Tag Page AthleteOfTheYear

TIME names A’ja Wilson 2025 Athlete of the Year

What a year for A’ja Wilson: championship, Finals MVP + league MVP + DPOY in the same season (first ever in WNBA or NBA), and now TIME’s 2025 Athlete of the Year. In the cover story, Wilson talks about her dominance, the Aces’ three titles in four years, and—yes—her relationship with Bam Adebayo. She calls him her “life partner,” jokes about the wedding watch, and says starting a family has always been a dream; Bam adds, “Y’all will know… people are nosy and they’ll look at her hands.” Roundups also pulled the softer quotes: “That’s always a dream… This is my life partner… What was my world before you?” and her playful line, “I hope I’m not wasting my time. I hope he’s not wasting his time.” #WNBA #Aces #AjaWilson #TIME #BamAdebayo #AthleteOfTheYear #MVP #DPOY #FinalsMVP