LAS VEGAS, NV– While players such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers are creating excitement, none of them have yet achieved the credentials, significance, and overwhelming influence that Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson contributes to the WNBA. With several championships, two Olympic gold medals, and her distinctive “A’One” collection with Nike, Wilson is undoubtedly on a path to becoming one of the most exceptional players in WNBA history.
Wilson’s achievements are not solely attributed to her talent; rather, it is the blend of determination, perseverance, and an unwavering work ethic that enables her to fully leverage her strengths. She motivates audiences by demonstrating the effort she has invested to capitalize on her opportunities. Throughout the regular season, she contemplated the difficulties faced by both herself and the Aces, as well as the ways in which they triumphed over challenges.
“All of the seasons have been very different. I think this one just has to be that my leadership skills kind of were different this year,” Wilson told Nitecast Media. “It wasn’t something I was used to. I had to kind of put us all together as a team and figure out what makes people go. And I think before, because either I knew my teammates before, or we kind of just understood. But this time, we really had to dial into each other and pour into one another. I think that’s what you see now. And obviously, losing didn’t help because everyone’s trying to figure out what the problem is. But I think we found out that the problem was just us. We needed to get to know each other.“
The camaraderie is essential to any successful journey or run, which is something the Aces learned at the right moments. The fascinating inspiration Wilson draws from some of the greatest players to have ever played in the game, in Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, and the unique perspective she learned from each player.
“I would say how they handle things…I think sometimes when people can’t find anything to hate on you (for), they’re going to hate on you because they can’t find, nothing,” she explained. “And so I think that you see those three, and they always showed up and were great. And that’s sometimes really hard because you feel like you constantly, even though what you’ve done, it shows, and it’s there, you constantly have to show up and show why you’re great! I think it makes you greater. And I think that’s what I take from each one of those three is just like how they handle the hate, sometimes just tuning it all out and understanding that you’re great. And so that’s what I hope that I can bring to this team. I hope that I can reflect that onto my teammates and help them understand how great they are individually to this team. And that’s how you get the aces that you see today.“
Wilson’s influence and creativity extend beyond the court, as demonstrated by her signature shoe line with Nike. Each shoe is designed with special attention, making each pair unique with a specific message behind each pair.
“I’m pretty hands-on— not even pretty hands-on, I am very hands-on when it comes to the A’One (series) and the A’Two (series), and moving forward. But I love being a part of a shoe, particularly mine, because I want people to love it and understand where it’s coming from. Not just a shoe that you can walk around in or play in, but a shoe that you can believe in and achieve whatever you want, whether you’re a youth or an adult. I love being hands-on, and my team at Nike do a great job of making sure that my vision comes to light in it every single time.“
The bigger mystery arose when Wilson revealed whether the “Princess Tiana” edition of her shoes would ever be available for retail.
“The Princess Tiana shoe… I don’t think that’s gonna hit retail,” Wilson said, smiling. “That’s the one I gotta keep close to home. That’s one of my favorite shoes. It has glitter, it’s like the whole thing. I love it, it’s fly.“
She is the only player currently to have four MVP Awards in the league, something that points to her dedication to the sport and desire to want something greater to end the season with.
“It obviously means a lot,” the reflective and grateful 29 year-old said. “That is the sole purpose of why everyone wants to be the best: to be rewarded for that. But at the same time, I’m grateful for the position that I’m in with my team and how we’ve just pushed forward and pushed through the nonsense. So yeah, MVP is great. My ultimate goal is to win a championship and to bring another one to Las Vegas. I would love that championship as well.“
Under the leadership of A’ja Wilson, the “point gawd” assist specialist Chelsea Gray, the talented Jackie Young, under the guidance of future Hall of Fame coach Becky Hammon, the Las Vegas Aces have established themselves as a contemporary WNBA dynasty. This year has likely been not only the most fulfilling, but also a year of valuable lessons that Wilson has wholeheartedly accepted during the peak of her career.
She truly is the head of the table in this league, and everyone who is witnessing her greatness better appreciate it while they still can.
