Las Vegas Aces star and three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson recently opened up about how basketball has shaped her life, in more ways than one.
In a recent interview with Cosmo Sports, A’Ja Wilson was asked about how becoming a basketball player shaped her life. In particular, Wilson highlighted how being the star that she is now has paved the way for her to help more people and be a role model to more.
“It’s allowed me to become a leader and a role model. I’ve always had a passion for helping others,” she said.
“Basketball has allowed me to do that by just playing the game and giving that young girl or that young boy a sense of ‘I could do that.’ I want to show them that you don’t have to lose yourself in sports—it’s not always about the wins and the losses.
“It’s also helped me understand how to create bonds and relationships with different people. I love to help people figure out their why and then watch them thrive in it.”
She also admitted to being an introvert but shared how people around her would never believe that she is one.
“I am,” Wison reiterated. “I just love what I do, especially making people smile through the entertainment of basketball. But I also know when I close that door and I take a deep breath, I am so at peace with staying in my bed and in my room”
A’Ja Wilson Gets Honest About “Losing Yourself” in Sports
In the same interview, A’ja Wilson also talked about the dangers of skiing oneself into the sports they play and love, particularly after experiencing down times like losses, defeats, and other similar failures.
“Statistically, young girls drop out of sports around middle school and that breaks my heart because it’s so much bigger than the wins, losses, or that coach who’s yelling at you,” she said “I think as young girls, we lose ourselves because we feel like we’re not good enough. I was that person when COVID hit and we were playing in the bubble. I struggled because I felt like I wasn’t being good enough.”
She also talked about her journey of “regaining” herself in these challenging times.
“I had to regain that and have this rebirth of who I want to be as a player in the league. I had imposter syndrome, I wanted to be a people pleaser, and I got to a moment where I was having anxiety attacks.”
During the 2024 WNBA regular season, A’ja Wilson has been remarkably dominant, averaging 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through [email protected]. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
