2025 WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson just won her third championship with the Las Vegas Aces, capping off a dominant season that now places her in the sport's GOAT conversation.
Now, the heads are turning to Bam Adebayo to replicate this. Adebayo and Wilson have been hailed as a basketball power couple due to their star statuses in their respective leagues.
Adebayo hasn't quite reached the status his girlfriend has. He's a three-time All-Star with two Finals appearances and a regular Defensive Player of the Year candidate. However, he's never been the No. 1 player for the Heat and has been criticized throughout his career for not being aggressive in postseason play. But perhaps seeing Wilson overcome her own challenges this year and achieve all-time glory will inspire him.
It certainly wasn't an easy journey for Las Vegas, toeing a .500 record at the All-Star break. A 53-point home loss to the Minnesota Lynx at the beginning of August put the nail in the coffin for many championship aspirations for the Aces. Some even questioned if the once-dominant unit would be in the championship conversations again.
But as long as you have Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Lloyd, you'll always have a chance. Wilson even turned to Adebayo for motivation after the Lynx loss.
"He's seen different locker rooms and situations," Wilson said in an ESPN interview. "If he thinks, 'No, that's not the right thing to say,' he'll definitely tell me. I respect his view a lot. So we kind of go back and forth, and I'm like, 'Well, how would you handle this situation? What would you feel like?' Then that's when I was like, 'Alright, now I can talk to my teammates and let them know. It's okay to feel embarrassed. We really should be embarrassed. But this is how we're moving forward.'"
And now, the Aces have won their third title in the last four seasons, establishing themselves as the decade's dynasty. They are the Golden State Warriors of the WNBA, developing their homegrown players with star veteran additions to keep themselves competitive. Wilson now joins Diana Taurasi, Lisa Leslie, and Candace Parker as one of the best WNBA players of all time. An MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year award have cemented her in league history.
Adebayo has the chance to add on to his own resume, as Miami can take advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference with a few relatively solid offseason moves.
For now, though, Adebayo and Wilson will take this time to celebrate. The Heat star expressed his content and pride with Wilson's Finals performance.
"I'm super proud of her, man," Adebayo said. "Y'all don't see the behind-the-scenes, the ups and the downs. Being able to have this moment with her and have it with her. It's truly special, and I'm truly proud of her. Like I tell everybody, 'Be thankful for it while it's here.'"