A’ja Wilson recently made WNBA history (Image via AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) When A’ja Wilson won MVP for the fourth time in her career on Sunday, she created WNBA history. She is the only player to have won the award four times in league history. But just before that, Edrice Femi ‘Bam’ Adebayo, her boyfriend and a Miami Heat player, gave her the MVP trophy at the Las Vegas Aces practice facility as a surprise. Wilson fell to her knees as the emotions overcame her as soon as she realised what was happening.
Bam Adebayo surprises girlfriend Wilson with emotional MVP presentation
The Las Vegas Aces standout A’ja Wilson’s reputation is firmly ingrained in WNBA history, but on Sunday, she achieved yet another significant milestone as she was voted the 2025 Kia WNBA MVP, her fourth in league history. The fact that she received the award from both commissioner Cathy Engelbert and her boyfriend, Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo, made the occasion truly memorable.The WNBA shared a video of the Aces player accepting her MVP award back on Friday, shortly after the news broke. And as he announced the award, Adebayo was doing an excellent job of maintaining the role of the supportive partner. Wilson accepted her award and a congratulatory address by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who attended the Las Vegas facility.In her statement, Engelbert recalled presenting Wilson with her first MVP award in 2020:“I’ve admired the way you’ve lived, with grace, humility, humor, and just one of the greatest players to ever be in this league… You are a global icon and global ambassador, not just for our game, but for all women’s sports.””MVP! MVP!” burst from the crowd as Wilson stood clearly moved. In order to avoid taking away from his partner’s attention, Adebayo was seen clumsily leaving the frame after presenting the award in the event’s widely shared videos. When Engelbert and Adebayo entered with the prize, Wilson’s teammates were waiting in anticipation for Ace’s practice. Wilson was moved by the surprise and started crying as her peers praised her historic accomplishment. Adebayo helped promote her brand on the men’s stage earlier this year by sporting Wilson’s iconic pink A’One trainers during an NBA game.
A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo’s romance first sparked before 2024 Olympics
Before the 2024 Summer Olympics, the Miami Heat player and the WNBA MVP were spotted together, which first led to relationship rumours. Wilson quietly revealed their affair during NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2025, despite their months-long silence. Furthermore, the couple mostly avoids social media and keeps their relationship low-key.Wilson’s alma mater, the University of South Carolina, honored her with a jersey retirement that same month. The Las Vegas Aces player subtly mentioned Adebayo, who was in attendance courtside, in her comments.The two have openly supported each other in their games and have been friends for years. Following A’ja breaking the WNBA single-season scoring record, Bam once showed her support for her on social media by posting “U’nanimous” complete with an apostrophe, just like her first name.Following months of dating rumors, Wilson discreetly revealed her relationship to PEOPLE in February 2025 while discussing her Valentine’s Day plans at NBA All-Star Weekend. According to pictures that TMZ was able to obtain, the couple was seen out on a dinner date in Los Angeles a month prior. They are still together, going strong and now they marked another milestone in their relationship as Bam witnessed Wilson making WNBA history.Also read: A’ja Wilson makes history with fourth MVP, shattering unmatched WNBA records