A’ja Wilson was named the 2025 Athlete of the Year by TIME on Tuesday, capping off a historic year that saw her win the WNBA MVP award and lead the Las Vegas Aces to another championship.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces poses for a photo with Dawn Staley
A’ja Wilson learned a crucial lesson about distinguishing herself on the basketball court while playing under head coach Dawn Staley at South Carolina.
Wilson received the prestigious 2025 Athlete of the Year recognition from TIME magazine on Tuesday, capping off an extraordinary 12-month period. The honor came after a record-breaking year that saw her capture the league MVP award while guiding the Las Vegas Aces to another WNBA title.
This past summer, Wilson also secured Olympic gold in Paris, earning tournament MVP honors in the process. She has solidified her position as the premier talent in women’s basketball and the cornerstone of a franchise building toward dynasty status.
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Before becoming the top selection in the 2018 WNBA Draft and launching her remarkable professional journey, Wilson competed for her home state South Carolina Gamecocks.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates winning the WNBA Finals(Image: Getty Images)
While she now boasts a statue on the university campus, the 29 year old’s early college days presented significant challenges.
As a strategy to reach the nation’s premier high school recruit, Staley adopted a demanding approach with Wilson.
The coach grew frustrated watching her future star “blending” – essentially playing at a mediocre level and failing to distinguish herself from the competition, reports the Mirror US.
“It was so aggravating,” Wilson shared with TIME. “I’m just like, ‘Lady, what do you mean? Do you not know who I am? I don’t blend anywhere.'”
It seems almost impossible to envision Wilson not commanding attention, considering her remarkable court skills and impressive list of achievements. However, the four-time MVP needed to discover her identity while transitioning into superstardom.
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During one training session, Wilson went multiple possessions without touching the basketball, prompting Staley to banish her to the sideline with the walk-on players. When an assistant coach inquired about Wilson’s return, Staley deliberately ignored the question.
Wilson grew irritated with Staley’s tactics, sparking a major confrontation between the duo. However, the head coach’s intended lesson ultimately resonated.
“That was one of our biggest fights,” Wilson added. “Because I was just like, ‘No, I’m not going to let you win.’ At the same time, I was like, ‘Damn, I was blending.'”
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Wilson delivered an outstanding 2025 WNBA campaign. She posted averages of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as the Aces cruised through the regular season before dominating the postseason.
The Aces completed a clean sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals, with Wilson earning Finals MVP honors for the second time in her career.
She remains the sole player in either the WNBA or NBA to capture the scoring title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in a single season.
Following Caitlin Clark’s triumph last year, Wilson has certainly earned consideration for the Athlete of the Year honor. Staley deserves recognition for her contribution to this success.
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