Las Vegas – Las Vegas Aces Superstar A’ja Wilson, who entered the eighth season in WNBA, is preparing to build on the undisputed most dominant individual campaign in the league history.
Wilson unanimously joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in the league history to win the MVP prize, and joined a private club as the fourth player to win the award three times. Last season, an average of 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and points for points (1,021) and rebounds (451) determined the only season of all time.
Unfortunately, for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from the previous two championship runs have been installed and since 2019, the team’s worst regular season record (27-13) has resulted in. ACES’s three peats hopes ended with 76-62 home loss to New York Liberty to leave the semi-final series 3-1.
This is the lost on its floor that serves as the motivation of Offseason Wilson.
“Especially in the home field,” Wilson said, “I’m still a little burning, but I used it as a fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it was to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. But for us to progress, we need to understand how hard we are and we are better than we are.”
Although ACES seemed to be moving towards three potential peat campaigns in 2024, the reality in the locker room was the drowning of both internal and external pressure to win another championship. A common theme during the media day is that Wilson shares the team as the undisputed leader of the team when the team felt less pressure when entering the 2025 season.
“(Three peat talks) clearly impressed us, because do you think we don’t want to win? We’re trying.” He said.
“I can say that it is definitely refreshing this year. This, I feel like one of the only years it feels like weight.
To take ACE back to the top of the mountain for the third time in four years is one of the historically important achievements that Wilson can gather this season. Wilson may also be MVP for the first four times in the history of the league, but it means something he doesn’t just think of.
“I didn’t think much, but it would be a blessing to take my name in that conversation.” He said. “Every year, I try to be better a year ago to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is better. We are growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your durability. Mental, all of this is getting harder. Because I can’t think about it, but I certainly try to be better than last year.”
As ACES coach Becky Hammon said, fans may expect to see a better version of Wilson this season.
“What I saw is gone and healed, Ham Hammon said. “It is difficult to do when you are the best, but business ethics, desire and mentality speaks with all this offseason. This offseason talked a lot. He’s a busy lady, but I can always tell you what he’s doing. He always takes his training.
When Hammon asked what a player like Wilson should develop after last season’s campaign, Coach didn’t want to explain much.
“(There was something for Wilson’s development) and he did, Ham Hammon said. “I won’t tell you what happened. Actually, there were two things.”
-Despart, field level media
