24 Facts About Aja Wilson

1.

A'ja Riyadh Wilson was born on August 8,1996 and is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association.

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2.

Aja Wilson played for the South Carolina Gamecocks in college, and helped lead the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 2017, and won the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player award.

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3.

Aja Wilson swept all National Player of the Year awards as the best player in Women's College basketball for 2018.

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4.

Aja 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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5.

In 2022, Aja Wilson helped lead the Aces to their first title in franchise history.

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6.

Aja Wilson's mother had a court stenographer business while her father played basketball professionally in Europe for 10 seasons.

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7.

Aja 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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8.

Aja Wilson grew up in a Christian family and her grandfather was a minister.

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9.

Aja Wilson represented the Gamecocks as a forward in basketball.

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10.

In 2019, Aja Wilson played for the "Home" roster during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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11.

Aja Wilson started Burnt Wax Candle Company and established the A'ja Aja Wilson Foundation that advocates for preventing bullying and education around dyslexia.

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12.

Aja Wilson is part of the WNBA's social justice council and hosts a podcast with Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier.

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13.

Aja Wilson played a total of 119 games after making the varsity as an eighth-grader.

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14.

Aja Wilson committed to play for Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina.

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15.

Aja 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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16.

In 2016 as a sophomore, Aja Wilson would win her first SEC Player of the year award and was a consensus All-American, Aja Wilson led the Gamecocks to a SEC regular season and Tournament Championship.

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17.

In 2017, Aja 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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18.

Aja Wilson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

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19.

In 2018, Aja Wilson had her best season statistically, and won all of the National player of the year awards.

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20.

Aja 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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21.

Aja Wilson finished her college career at South Carolina as the all-time leading scorer for the school.

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22.

On January 18,2021, as part of the university's observance of Martin Luther King Day, a statue of Aja Wilson was dedicated near the main entrance to Carolina's basketball home of Colonial Life Arena.

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23.

In July, Aja Wilson suffered an ankle injury that kept her out for 4 weeks, causing her to miss the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game.

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24.

Aja Wilson helped propel the Aces to their second finals appearance in three seasons, where they would defeat the Connecticut Sun in four games, giving Aja Wilson her first championship.

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