Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Willson signs biggest deal in WNBA history at $5 million

The new collective bargaining agreement struck between the WNBA and its players paved the way for the biggest stars in women’s basketball to get their biggest paydays yet.

A’ja Wilson wasted no time in securing her lucrative contract with the Las Vegas Aces.

The four-time WNBA MVP signed the richest deal in league history on Wednesday, agreeing to a three-year supermax contract worth $5 million. The details of the contract, which is fully guaranteed, were first reported by ESPN. The deal was negotiated by Jade-Li English of the Klutch Sports Group.

“A’ja is truly one of one, who has led this franchise to where it is today,” Aces general manager Nikki Fargas said in a statement. “Not only has she catapulted into the history books and surpassed almost every record in existence, but she does so with the utmost confidence, authenticity and grace. We look forward to continuing to see her thrive in an Aces uniform.”

A'ja Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She was the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Aces after leading the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to an NCAA championship. See her basketball career from South Carolina to Las Vegas to Team USA.

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks goes up against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts to their 65 to 66 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.

Teaira McCowan #15 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs battles for the tip-off with A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

A'ja Wilson #22 and head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks hold the NCAA trophy and celebrates with their team after winning the championship game against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks wipes away her tears as her coach Dawn Staley is interviewed after their win over the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

Jonquel Jones #35 of Team WNBA looks to pass against Aja Wilson #9 of the USA Women's National Team during the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 14, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Team WNBA defeated the USA Women's National Team 93-85.

USA's A'ja Wilson dives for the ball in the women's preliminary round group B basketball match between Nigeria and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 27, 2021.

A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket against Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.

A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States shoots against Yuki Miyazawa #52 of Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.

Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Connecticut Sun during the second quarter in game one of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first quarter in game two of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Team Wilson frontcourt Cheyenne Parker (32) and frontcourt Aja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against Team Stewart during the second half of the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Portrait of Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson. Wilson is a two-time NBA champion and will be part of the USA National Basketball Team competing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Photographed at the Ace's training complex in Henderson, NV.

Gold medalist A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States poses for a photo during the Women's basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France.

1 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'ja Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She was the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Aces after leading the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to an NCAA championship. See her basketball career from South Carolina to Las Vegas to Team USA.

1 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'ja Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She was the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Aces after leading the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to an NCAA championship. See her basketball career from South Carolina to Las Vegas to Team USA.

2 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.

3 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks goes up against Brianna Turner #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.

4 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts to their 65 to 66 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.

5 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

Teaira McCowan #15 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs battles for the tip-off with A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

6 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'ja Wilson #22 and head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks hold the NCAA trophy and celebrates with their team after winning the championship game against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

7 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks wipes away her tears as her coach Dawn Staley is interviewed after their win over the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

8 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

Jonquel Jones #35 of Team WNBA looks to pass against Aja Wilson #9 of the USA Women's National Team during the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 14, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Team WNBA defeated the USA Women's National Team 93-85.

9 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

USA's A'ja Wilson dives for the ball in the women's preliminary round group B basketball match between Nigeria and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 27, 2021.

10 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket against Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.

11 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States shoots against Yuki Miyazawa #52 of Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.

12 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Connecticut Sun during the second quarter in game one of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.

13 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first quarter in game two of the 2022 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena.

14 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

Team Wilson frontcourt Cheyenne Parker (32) and frontcourt Aja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against Team Stewart during the second half of the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob Ultra Arena.

15 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

Portrait of Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson. Wilson is a two-time NBA champion and will be part of the USA National Basketball Team competing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Photographed at the Ace's training complex in Henderson, NV.

16 / 16

See A'ja Wilson's victories as a basketball star from college, the WNBA to the Olympics

Gold medalist A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States poses for a photo during the Women's basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France.

Since being drafted by Las Vegas No. 1 overall in 2018 out of South Carolina — where she led coach Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks to their first national championship in 2017 — Wilson has become one of the WNBA’s signature stars. She’s the only player in league history to win MVP four times and won’t turn 30 until this August.

Wilson has powered coach Becky Hammon’s Aces to three WNBA championships and twice won the Finals MVP award. She’s also a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time All-Star and a six-time All-WNBA selection.

The 6-foot-4 forward from Columbia, South Carolina, has led the WNBA in scoring twice and blocks five times. Wilson has averaged a double-double in each of the last two seasons for the Aces. She has averaged 21.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals while shooting 49.8% from the floor, 36.5% from 3-point range and 82.1% from the free throw line in her career. Her points per game mark is the best by a WNBA player in a career.

Wilson also owns two Olympic gold medals and two FIBA World Cup titles with Team USA.

In the Aces’ statement on her record signing, Wilson simply said, “YKWTFGO.” That’s an acronym that stands for “You Know What The (expletive) Goin' On.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA richest contract: A'ja Willson signs $5 million deal to stay with Las Vegas Aces