A’ja Wilson Is Already Knocking On The All-Time Greats’ Doors
The Las Vegas Aces’ season may have ended at the hands of the New York Liberty on Oct. 5, but even without a third-straight championship, A’ja Wilson cemented herself as one of the league’s all-time players this year.
A series win over the Liberty would have given Las Vegas a chance at a three-peat, which has not been done since 1999 when the Houston Comets won their third of eventually four championships in a row. Even without that feat, however, Wilson’s resume is already starting to hold up against the best to ever lace up in the WNBA. Many impressive players have left their mark on the league that has been around for just 27 years.
Diana Taurasi, who many believe played the last game of her 20-year career in the final game of the Phoenix Mercury’s series against the Minnesota Lynx back on Sept. 25, is incredibly a player that many consider one of the greatest to ever play in the WNBA. Her three championships, six gold medals, and number-one standing on the league’s all-time scoring list barely scratch the surface of what Taurasi has accomplished throughout her career.
Lisa Leslie is another who, with her two championships, three MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards, and four gold medals, tops many fans’ lists for the WNBA’s GOAT.
Even more recent WNBA retirees like Candace Parker and Sue Bird, who won three and four championships, respectively, are considered some of the best to ever come through the league.
Then there’s Wilson, who averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this season. Wilson may have only just completed her seventh season in the WNBA. Still, if she retired today, her accomplishments up to this point would likely give her one of the most storied careers in women’s professional basketball of all time.
Wilson’s Historic Run
Since her rookie year in 2018, Wilson has won two WNBA championships, one Commissioner’s Cup championship, three MVP awards, one Finals MVP award, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. She has also been named to six All-Star teams, five All-WNBA teams, and four All-Defensive teams, and she has won two gold medals with the United States women’s national team.
That doesn’t even include her collegiate career at South Carolina, where she was awarded the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 2017 when her Gamecocks won the national championship.
“It’s humbling to walk a path paved by so many legends of this game,” Wilson said during her MVP acceptance speech Sept. 24. “Those who made this league what it is today. And for me to stand up here with my third [MVP award], so shout out to the legends, ‘cause they really did their thing.”
Wilson has been synonymous with success for almost a decade, and her run is far from over. Yes, the Aces lost out on their third championship in three years to a league juggernaut in the Liberty, but come next season, Las Vegas will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
With stars like Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and even recent Sixth Woman of the Year recipient Alysha Clark, the Aces will undoubtedly remain in solid contention for another title for years to come.
Rising stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese may be on their way to becoming the faces of the league. Until then, though, it belongs to Wilson, and rightfully so, given the rarefied air, she’s already stepped into after season seven of her career.
“This league is incredible and full of elite women, so I’m glad that I can just be a part of the 144 [players], and soon to be some more teams and some more people,” Wilson said during her acceptance speech.
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