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A’ja Wilson, the dominant force in women’s basketball, sat down to talk about her remarkable season, her struggles, and her growth as a leader. As she walked into the production studio, wearing her bonnet, sweats, and Crocs, she was ready to open up about everything that’s been swirling around her.
Despite her incredible achievements, including an Olympic gold medal, single-season WNBA points and rebounding records, and her third MVP award, Wilson’s team, the Aces, haven’t looked like themselves for most of the season. Injuries, controversies, and uncharacteristic losses have landed them as the fourth seed in the playoffs.
But Wilson has learned to focus on what she can control. She deleted social media from her phone to protect her mental health and has accepted that not everyone will appreciate her talent. “This year just has really shown – blatantly – that you really have to work your ass off in order for people just to even look at you,” she said.
When asked about her leadership style, Wilson explained that it’s evolved this year. She’s created bonds with her teammates and focuses on getting the best out of them. “We’re going to always be the villain. We are in spaces that a lot of people don’t want to see us in, so they’re going to try to throw anything at us and make it seem like we don’t deserve it and make it seem like we’re out of place.”
Growing up in South Carolina, Wilson learned to never forget her roots. She credits her church and her family for instilling in her the values of hard work and perseverance. Her father, a former professional basketball player, pushed her to be her best, but she also learned to separate her love for the game from his coaching.
Wilson’s passion for basketball grew when she attended a camp in South Carolina, where she was told to respect the game. From then on, she dedicated herself to becoming great. She found her focus and her rhythm, and it paid off when she led her college team to a championship.
Now, as a dominant force in the WNBA, Wilson is determined to continue to grow and win. She’s adopted a “villain” mindset, using criticism as fuel to push herself and her teammates to be their best. And as she looks to the future, she knows that she’ll continue to face challenges, but she’s ready to take them on head-on.
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