Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo recently shared his experience presenting the 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player trophy to Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, a moment that caught many by surprise. The award ceremony took place on September 21, 2025, at the Aces’ Las Vegas facility in recognition of Wilson’s historic achievement as she secured her fourth MVP title, a league first, and second consecutive honor.
Although WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert had planned to lead the event and deliver the trophy, Adebayo revealed he unexpectedly became the one to hand the award to Wilson, describing the moment during an appearance on NBA Today.
It wasn’t planned for me to do that by no means. I got thrown in the fire,
Adebayo said.
It was supposed to be her parents and her mom looked at me and was like, ‘You’re gonna do it.’
Emotional Impact and Wilson’s Leadership Qualities
The presentation affected Wilson deeply, as she became visibly moved while Engelbert recounted her dominant 2025 season in front of family, teammates, and supporters. Adebayo, who has been in a relationship with Wilson for about four years, spoke highly of her leadership on and off the court.
She does it with so much purity,
he remarked.
She does it out of love, wanting to see the team succeed.
Wilson’s outstanding performance that season reflected those words. She averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 50.5% overall and a career-best 42.4% from beyond the arc. Leading the league in scoring and blocks, she also ranked second in rebounds, trailing Angel Reese, and earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors alongside Minnesota Lynx’s Alanna Smith.
Champion Season and Personal Milestones
The MVP award crowned another championship year for Wilson, who helped guide the Aces to their third WNBA title in 2025. Adebayo was present during the Finals celebration as Wilson publicly acknowledged him on the court after the team’s victory over the Phoenix Mercury.
Further cementing their relationship, Wilson referred to Adebayo as her boyfriend during an emotional address at the South Carolina Gamecocks Hall of Fame ceremony in October.
Future Plans and Continuing Careers
Looking forward, Wilson announced she will skip participation in the upcoming Unrivaled league to prioritize rest as she prepares for the 2026 WNBA season. Meanwhile, Adebayo remains a key player for the Miami Heat, currently averaging 17.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game as he continues to contribute significantly for his team.
Bam on A'ja:
"She does it with so much purity, she does it out of love, wanting to see the team succeed"
on giving her MVP:
"It wasn't planned for me to do that by no means. I got thrown in the fire…it was supposed to be her parents and her mom looked at me and was like… pic.twitter.com/7OTywMqtLJ
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 27, 2026
