After MVP season, A’ja Wilson is only getting better
Publisher’s note: This story is part of a series of SB Nation Profile of 2025 Wgb Star teams. Today, let’s get to know A’ja Wilson.
A’ja Wilson’s 2024 season was one of the best in the history of the League. Its distinctions for the year are read as a long list of races, highlighted by a unanimous MVP selection and records of a single season in points and rebounds.
So, how to follow a historical season? Well, if you are aja, showing that she has even more to offer.
To be clear, 2025 was a step back for A’ja, although it is difficult to imagine an even better version of its Self 2024. However, it sets up 22.3 points (third in her career), entering 9.2 rebounds and blowing 2.4 shots per match. In her last two games before the stars break, she scored 71 points combined out of 27-41 with 26 rebounds through the two competitions.
The difference this season was his creation of a game, a new aspect of his game. After a reshaping of the off -season which saw the playmaker of the aces outside Kelsey Plum, the AS sought to fill part of the play vacuum through Wilson.
Although its use rate is really lowered from last season, its percentage of assistance has skyrocketed at the best career levels. Before this season, his best season saw her helping about 15.6% of AS baskets on the ground.
This season, this issue has increased to 23.9%, an indicator of the responsibility it has taken this season. The 147 points she generated via assists for 17 games have also set it up to a better career brand at the end of the season.
Despite the increase in game creation, its assistance / return ratio has actually improved by each of the last two seasons. The aces put the ball in his hands, asking him to do more than ever before and she enters the plate.
All this took place with A’ja being always his usual dominant self. She had three 30-point games this season and, in each, recorded a double-double. Napheesa Collier is the only other player to do this this season and she has “only” succeeded once.
Las Vegas also needs all of this. Because despite a’ja showing new aspects of his game with his big game reliably, the Aces fought powerfully. After years at the top of the WNBA as one of the best in the league, the cracks in the foundation have turned into canyons.
Instead of fighting for the seeded n ° 1, the AS fight for a place in the playoffs. A large part of their difficulties came despite the brilliance of A’JA.
In an omen of what would happen this season, the AS opened 2025 with a two -digit defeat against freedom in a match where A’ja had 31 points and 16 rebounds. A few weeks before the stars break, Vegas lost 81-54 against fever in a match where Wilson scored 29 points.
The aces needed aja to be brilliant this season and when it is, even it was not always enough. This has raised questions about what their way to go and if you continue to make winning games or destroy everything is the best option.
This is a global question on the franchise centered on the fact that’ja is always dominant and that the team around it is not good enough.
Although the future of aces feels as troubled as in a certain time, what has become clear is that there does not seem to be limits on what A’JA can achieve on a basketball court because its game continues to develop.
