky team that is among the elites. [Jonquel]was the best player on the only team that finished top-3 in both offense and defense. [Elena Delle Donne]was for the Washington Mystics. She led the league in Positive Residual’s WAR for a reason. What puts her in the MVP conversation has been a distinct change to how she plays the game. It is because of the fire and passion she plays with. On/off metrics paint the picture of how important she is to the Aces’ success, and as the engine of Las Vegas on both ends as well as off the court, she was an easy selection. The one thing that separated it for me: Stewart has another gear, that she only used a few times, but when she did she was completely unstoppable, on another level. Her fourth top-three finish of her career moves her into a tie for seventh all-time, on a list that certainly resembles a collection of the top 10 players in league history: [Lauren Jackson](https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/j/jacksla01w.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) received the league’s top honor three times (2003, 2007, 2010) in addition to Stewart’s prior win, while Houston saw [Cynthia Cooper-Dyke](https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/coopecy01w.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) (1997-98) and [Sheryl Swoopes](https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/s/swoopsh01w.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) (2000, 2002, 2005) win five of the league’s first nine awards. In accordance with how the W scores ballots, players received 10 points for a first-place vote, seven for a second-place vote, five for a third-place vote, three for a fourth-place vote, and one for a fifth-place vote.

The Seattle Storm lost its semifinal game on Tuesday, bringing a bittersweet end to what the 41-year-old had said would be her final season.

And as vice president of the WNBA players union, she worked with her colleagues to navigate playing during a pandemic and [taking a stand](https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-announces-a-2020-season-dedicated-to-social-justice/) against racial injustice. Bird has said she will miss basketball, and suggested she may not be leaving the sport entirely. "I feel really passionate about that, given my experience as a female athlete fighting for scraps," she said. Once I kind of jumped over that, I knew I did the right thing because of how I felt afterward." [storied career](https://www.wnba.com/player/sue-bird/) has redefined basketball in Seattle and nationwide. 1 overall draft pick went on to become WNBA's all-time leader in both assists (over 3,000) and career starts (549), and the only player in the league to have appeared in 500 career games. Everest players who you look to whenever you think about the greatness of the players," sports journalist Howard Bryant "Of course I'm sad, but there's happiness too, to be able to have a moment like that with the fans, to have them chant the way they did. Her retirement doesn't come as a surprise. She's won four WNBA championships and participated in a record 12 All-Star games, and also won five consecutive Olympic gold medals for the U.S. We're judged on what we look like, we're judged on who we love. I know the tears don't look like happy tears, but there's a lot of happiness."

Chelsea Gray's heroics end the Storm's season—and Sue Bird's career. This was perhaps the best game of this outstanding postseason. An unforgettable back-and- ...

[prevailing in a fifth-set tiebreak](https://youtu.be/qhX1Yl3SORo). [beat 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal](https://www.si.com/tennis/2022/09/06/us-open-frances-tiafoe-beats-rafael-nadal) in four sets Monday to make his first U.S. [wasn’t quite as dominant as it could have been](https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/09/06/psg-juventus-champions-league-mbappe-neymar-messi). [Blake’s career head-to-head against Nadal is impressive](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/james-blake-vs-rafael-nadal/b676/n409). Wilson took over the starting job for the Seahawks before the 2012 season and immediately gave life to a franchise that hadn’t finished above .500 in a season since ’07. … And in the sports media world, College GameDay is adding [a big name to its lineup: Pat McAfee](http://si.com/college/2022/09/07/espn-college-gameday-adds-popular-ex-nfl-player-pat-mcafee). … Jonathan Wilson analyzes [Chelsea’s abrupt firing of manager Thomas Tuchel](https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/09/07/thomas-tuchel-fired-chelsea-boehly-potter-pochettino). Open run [ended in straight sets](https://twitter.com/TennisChannel/status/1567315134569394177?s=20&t=sS7LTyes26__iPjaKDLSMw), but fifth-seeded Ons Jabeur punched her ticket to the semifinals in yesterday’s other women’s singles match. [and the MMQB staff has dropped its first power rankings of the season](https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/09/06/nfl-preason-power-rankings-bills-packers-rams). … Meanwhile, the men’s draw got even more wide-open with [Nick Kyrgios getting bounced by Karen Khachanov in five sets](https://twitter.com/TennisChannel/status/1567377242552176640). … Nick Selbe wrote about [why you once again shouldn’t have counted out the Rays](https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/09/06/rays-resurrection) after a recent monthlong surge to solidify their playoff standing. Included on the hit list were vanquished playoff foes like the Titans’ Julio Jones (“season on the line that man was hiding”) and the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill (“He’s a baby !

Sue Bird's career came to an end as Chelsea Gray scored 15 of her 31 points in the fourth quarter, and the Las Vegas Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals with a ...

On this night, the aftermath of the result was all about Bird and the conclusion to her two decades as a pillar to the Storm franchise and the WNBA. “When Chelsea is rocking and rolling my biggest thing is just getting the hell out of her way,” Wilson said. And I then think as the emotions started to come to the surface that was also what I know deep down in that was my last game,” Bird said. is just the fact that we’re no longer going to be on the court with Sue,” Stewart said. Wilson’s three-point play put the Aces back ahead 85-83 and Gray wouldn’t miss, her jumper with 30 seconds left giving the Aces a 92-87 lead. Seattle pulled even at 67-all, only to have Gray hit a 3 as the shot clock expired. Bird finished her final game with eight points and eight assists. Breanna Stewart tied the WNBA playoff record with 42 points, just the fifth player to score 40 or more in a postseason game, and Jewell Loyd added 29. She wiped away tears while the crowd cheered and cried along with her, and chanted “Thank you, Sue.” I felt sad about the season and the game. It will be the third Finals appearance in franchise history for Las Vegas. SEATTLE (AP) — This time there were tears, on the court and in the stands.

