A’ja Wilson being named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Wilson was the MVP of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She posted 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds 2.7 blocks, and 1.5 steals.
Wilson has been associated with USA basketball since 2013, earning seven international gold medals including two Olympic gold medals. She was previously named USA Female Athlete of the Year for USA Basketball in 2015 and 2022.
🇺🇸 A'ja Wilson is the 2024 USA Basketball 5-on-5 Female Athlete of the Year 🙌 @_ajawilson22
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) January 28, 2025
🏆 #USABAwards pic.twitter.com/d5AXRbQzFn
Coming off of a stellar WNBA season, Wilson was named the 2024 MVP, a 2024 All-Star, and an All-WNBA First Team and All-WNBA Defensive First Team.
A’ja Wilson and Her Other Achievements
Since being drafted in 2018 as the number one pick by the Las Vegas Aces, Wilson has accumulated numerous awards and several rather lucrative endorsement deals. Her decision to not participate in the inaugural season of Unrivaled was and good decision. Allowing herself to rest during the off-season makes enormous sense, both professionally and personally.
Even though the Aces failed to three-peat this past season, there is no doubt that they will once again be in the mix. We can be sure that Wilson will continue to give everything it takes to help bring another title to Las Vegas.
This Sunday, February 2, Wilson’s South Carolina jersey will be officially retired in a pre-game ceremony. The Gamecocks take on Auburn for a noontime game in SEC action.
Wilson’s Aces will have something of a new look this coming season. The reason is the departure of Kelsey Plum and the arrival of Jewell Loyd. I am sure that A’ja, along with everyone else, is excited to see this new chapter of Aces basketball unfold. The Aces begin their 2025 campaign on Saturday, May 17 on the road at Barclays Center for a game against the New York Liberty.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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