Bilal Handoo is an NBA Editor at EssentiallySports. With over 16 years of experience in writing, editing, and content management, Bilal is renowned for his expertise in longform, research-based, and analytical narratives, something that benefits the basketball articles that ES features. 
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There is hardly anyone who isn’t impressed by JuJu Watkins’ exceptional talent on the court. The immaculate skills of this 18-year-old wonder kid are enough to mesmerize anyone. On top of that, the manner in which Watkins has been smashing records has succeeded in taking the breath away of many popular names including an Ace who brought glory to Vegas last year. A’ja Wilson can’t get enough of JuJu Watkins’ unreal talent. The Aces’ superstar couldn’t hide her jubilation following the freshman’s fresh feat. CAPTAIN WILSON HAILS ROOKIE JUJU WATKINS With her immaculate performance, the young USC baller recently broke the record that was set 39 years ago by the WNBA veteran and former Trojan Cheryl Miller. This has attracted many eyes and one of them is of the two-time consecutive WNBA champion A’ja Wilson. The Aces star shared a post by the official ESPN page on her story [https://www.instagram.com/stories/aja22wilson/3309593487161707661/] captioned, “SHE’S ONLY A FRESHMAN 😮 JuJu Watkins passes Cheryl Miller for the most 30-point games in a season in @uscwbb [https://www.instagram.com/uscwbb/] history (11).” JuJu Watkins [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/juju-watkins-6.jpg] JuJu’s balling skills are truly undeniable as many big names have also mentioned before. The post was also shared by the official pages of College GameDay and ESPN W. Undeniably, JuJu is creating a legacy that no one may have seen before in women’s college basketball. [https://www.essentiallysports.com/ncaa-college-basketball-news-usc-trojans-three-nine-year-old-record-adds-another-name-juju-watkins-cheryl-miller/] But this is not the only time that a big gun from the professional basketball league has appreciated JuJu’s talents. KING JAMES RECOGNIZES GREATNESS Getting noticed by LeBron James [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/lebron-james/] should be an achievement in itself, especially just as a fresher. However, JuJu Watkins seems to have a hold on everyone’s attention. LeBron James shared a story captioning, “Yeeeeaaahhhh JuJu!!” He shared the post by Bleacher Report and House of Highlights that showed JuJu’s latest score of 42 points against the Colorado Buffaloes tonight. She also bagged 4 rebounds and 4 assists. JuJu Watkins is surely turning out to be a trump card for the Trojans with almost all of their games getting visibility as well as wins. Moving ahead in the NCAA tournament with a decent 21-4 record, USC surely seems to be a strong contender to reach ahead in the competition. It will be exciting to see how they perform against the other big teams of women’s basketball. 

JuJu Watkins becomes a center of attraction as all the big names of the industry commend her latest accolade.

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One of the greatest to ever grace the game, A'ja Riyadh Wilson, is a WNBA powerhouse. Born on August 8, 1996, she was the 1st overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018. Per various sources, Wilson has amassed a net worth of $3 million as of 2024.

[caption id="attachment_3118988" align="aligncenter" width="3000"]<img class="wp-image-3118988 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-2163897112-3000x2000-1.jpg" alt="" width="3000" height="2000" /> PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 27: A'ja Wilson of Team United States speaks during a Team USA Women's 5x5 Basketball press conference on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Main Press Centre on July 27, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)[/caption]

A key player in the WNBA and an influential figure in women's sports, the 6’4” Center has a significant impact both on and off the court. Her achievements in basketball, coupled with her advocacy for gender equality and social justice, have established her as a prominent and respected figure in the athletic community.
<h2>A'ja Wilson's early life</h2>
Born to Roscoe C. Wilson Jr. and Eva Rakes Wilson in Columbia, South Carolina, A’ja was a name inspired by the song ‘Aja’ by Steely Dan. The WNBA player revealed this on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! On the other hand, her middle name is one many might be familiar with - the Saudi Arabian capital where her maternal aunt was deployed in Operation Desert Storm.

Her high school education took place at the Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, a private institution in Southern Columbia. There, she led the Highlanders to a regional title and the 2014 SCISA Class 3A state crown, a state runner-up finish in 2013, and the 2012 state semifinals. The Aces Center was diagnosed with dyslexia as a kid.
<h2>College life and achievements</h2>
Wilson played for the South Carolina Gamecocks in college and competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). With Wilson, the team reached their first NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 2017. The star player also swept the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player award that year.

In 2018, she won a record third straight SEC Player of the Year award, leading South Carolina to a record fourth straight SEC Tournament Championship, becoming the all-time leading scorer in South Carolina women's basketball history, and was a consensus first-team All-American for the third consecutive season.

She finished college as the all-time leading scorer for South Carolina and majored in broadcasting. A statue of her likeness was erected near the main entrance to Colonial Life Arena, unveiled on January 18, 2021, as part of the university's observance of Martin Luther King Day.
<h2>Career in the WNBA and for Team USA so far</h2>
After being drafted first overall in 2018, Wilson won her first WNBA MVP in 2020, as well as her first Olympic Gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2022, Wilson helped lead the Aces to their first title in franchise history, a feat she repeated in 2023 while earning Finals MVP. Wilson also won the MVP of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney after winning her second World Cup title (first in 2018). 

