From dominating basketball with South Carolina to now barraging through the record books, A’ja Wilson stands alone. Scoring exactly 29 against the Connecticut Sun gave her the crown of being the first woman in WNBA history to score 1000 points in a single season. The sporting fraternity came to a pause to pay their respects. NBA stars went berserk. And even Ja Morant showed her some hometown love.

The Memphis Grizzlies star took to his Instagram to commemorate Wilson’s historic achievement. “Da mayor of SC. Crib talk. Congrats family,” he wrote in his story with a heart emoji. The focus though lies on his choice of words. Are they actually family?

The straightforward answer to that is no. Ja Morant and A’ja Wilson aren’t related by blood. However, their connection is much deeper, rooted in their growing up in South Carolina. They both have long been friends and shared several bond moments. During the WNBA Finals last year, Morant came through to show support for Wilson.

After a stunning performance by The Mayor, both she and Morant along with their families broke into the infamous ‘Griddy’ courtside. It’s a celebration Morant has trademarked as part of the Grizzlies over the years. Additionally, A’ja Wilson frequently refers to the two-time All-Star as ‘lil bro’ and even congratulated him during his signature sneaker launch with Nike.

When previously speaking about him, A’ja Wilson still is startled by his growth. She recalls watching Ja Morant as a young boy playing basketball in South Carolina and said she admires his authenticity and work ethic. For Morant, she is already the ‘GOAT’. And her recent strides are earning her the nods she has earned for her illustrious basketball career.

A’ja Wilson is a force of nature

Amidst the whole Caitlin Clark buzz, A’ja Wilson managed to take all the spotlight through her impeccable and unprecedented season. Of course, her intentions weren’t deterred by Clark. She has simply been having “fun” as she said last season. However, when asked about being the GOAT, she said “wait until I’m really trying to get there”. Well, it seems her moment has arrived.

At this point, it’s no question that she is easily on pace to become a three-time MVP in the WNBA. Furthermore, she has won DPOY, two Olympic gold medals, two WNBA titles, a Finals MVP, an NCAA championship, and the Most Outstanding Player honor in doing so. At 28, that’s a ginormous legacy with very few sharing her accolades. Her brand is only likely to grow now that Nike has rewarded her.

In the middle of her incredible campaign, the Swoosh announced Wilson’s new signature shoe coming next year. The logo has already been revealed, and the world can not wait. Wilson already has a statue for her college brilliance and now she is taking over the WNBA world in probably its most grueling and growing era.

She has proven to be a champion and now is a history-maker.