Currently a part of the AEW roster and a former TBS Champion, Maya World once dreamed of playing in the WNBA.
In recent years, WWE has hired several college athletes and former professional athletes. While not a traditional professional athlete herself, apart from being a pro-wrestler, AEW’s Maya World once had childhood aspirations of having a basketball career.
Speaking to The Dallas Morning News, World reflected on her WNBA dreams. “I wanted to go to the WNBA, and looking back now, it’s like … girl. But everybody who was a little girl playing basketball, that was your dream. I kind of got realistic as I started getting older,” she shared.
World, 24, has been a part of the wrestling industry since 2021, when she started training at DFW All-Pro Wrestling Academy. She later made her professional debut in 2022. A year later, in 2023, she made her ROH and AEW debuts and has been a part of the promotion since then.
World is also a former AEW TBS Champion and recently lost the title to Persephone at All In 2026 in London.
Shounak Chakrabarti
Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
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