A’ja Wilson is the 2022 WNBA MVP, the league announced Wednesday, receiving 31 out of 56 possible first-place votes.

The Las Vegas Aces forward received 478 total points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, while Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart received 446 points with 23 first-place votes.

Wilson’s Aces teammate Kelsey Plum finished in third, while Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas came in fourth. Chicago Sky center Candace Parker finished in fifth.

Each voter lists their top five candidates, with the No. 1 player receiving 10 points. For second place, a player receives seven points while third gets five, fourth receives three and fifth gets one point. Total points are then added up, and the player with the most points wins the award.

Wilson takes home the top individual honor for the second time in her career. She also won in 2020.

BREAKING: @_ajawilson22 has been named the 2022 @WNBA MVP.

The @LVAces superstar averaged 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and a league-leading 1.9 blocks per game. pic.twitter.com/uYwXOejiuv

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) September 7, 2022

For the 2022 season, Wilson already has been named the Defensive Player of the Year. She also has helped lead the Aces to their first WNBA Finals since 2020. While Las Vegas lost to Seattle that season, the Aces beat the Storm in the semifinals Tuesday to advance to the championship series for the second time in three years.

Wilson becomes the first player to win the MVP award twice since Elena Delle Donne won it in 2015 and 2019. Other two-time winners include Parker, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper.

She’s also the fifth player to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, but the first to do so since Jackson in 2007. Also on the list are Yolanda Griffith (1999), Swoopes (2000 and 2002) and Leslie (2004).

The Aces star averaged 19.5 points (fifth in the league), 9.4 rebounds (2nd), 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and a league-leading 1.9 blocks per game during the regular season.

So far in the playoffs, she’s averaged 20.5 points (third in the league), 10.8 rebounds (third) and 2.3 blocks per game (second).

The race for MVP was a tight one this season between Wilson and Stewart. Each led the league in different categories and finished neck and neck in several others. Stewart held the edge in efficiency, with a rating of 29.4 to Wilson’s 28.7.

The duo also finished 1-2 in win shares, with Stewart edging out Wilson 8.1 to 7.0. Their shooting percentages almost identical, with Wilson edging Stewart in 2-point percentage (52.5 vs. 51.8) and Stewart edging Wilson in 3-point percentage (53.4 vs. 53.1).

J.Crew is hitting the slopes with Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics, dropping a limited-edition retail collection in collaboration with US Ski & Snowboard this week.

The apparel giant tapped six members of Team USA to model the capsule, including 2018 and 2022 Olympic snowboarder Hailey Langland, 2018 Olympic mogul skier Tess Johnson, and freestyle skier Rell Harwood, who is aiming to make her Olympic debut this year.

The move comes after the brand announced a three-year deal with the winter sports' national governing body, with J.Crew signing on as an official partner of US Ski & Snowboard.

"We're proud to elevate the sport and its athletes at a moment when excitement around snow sports is higher than ever," said J.Crew Group CEO Libby Wadle.

Using themes, patterns, and patches from both the governing org's and J.Crew's historic archives, the inaugural 26-piece collection features knitwear, winter accessories, loungewear, and — in conjunction with US Ski & Snowboard partner Kappa — technical ski jackets.

With items for all ages, the capsule collection will not factor into Team USA's official Olympic uniform, but will provide retro "après-ski-style" flair for both athletes and fans.

How to purchase the Team USA x J.Crew Winter Olympics collection

The full US Ski & Snowboard collection from J.Crew will hit the retailer's online store on Thursday, though fans can sign up for the official drop notification today.

The Australian Open is raising the bar for 2026, with the first Grand Slam of the tennis season boosting its total prize pool to a record $74.9 million — a 16% increase over the 2025 tournament.

Top-finishers in both the women's and men's competitions will now receive checks worth $2.79 million — 19% more than 2025's champions — while a player exiting in the main draw's first round will earn approximately $101,000, a 14% year-over-year increase.

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The annual competition has long been a pioneer in promoting equal pay, following the US Open's 1973 move by becoming the second Slam to guarantee a 50-50 breakdown between the WTA and ATP in 2001.

"This 16% increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level," said Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley in the governing body's Tuesday announcement. "From boosting qualifying prize money by 55% since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors."

"This investment strengthens tennis's foundation, ensuring the sport's long-term health and commercial growth," added Tiley. "By supporting players at all levels, we're building deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans."

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open

US star and world No. 7 Madison Keys will look to defend her trophy when the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open kicks off at 7 PM ET on Saturday, January 17th.

Live coverage of the season's first Slam will air across ESPN platforms.

LPGA stars will soon be hitting the virtual links, as the pro women's tour is teaming up with TMRW Sports to launch the all-new WTGL next winter.

The indoor team golf platform will build off the success of the second-year men's venture Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL) — a 2025 upstart co-founded by PGA stars Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — which merges traditional golf with simulated play to provide avenues for offseason competition.

"I've seen how new formats can engage audiences while showcasing both athlete personality and performance, and WTGL brings that spirit of innovation to the women's game," said commissioner Craig Kessler in the LPGA's Tuesday press release. It creates another global stage for our athletes — one that helps fans connect more deeply with them and continues to elevate the visibility and growth of women's golf."

US fan favorite Lexi Thompson unveiled the news on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday, promising a star-studded roster of LPGA standouts, with WTGL participants and teams dropping in the upcoming months.

"It just brings a whole different fan base to the game of golf," said the 2022 Women's PGA Championship runner-up. "[Fans can] see the personalities of the guys, and now the women. So, it's just amazing for the game of golf in general, but especially the women's side."

Professional volleyball is back in action this week, with both League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV) kicking off their 2026 seasons as the sport's pro landscape continues to grow.

Featuring an Olympian-heavy player pool, LOVB is returning with its six inaugural teams as reigning champion Austin looks to run the title back this season before the second-year league adds three new clubs in 2027.

Meanwhile, following a blockbuster merger with the two-season-old Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), MLV will start serving with eight teams as 2025 PVF champs Orlando Valkyries embarks on their own title defense, all while the new conglomerate eyes more future expansion.

As NCAA volleyball continues to dominate the fall calendar, multiple pro leagues — each armed with top talent and broadcast deals — are forming in response to demand from both players and fans.

How to watch the 2026 season starts of LOVB and MLV

LOVB hits the 2026 court first with a rematch of the league's 2025 championship, with defending title-winners Austin facing runners-up Nebraska at 6 PM ET on Wednesday, airing on USA Network.

Then on Thursday, MLV enters the fray as the Atlanta Vibe hosts the Columbus Fury at 7 PM ET before the San Diego Mojo visits the Omaha Supernovas at 8 PM ET. Both MLV matches will stream live on YouTube.