Shohei Ohtani’s 2025 season stands as one of the most remarkable in baseball history. The unanimous MVP established the 50-50 club, a feat of hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in one season. Yet, amid these historic accomplishments, he missed out on Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year award. Instead, the honor went to A’ja Wilson of the WNBA. This choice raises eyebrows and invites scrutiny, especially given the circumstances surrounding Wilson’s pick.
Wilson is undoubtedly a tremendous player. She led the Las Vegas Aces to a championship and earned the league MVP. However, her individual performance during the season wasn’t statistically groundbreaking enough to justify the title over Ohtani. Critics argue that Time’s decision reflects a shift toward a narrative that prioritizes representation over raw athletic achievement.
While Wilson captured a gold medal at the Olympics, her success is overshadowed by Ohtani’s achievements. The publication’s rationale seems heavily swayed by the increased viewership of the WNBA—a season where Claire Clark, a prominent player, faced injuries, allowing other players to shine. Wilson herself commented on the necessity to acknowledge the league’s history, stating, “It was more so, let’s not lose the recipe. Let’s not lose the history.” Her words underline the tension in the narrative featuring Clark, which some argue unjustly positions her success above others’ contributions over the years.
The 2025 WNBA season also brought vindication to many players, with viewership up by about 5 to 6 percent. “Sometimes you need a proof in the pudding,” Wilson remarked, emphasizing a sense of progress in the league. The WNBA’s rise aligns with Wilson’s dreams for the sport to be recognized and valued fairly over time.
However, this context presents two interpretations of why Time chose Wilson over Ohtani. One possibility is that Ohtani’s choice was intended as a nod to his former translator—if so, it may seem trivial compared to his sporting achievements. The more pressing suspicion is that Time pursued engagement through controversy, aiming for social media reactions rather than rewarding unparalleled athleticism.
Social media users expressed disillusionment at the editorial choice, emphasizing the disparity between Ohtani’s achievements and Wilson’s narrative-driven win. As many pointed out, Ohtani’s season featured staggering numbers: three home runs in one postseason game and ten strikeouts—all while he has repeatedly demonstrated that he is among the top talents in baseball.
Ultimately, the choice reflects broader issues in how sports media operates today—favoring storytelling over facts, potentially alienating longtime fans who value statistical accomplishments and historical milestones. Combating these narratives with real accomplishments will always be a challenge but essential to maintaining the trust of sports audiences who value transparency.
In this landscape, it is important to recognize both Ohtani’s remarkable legacy and the achievements of rising talents like A’ja Wilson. Yet, as the discussions unfold and stories collide, clarity is vital in celebrating what truly matters in sports: the power of individual performance.
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