South Carolina basketball alum A’ja Wilson is the clear 2024 WNBA MVP. As the league leader in points and blocks (she is also in 2nd place in rebounds), the Las Vegas Aces star should be the recipient of her third Most Valuable Player honor at season’s end, and she added a big “MVP moment” to her resume.
In a tie game against the Chicago Sky on Sunday, Wilson and the Aces had the ball with just over 1 second left on the game clock. Despite it not being her best overall showing from an efficiency standpoint, naturally, Aces head coach Becky Hammon called Wilson’s number with the game on the line.
Point guard Chelsea Gray handled the in-bound from between the two benches, and Wilson streaked to the basket. Gray heaved the ball over the outstretched arms of fellow Gamecock Kamilla Cardoso (all 6’7″ of her) and three more Sky players. Just past a screen from Kelsey Plum, Wilson caught the pass in stride near the restricted circle, and quickly tossed the ball up to the rim. The shot banked off the glass and fell through the rim as time expired, giving the Aces a 77-75 victory.
A’ja Wilson is ICE COLD. https://t.co/Q63eb1nHOL pic.twitter.com/xzUg77ICYp
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 25, 2024
Wilson’s “off game” still saw her go for 20 points, 18 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, and 2 steals. The effort was her record-breaking 8th 15-point, 15-rebound performance of the season…