1. A'ja Riyadh Wilson is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association.
42 Facts About A'ja Wilson
1. 2.
A'ja Wilson swept all National Player of the Year awards as the best player in Women's College basketball for 2018.
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A'ja Wilson won her first WNBA MVP in 2020, as well as her first Olympic gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
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In 2022, A'ja Wilson helped lead the Aces to their first title in franchise history, a feat she repeated in 2023 while earning Finals MVP.
5.
A'ja Wilson won the gold medal in basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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A'ja Wilson spent her grade school and high school years as one of the few black students in Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, a southern Columbia private school.
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A'ja Wilson played a total of 119 high school games after making the varsity team as an eighth-grader.
8.
A'ja Wilson averaged 24.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks a game throughout her high school career.
9.
A'ja Wilson committed to play for Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina.
10.
A'ja Wilson played in 37 games her freshman year, leading to four single-game freshman records in the SEC and three single-season freshman records in the SEC, and won the SEC Freshman of the year award.
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In 2016 as a sophomore, A'ja Wilson won her first SEC Player of the Year award and was a consensus All-American, A'ja Wilson led the Gamecocks to a SEC regular season and Tournament Championship.
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In 2017, A'ja Wilson led the Gamecocks to a SEC regular season and Tournament championship, and went on to win the school's first national championship with a stirring victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the championship game.
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A'ja Wilson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
14.
In 2018, A'ja Wilson had her best season statistically, and won all of the National player of the year awards.
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A'ja Wilson won a record 3rd straight SEC Player of the Year award, and was a Consensus All-American for the third straight year.
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A'ja Wilson finished her college career at South Carolina as the all-time leading scorer for the school.
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In 2018, A'ja Wilson was drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Aces.
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A'ja Wilson would be voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game.
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Later on in the season, A'ja Wilson would be named the WNBA Rookie of the Year.
20.
In July, A'ja Wilson suffered an ankle injury that kept her out for 4 weeks, causing her to miss the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game.
21.
A'ja Wilson helped propel the Aces to their second finals appearance in three seasons, where they would defeat the Connecticut Sun in four games, giving A'ja Wilson her first championship.
22.
On June 30,2023, A'ja Wilson signed a contract extension with the Aces to keep herself in Las Vegas.
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A'ja Wilson's 53-point showing tied the WNBA's single game record and is one of three 50-plus point performances in WNBA history.
24.
A'ja Wilson did repeat as Defensive Player of the year in 2023.
25.
A'ja Wilson posted averages of 23.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in the 2023 WNBA Finals, which bested her 2023 regular season numbers of 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
26.
A'ja Wilson was awarded her first Finals MVP for her impressive performance in the Aces-Liberty series.
27.
On June 5,2024, in the match-up against the Dallas Wings, A'ja Wilson became the first player to have at least 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ steals in a single game in WNBA history.
28.
On June 21,2021, A'ja Wilson was named to the 12-player roster for Team USA for the 2020 summer Olympics.
29.
In June 2024, A'ja Wilson was again named to the US women's Olympic team to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, alongside fellow Aces teammates, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young.
30.
A'ja Wilson was named the MVP of the tournament after leading Team USA in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, field goals made, free throws made, and efficiency.
31.
A'ja Wilson has an older brother, Renaldo, who played professional basketball overseas.
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A'ja Wilson is a Christian and grew up with strong ties to the religion.
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A'ja Wilson majored in mass communications at the University of South Carolina, graduating in May 2018.
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A'ja Wilson is a member of the WNBA Social Justice Council.
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A'ja Wilson has multiple tattoos, including one for her late-grandmother.
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A'ja Wilson is currently in a relationship with Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo.
37.
In October 2018, A'ja Wilson signed an endorsement deal with Mountain Dew, the first female basketball player sign with the brand.
38.
In 2019, A'ja Wilson played for the "Home" roster during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
39.
In December 2020, A'ja Wilson was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 alongside fellow WNBA players, Natasha Cloud and Chiney Ogwumike.
40.
In July 2024, A'ja Wilson was named the co-cover athlete for the All-Star edition and solo cover athlete for the WNBA edition of NBA 2K25, a popular video game, making A'ja Wilson the first WNBA player to be featured on a cover of a global edition of the game.
41.
A'ja Wilson was named one of TIME's Women of the Year for 2025.
42.
In February 2024, A'ja Wilson published her first book, Dear Black Girls, which became a The New York Times best seller that same month.