A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces is the reigning WNBA MVP after winning the award for a record fourth time in 2025, and she went on to win Finals MVP as the Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury for the title. The 2026 MVP will be announced during this year’s playoffs. The full list of every WNBA Most Valuable Player since the league’s first season in 1997 is below.
WNBA MVP Winners by Year
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | A’ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2024 | A’ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2023 | Breanna Stewart | New York Liberty |
| 2022 | A’ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2021 | Jonquel Jones | Connecticut Sun |
| 2020 | A’ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2019 | Elena Delle Donne | Washington Mystics |
| 2018 | Breanna Stewart | Seattle Storm |
| 2017 | Sylvia Fowles | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2016 | Nneka Ogwumike | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2015 | Elena Delle Donne | Chicago Sky |
| 2014 | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2013 | Candace Parker | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2012 | Tina Charles | Connecticut Sun |
| 2011 | Tamika Catchings | Indiana Fever |
| 2010 | Lauren Jackson | Seattle Storm |
| 2009 | Diana Taurasi | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2008 | Candace Parker | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2007 | Lauren Jackson | Seattle Storm |
| 2006 | Lisa Leslie | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2005 | Sheryl Swoopes | Houston Comets |
| 2004 | Lisa Leslie | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2003 | Lauren Jackson | Seattle Storm |
| 2002 | Sheryl Swoopes | Houston Comets |
| 2001 | Lisa Leslie | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2000 | Sheryl Swoopes | Houston Comets |
| 1999 | Yolanda Griffith | Sacramento Monarchs |
| 1998 | Cynthia Cooper | Houston Comets |
| 1997 | Cynthia Cooper | Houston Comets |
WNBA MVP Facts
Wilson broke a three way tie with Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes when she won her fourth MVP in 2025, and all four of her awards came with the Aces. The Los Angeles Sparks have produced the most MVP seasons of any franchise, with six between Leslie, Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike. Breanna Stewart (Seattle and New York) and Elena Delle Donne (Chicago and Washington) each won MVP with two different franchises.
Follow the 2026 playoffs on the WNBA playoff bracket and see every WNBA champion by year. Official records are available from WNBA.com and Basketball Reference.