DURHAM – Duke women's basketball alumna Chelsea Gray and the Las Vegas Aces punched their ticket to the 2022 WNBA Finals following Gray's historic playoff ...

Gray's statline made her the first player in WNBA playoff history to top 30 points and 10 assists, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. She drilled three straight tough jumpers over the final 2:03 of game time and finished with 31 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. After pouring in 29 points and 12 assists in the game-three win, Gray put on another dazzling display in game four to help her team polish off the 3-1 series win.

On Wednesday, the WNBA announced the Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson as the MVP, capping a remarkable season for her and the Aces.

Wilson is the fifth player to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Seattle held her to eight points in its Game 1 victory, but over the next three games, Wilson averaged 30.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals. Wilson shot a career-best 50.1 percent from the field. [Wilson won her first MVP in the COVID-19 season](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2020/09/17/aja-wilson-las-vegas-aces-star-wins-2020-wnba-mvp/3486119001/) that was played in Bradenton, Florida, which ended with the [Storm sweeping the Aces in the Finals](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2020/10/06/finals-seattle-storm-beat-las-vegas-aces-win-2020-championship/5904680002/). Under first-year coach Becky Hammon, Wilson led the Aces to the best record in the league at 26-10. [Las Vegas advanced to the 2022 WNBA Finals](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2022/09/06/aces-beat-storm-game-4-wnba-playoff-semifinals/8007885001/) over Stewart's Seattle Storm less than 24 hours prior to the vote's reveal.

Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson has been named the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Most Valuable Player after leading her team to the top ...

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

This is the second time in three seasons that Wilson has won the award, taking the title in 2020 as Wilson led the Aces to the WNBA Final where they fell to ...

She is the first player in 15 seasons to do so as well. In their series clinching win over Seattle, Wilson played 40 minutes, tallying a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds in the win. This is the second time in three seasons that Wilson has won the award, taking the title in 2020 as Wilson led the Aces to the WNBA Final where they fell to the Seattle Storm, who they just beat in four games to advance to the Finals once again.

Wilson, who first won the award in 2020, is the seventh player in league history with multiple MVP trophies. She was also named Defensive Player of the Year ...

Save for points, all of those numbers were career-highs, and she finished fifth in the league in scoring, second in rebounding and first in blocks; no one else was in the top-five in all three categories. She was also named Defensive Player of the Year this season and is the fifth player to earn both honors in the same season. Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson is the 2022 WNBA MVP, the league announced on Wednesday.

This comes a week after the rising star was selected as the 2022 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Now, the Aces will prepare for its third-ever Finals appearance in franchise history. A Night to Remember in the WNBA](https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/09/07/wnba-playoffs-aces-storm-sue-bird-retires-sun-sky-eli-apple?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) [Sun Force Decisive Game 5 Against the Sky in WNBA Semifinals](https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/09/07/sun-beat-sky-force-game-5-wnba-playoff-semifinal-alyssa-thomas-dewanna-bonner-courtney-williams?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) [Sue Bird’s Career Comes to an End As Aces Eliminate Storm](https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/09/07/sue-bird-career-ends-aces-eliminate-storm-wnba-playoffs-semifinals?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) The franchise went on to win the best-of-five series against Seattle 3–1, and Wilson only rested four minutes throughout the series, tallying eye-catching stats like a game-high 34 points and 11 rebounds in Game 3. Additionally, she ranked second in defensive rebounds per game (7.6). [after the game](https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/09/07/sue-bird-career-ends-aces-eliminate-storm-wnba-playoffs-semifinals). [clinching the No.

She becomes the seventh player in WNBA history to win the award multiple times, joining three-time winners Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes and ...

Wilson led the league in blocks (1.9 bpg), ranked second in defensive rebounds per game (career-high 7.6) and was 12th in steals (1.4 spg). Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Las Vegas will continue the pursuit of its first WNBA Championship in franchise history when it hosts Game 1 of the WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV on Sunday, Sept. The four-time WNBA All-Star shot 50.1 percent from the field and led the league in double-doubles (17). The others are Yolanda Griffith (1999), Swoopes (2000 and 2002), and Leslie (2004). This is the second Kia WNBA Most Valuable Award for Wilson, who previously earned the honor in 2020.

The Connecticut Sun beat the Chicago Sky in a blow out to force a decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Semifinals.

"We talked this entire time how this is going to be a points in the paint series for us. The Sky are trying to be the first team to repeat as champions since Los Angeles did it in 2001-02. "I think the first thing we have to do is clean up some stuff," Chicago coach James Wade said. She had 10 points in the third quarter. "This series has been told by what happened in the first quarter." DiJonai Carrington had five points during the burst that was capped by Thomas' layup with 1:01 left in the half. "Whatever team comes out and puts the ball in the basket is going to win." The Sky got back within eight by the end of the first quarter, but couldn't get much closer as Connecticut had an answer for every Chicago run -- thanks to Thomas, Bonner and Jonquel Jones. The All-Star forward had six points total in Game 3 and seven in Game 2 -- both Connecticut losses. "A huge win and sending it back to Chicago for Game 5." It's the second consecutive playoff series for each team that has gone the distance. DeWanna Bonner and Courtney Williams each scored 19 points to help the Sun rout the Sky 104-80 on Tuesday night.

The WNBA star finished her 20-year career on Tuesday night after the Storm were eliminated by the Aces in the playoffs.

While playing college basketball at UConn, Bird helped the team earn two national titles. Most notably, she won four WNBA titles, earning 13 All-Star spots and was named to the All-WNBA first team five times and the second team three times. She retires from the game at the age of 41.