Over the past few years, A'ja Wilson has cemented herself as the most dominant player in the WNBA. She is the complete package, as she can be the primary scorer while being the best defender in the league.
Wilson’s excellence is the primary reason behind the Las Vegas Aces ' success, proven by their back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 and their status as the WNBA’s most valuable team . Those championships are not A'ja’s only accolades because she is a two-time regular season MVP, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and was the Finals MVP in 2023 under her name.
A'ja had a superb July
The Aces' superstar is not taking her foot off the gas because she is having a historic 2024 season, highlighted by a fantastic July. Wilson averaged 27.8 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game with elite efficiency splits of 54% from the field, 41% from three, and 93% from the free-throw line.
In the eight games they played before the break for the WNBA’s All-Star Weekend and the Summer Olympics, A'ja led the team to six wins. She only scored less than 20 points once against the Washington Mystics. That was a blowout win for the Aces, so she left the game early and got the rest she needed.
She was impressive in every July game, even the Aces’ losses to the Los Angeles Sparks and the Chicago Sky. The loss against the Sparks, in particular, was a classic Wilson game because she scored 35 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and got six blocks. She did her best, but the Sparks were the better team that night.
A'ja’s July was a glimpse into why people call her the best player in the world. Wilson has an unmatched impact on both ends of the floor, as she can single-handedly carry Vegas to victory. Of course, she still needs a good set of teammates around her, but she raises the ceiling for the Aces, which she has done to lead the team to two consecutive championships.
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A'ja is the favorite to win the MVP award
While the Aces had a slow start to the 2024 season, A'ja has been the most consistent player on the team. She is averaging a WNBA-record 27.2 points per game, but she matched that with 11.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and a league-leading 2.9 blocks a night.
Wilson is the odds-on favorite to win the MVP award with her historic campaign. However, her rivals should be appreciated because players like Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, and familiar foe Breanna Stewart have been superb this season.
Aces head coach Becky Hammon has shown full support for her star player, as she sees A'ja as the WNBA’s undeniable superstar.
“I’ve kind of run out of adjectives for her. She is gifted, anointed, chosen, however you want to put it. She has it. The biggest thing about A'ja that’s always impressed me is she’s always the same A'ja,” Hammon said to the media after beating the Mystics earlier in July. “It doesn’t matter if she scores 10 points or 50 points, A'ja comes in the same every day. She’s just a very secure person in what her purpose is, the direction that she’s going, and how she wants to walk her journey.”
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