A'ja Wilson

Few players have ever protected the rim like A'ja Wilson, and the first signs showed the instant she arrived. Las Vegas selected her first overall in 2018 out of South Carolina, drawn to a forward whose length and timing could anchor a defense for years. In her debut against the Connecticut Sun on May 20, 2018, she rises with perfect timing to swat away the first block of her career, fittingly denying Alyssa Thomas, a rival she would battle for years, all the way to the 2025 Finals. It was an early glimpse of what followed: three Defensive Player of the Year awards, four MVPs, three titles with Finals MVP honors, and 2018 Rookie of the Year. One of the finest two-way forces the game has produced, Wilson opened her career with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Rookie of the Year

Rookie Year