The spotlight is shining bright on A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier as the WNBA announces this year’s five MVP finalists. Joining them are Alyssa Thomas, Allisha Gray, and Kelsey Mitchell, with the winner revealed on Monday, September 22. Wilson is chasing her fourth MVP in just eight seasons, adding to her wins in 2020, 2022, and 2024. Fans and analysts alike are buzzing about whether she’s the greatest WNBA player right now. Even NBA legends are chiming in with their two cents.

If you ask Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon about A’ja Wilson being the GOAT, she doesn’t hesitate to gush—but keeps it real. “No. I mean, it is entirely. I mean, she hasn’t even hit 30 yet…her whole being, her competitiveness, her work ethic, how she sees the game, she’s just such a well-balanced person…if she’s the best ever to play the WNBA, I could make a strong argument, she is the best ever to walk this planet.’” That last line might have caught the attention of a certain NBA veteran, who took it straight to X.

Eddie A. Johnson made his stance clear on X: “Yes, but I got Diana T and Cynthia Cooper 1-2 then A’Ja.“ He respects A’ja as one of the greats. Her career highlights read like legend-in-the-making: three-time MVP (2020, 2022, 2024), two-time WNBA champion, 2023 Finals MVP, six-time All-Star, three-time blocks leader, plus a ton of international gold with Team USA. And in August 2025, she made WNBA history as the first player to score 30+ points and grab 20+ rebounds in a game. Fastest to 5,000 career points? Check. Defensive dominance? Double-check.

However, for him, the WNBA GOAT conversation still starts with Diana Taurasi and Cynthia Cooper. Taurasi, voted “greatest of all time” by fans when she retired after 20 legendary seasons, left a mark that’s hard to beat. From her 2004 Rookie of the Year debut to becoming the first player to hit 10,000 career points, her legacy goes far beyond numbers. She racked up three WNBA titles, six Olympic gold medals, and turned Phoenix into a basketball hub. Even in her final 2024 playoff run, she left opponents in awe, finishing with 10,646 points over 565 games, shooting 42.5% from the floor, nailing 1,447 threes, and hitting 87% of her free throws.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Cooper set the tone for the league’s earliest years. Joining the WNBA in 1997 at 34 after a successful international career, she immediately dominated, winning back-to-back MVPs and four straight championships with Houston, claiming Finals MVP honors each time. She became the first WNBA player to hit career milestones like 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 2,500 points, scored 30+ points in 16 games, and had a 92-game double-figure streak. Named to the league’s 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th Anniversary Teams and inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, Cooper’s achievements still set a benchmark.

For Eddie, while A’ja Wilson has her own incredible legacy, she’s still chasing the heights set by these two legends.

While it’s true the WNBA has seen some all-time greats, you can’t overlook A’ja Wilson. She led the Aces on a 16-game winning streak—the second-longest ever—dropping 26.1 points, grabbing 12 boards, dishing 2.6 assists, and blocking 2.3 shots per game. Across 40 games, she topped the league with 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. And don’t forget, she claimed her third Defensive Player of the Year award, sharing it with Minnesota’s Alanna Smith—the first tie in history. Simply put, A’ja isn’t just talking the talk; she’s walking the walk.

Dwyane Wade backs A’ja Wilson in the NBA vs. WNBA debate

On The Underground Lounge podcast, Dwyane Wade was asked if the top women players could take on NBA guys, and he didn’t hold back—pointing directly at Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson. “You are damn right,” Wade said. “There are a few. A’ja Wilson can beat a couple. She is smart. One thing about a lot of basketball players is they are not smart… Sometimes they don’t coach you, they just tell you to go be an athlete.” Wade explained that it’s not just about jumping higher or running faster—Wilson’s footwork, court IQ, and ability to read the game could make her a nightmare in a one-on-one matchup.

Wade didn’t stop there. He noted that many NBA players rely heavily on set plays and pick-and-roll schemes, which can leave them vulnerable when faced with a creative, versatile opponent. “Get into a 1-on-1 with someone like A’ja Wilson, who knows how to play basketball… that’s got crazy footwork and all that—you’re gonna get tore up if you don’t know the game,” he said. Wade’s point?

Wilson isn’t just athletic—she’s a technician, a forward with elite touch, defense, and scoring ability. Over her eight seasons with the Aces, she’s averaged 21.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 267 games, and she’s a three-time WNBA MVP. Her dominance in the WNBA, coupled with her ability to adjust and make smart plays, is why Wade believes she could hold her own against some NBA players.

Of course, not everyone agrees. Former NBA player Jeff Teague shot down the idea entirely on his podcast: “Not one. Y’all know that n— off the bench used to average 40 in high school and 20 in college… She’s not beating a n—- in the G League. She’s not beating a n— in college,” he exclaimed. And as for A’ja herself, while she’s confident enough to say she could beat Josh Hart one-on-one on the Roommates Podcast—“I feel like the score would be, like, 8-11, me”—though she hasn’t yet tested herself in Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 women’s tournament.

So, while Wade sees her as a potential giant-slayer, the reality is still hypothetical, and the debate? It’s far from over.