Dawn Staley Drops A'ja Wilson Demand During USA vs. Japan Olympic Opener

A'ja Wilson wasted no time in Paris picking up where she left off one of the most dominant individual seasons in WNBA history.

The Las Vegas Aces superstar was the best player on the floor in Team USA's blowout victory over Japan on Monday, an especiadally impressive feat considering New York Liberty counterpart Breanna Stewart also showed out in the Olympic opener.

Dawn Staley couldn't help but celebrate her former South Carolina and national team pupil on Twitter, demanding the basketball world "throne" Wilson as her unique blend of size, skill and athleticism simply proved too much for Japan.

"Throne her," Staley wrote of Wilson.

Wilson finished Monday's contest with team-high of 24 points and 13 rebounds on 10-of-16 shooting. She also stuffed the stat sheet with four assists and four blocks, putting her singular all-court brilliance on display for an Olympic audience.

The Americans beat the Japanese, 102-76.

The Aces, meanwhile, entered the Olympic break surging after an underwhelming start to the 2024 season. They're 9-2 with Team USA starting point guard Chelsea Gray back in the lineup post-injury, looking fully capable of winning a third straight championship despite a ho-hum 16-8 overall record.

Wilson and the Americans are back in action on Thursday against Belgium, their second game in Group C.

Related: A'ja Wilson's WNBA All-Star Moment With Angel Reese Raises Eyebrows