A’ja Wilson
A’ja Riyadh Wilson is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Born on August 8, 1996, in Columbia, South Carolina, she played college basketball at the University of South Carolina and helped lead the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship in 2017. Wilson is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in WNBA history, having won four league MVP awards and three championships. She also represents the United States women’s national team, earning Olympic and World Cup gold medals.
Early Life and Background
A’ja Riyadh Wilson was born on August 8, 1996, to Roscoe Wilson Jr. and Eva Rakes Wilson. Her father played college basketball at Benedict College and spent ten seasons playing professionally in Europe, while her mother worked as a court stenographer for the Richland County School District 1 in Columbia, South Carolina. Wilson has an older brother, Renaldo, who also played professional basketball overseas, giving the family a strong connection to the sport.
She spent her grade school and high school years as one of the few Black students at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, a private school in southern Columbia, South Carolina. Wilson made the varsity team as an eighth-grader and went on to play 119 high school games, averaging 24.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game. As a senior, she led Heathwood Hall to the 2014 state championship and was named the National High School Player of the Year.
Path to Basketball
Wilson’s path to elite basketball was shaped by her family background and early competitive experience. She committed to play for head coach Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina, one of the premier programs in women’s college basketball. During her freshman season, she set four single-game and three single-season freshman records in the SEC and won the SEC Freshman of the Year award.
As a sophomore in 2016, Wilson won her first SEC Player of the Year award and was named a consensus All-American. She continued her dominant play in 2017, leading the Gamecocks to a SEC regular-season and tournament championship before winning the school’s first national championship with a victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the final. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 NCAA tournament.
A’ja Wilson Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
In 2018, Wilson was drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Aces. In her professional debut on May 21, 2018, she scored 14 points with 10 rebounds in a loss to the Connecticut Sun. Later that season, she scored a then-career-high 35 points with 13 rebounds in an overtime win against the Indiana Fever, becoming only the second rookie in league history to reach those totals. Wilson was named a WNBA All-Star and won the 2018 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
In 2019, Wilson set a new career high with 39 points against the Indiana Fever, though an ankle injury later in the season caused her to miss the All-Star Game. The Aces finished with a 21–13 record and the number 4 seed, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Their postseason run ended in the semi-finals with a four-game loss to the eventual champion Washington Mystics.
Las Vegas Aces Breakthrough (2020–2022)
The 2020 season was shortened to 22 games in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilson led the Aces to an 18–4 record and the number 1 seed, carrying the team offensively throughout the year. She won her first WNBA MVP award after guiding the Aces to the WNBA Finals, where they were swept by the Seattle Storm.
In 2022, Wilson won her second MVP and first Defensive Player of the Year award, averaging 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. She led the Aces to the WNBA Finals, where they defeated the Connecticut Sun in four games to give Wilson her first professional championship.
Las Vegas Aces Era (2023–Present)
On June 30, 2023, Wilson signed a contract extension with the Aces. On August 22, 2023, she scored 53 points with 7 rebounds in a victory over the Atlanta Dream, tying the WNBA’s single-game scoring record. Wilson repeated as Defensive Player of the Year and led the Aces to their second consecutive championship, defeating the New York Liberty in four games. She was awarded her first WNBA Finals MVP after averaging 23.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in the Finals.
In 2024, Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a single game. She set the single-season scoring record on September 11 and was named MVP for the third time. On July 7, 2024, she became the Aces’ all-time leading scorer. Wilson led the Aces to a third championship in 2025, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 4–0 in the Finals and earning her second Finals MVP award. She also became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win the scoring title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilson’s game is built on her combination of size, skill, and athleticism at 193 cm. She is a versatile scorer who can finish in the paint, hit mid-range jumpers, and step out to the three-point line. Her rebounding and shot-blocking ability make her one of the league’s most impactful two-way players, and her consistent late-game production has been central to the Aces’ championship runs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wilson tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points against the Atlanta Dream in August 2023 and set the single-season scoring record in 2024. She is the only player in WNBA or NBA history to win the scoring title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 2025. She is also a four-time MVP and three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
A’ja Wilson Career Wins
Wilson has built one of the most decorated résumés in WNBA history, with championships, MVP awards, and international medals. Her career wins include three WNBA titles, four league MVPs, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and two Finals MVP honors, along with Olympic and World Cup gold medals for Team USA.
WNBA Highlights
Wilson has won three WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Her first championship came after a Finals victory over the Connecticut Sun in 2022, and she followed it with back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2025. She was named Finals MVP in both 2023 and 2025 after averaging more than 23 points per game in the Finals.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Wilson has won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2021 and 2024, and two FIBA World Cup gold medals. She was named to FIBA’s All-Star Five team in both Olympic tournaments and earned tournament MVP honors in 2024 after leading Team USA in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and efficiency.
A’ja Wilson Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in Wilson’s family. Her father, Roscoe Wilson Jr., played at Benedict College and spent a decade playing professionally in Europe. Her older brother, Renaldo, also played professional basketball overseas. Her mother, Eva Rakes Wilson, supported the family’s athletic pursuits while working as a court stenographer in Columbia, South Carolina.
Personal Life
Wilson graduated from the University of South Carolina in May 2018 with a degree in mass communications. She established the A’ja Wilson Foundation in 2019, which advocates for preventing bullying and raising awareness about dyslexia. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and has been in a relationship with Miami Heat power forward Bam Adebayo.
2025 Season Performance
Wilson’s 2025 season was historic. She became the first player in WNBA history to record 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game, doing so on August 10 against the Connecticut Sun, and later became the first player with multiple seasons of at least 10 30-point performances. She earned her fourth MVP award on September 21, 2025, joining an exclusive group of multi-time league MVPs.
The Aces finished the 2025 season as championship contenders behind Wilson’s dominant play on both ends of the floor. She won her third Defensive Player of the Year award, sharing the honor with Alanna Smith, and capped the year by leading the Aces to a 4–0 Finals victory over the Phoenix Mercury for her third title. She was named 2025 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year.