Few athletes in women’s basketball have shaped the modern game quite like A’ja Wilson, whose career has been defined by relentless ambition, championship pedigree, and the leadership fueling a dynasty. Lauded for her dominance on both ends of the floor, Wilson’s rise from college star to WNBA cornerstone has set the gold standard for today’s up-and-coming talent. And her impact reaches well beyond the trophies, as she’s become a guiding voice for the league’s next generation.
A’ja Wilson Sets the Record Straight on the Biggest Trap Facing New WNBA Players
Wilson has never been shy about sharing what helped her grow, and she offers the same clarity to young players entering the WNBA as they search for direction. In a conversation with CBS Sports’ Kylie, Wilson explained that her clearest message to new teammates is to “be a sponge, not a rock”.
She believes many first-year players walk into the league expecting the habits that worked in college to translate into success automatically. She said rookies often feel, “this is what got me here. I’m going to stick to it,” even when the pro level demands more flexibility.
Wilson urged newcomers to stay open to guidance, adding that shutting down to instruction “is just going to really push you away from some good vets, some good basketball, and good coaching.”
She told Kylie that absorbing lessons from people around them will allow players to carve out their own place in the league. As she put it,
“if you can establish yourself just being you in the W, you can guarantee like keeping yourself a job and keeping yourself employed”.
Her perspective carries weight because of the foundation she built long before becoming the face of the Las Vegas Aces. In South Carolina, the future WNBA star rose under Dawn Staley’s leadership and became the cornerstone of a program that evolved into one of the sport’s dominant forces.
Wilson delivered the Gamecocks their first NCAA women’s basketball title in 2017 and finished her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. Her senior season saw her sweep the major National Player of the Year honors in 2018, cementing her status as one of the most decorated players in program history.
Her all-around excellence drew elite recruits to South Carolina, and her immediate success in the WNBA simply added another layer to an already formidable legacy. When Las Vegas selected the star forward with the first pick in the 2018 draft, the rookie immediately met the moment by capturing Rookie of the Year and steadily elevating her game into a central force behind the Aces’ rise.
Wilson’s résumé now features four MVP awards, three Defensive Player of the Year honors, and three championships, placing her at the heart of a franchise that has defined a new era while serving as one of the league’s most recognizable ambassadors.