On July 7, 2024, in a matchup against the Dallas Wings, she became the Aces' all-time leading scorer. She also won the gold medal in basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

[caption id="attachment_3126118" align="aligncenter" width="4070"]<img class="wp-image-3126118 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-08-11T161936Z_899472679_UP1EK8B19CMOE_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-BASKETBALL.jpg" alt="A'Ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart" width="4070" height="2876" /> Paris 2024 Olympics - Basketball - Women's Victory Ceremony - Bercy Arena, Paris, France - August 11, 2024. Gold medallists A'Ja Wilson of United States and Breanna Stewart of United States celebrate on the podium. REUTERS/Brian Snyder[/caption]

Wilson has also dabbled in writing and is a New York Times best-selling author with her book Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You released in February 2024. 
<h2>A'ja Wilson contract</h2>
A'ja Wilson signed a 4 year, $232,178 contract with the Las Vegas Aces in 2018, including an average annual salary of $58,045. This was followed by a 2-year, $398,422 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $199,211.

Wilson then signed a 2-year, $400,000 contract extension in 2023, including $400,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $200,000. In 2024, Wilson will earn a base salary of $200,000, while carrying a cap hit of $200,000 and a dead cap value of $200,000.

Before this, Wilson had an overseas stint in China when in August 2018, she signed with the Shaanxi Red Wolves of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association for the 2018–19 off-season. The details of this contract are unclear and it’s uncertain how much Wilson earned.
<h2>A'ja Wilson Family</h2>
Wilson's mother, Eva Rakes Wilson, worked as a court stenographer for the Richland County School District 1 in Columbia, South Carolina. Wilson's father, Roscoe Wilson, Jr., played college basketball at Benedict College and professionally in Europe for 10 seasons. Wilson also has an older brother, Renaldo, who also played professional basketball overseas.
<h2>A'ja Wilson awards won in the WNBA</h2>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">2× WNBA Champion (2022, 2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">6× WNBA All-Star (2018–2020, 2022–2024)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">WNBA Rookie of the Year (2018)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">WNBA Most Valuable Player (2020, 2022)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player (2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">2× Best WNBA Player ESPY Award (2023, 2024)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Best Female Athlete ESPY Award (2024)</li>
</ul>
<h2>A'ja Wilson awards won in college</h2>
From the SEC Freshman of the Year and the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2015 to four-time winner of First-team All-SEC (2015–2018), A’ja Wilson’s college career was decorated with honors. Along with being a two-time winner of SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2016, 2018) and three-time winner of the SEC Player of the Year from 2016–2018, Wilson also led her team to become the three-time Consensus first-team All-American from 2016–2018. She was also the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2017.

Near the end of her college career, Wilson won the Lisa Leslie Award, USBWA Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, Honda Sports Award, John R. Wooden Award, and the Wade Trophy, all in 2018.
<h2>A'ja Wilson business partnerships and endorsements</h2>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Wilson, along with her mother, founded the Burnt Wax Candle Company in 2021. The candles were priced at approximately $40 at that time and were named after her numerous accomplishments – National Champion, All-Star, MVP, Olympic Gold 2020, etc.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">As per Forbes, Wilson had also invested in Masters, a fitness app, during its seed round. Thus, A’ja was both a trainer and an investor for the app. For the unversed, the app has workout routines by top athletes that can be accessed from the comfort of home. </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">The Las Vegas Aces star has added a high-profile sponsorship to her portfolio. Gatorade has signed the 2x WNBA MVP to a multi-year endorsement deal.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Wilson became the first female basketball player to join Mountain Dew’s roster, which already includes several National Basketball Association players, such as Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">A'ja Wilson announced that she'll have her own signature shoe with Nike prior to the Las Vegas Aces' preseason game against the Puerto Rico national team on Saturday.</li>
</ul>
<h2>A'ja Wilson’s signature shoes</h2>
Wilson's signature show, the "A'One," will debut in 2025. She's the 13th WNBA player to ink a signature shoe deal. The Olympic gold-medal winner joins tennis greats Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, soccer standout Megan Rapinoe, and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu on Nike’s roster of signature athletes.
<h2>A'ja Wilson social media accounts:</h2>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aja22wilson/">https://www.instagram.com/aja22wilson/</a>

Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/_ajawilson22">https://x.com/_ajawilson22</a>

Website: <a href="https://www.ajawilsonfoundation.org/">https://www.ajawilsonfoundation.org/</a>

A'ja Wilson

One of the greatest to ever grace the game, A&#8217;ja Riyadh Wilson, is a WNBA powerhouse. Born on August 8, 1996, she was the 1st overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018. Per various sources, Wilson has amassed a net worth of $3 million as of 2024. PARIS, FRANCE &#8211; JULY 27: A&#8217;ja Wilson of Team United States speaks during a Team USA Women&#8217;s 5&#215;5 Basketball press conference on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Main Press Centre on July 27, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) A key player in the WNBA and an influential figure in women&#8217;s sports, the 6’4” Center has a significant impact both on and off the court. Her achievements in basketball, coupled with her advocacy for gender equality and social justice, have established her as a prominent and respected figure in the athletic community. A&#8217;ja Wilson&#8217;s early life Born to Roscoe C. Wilson Jr. and Eva Rakes Wilson in Columbia, South Carolina, A’ja was a name inspired by the song ‘Aja’ by Steely Dan. The WNBA player revealed this on NPR&#8217;s Wait Wait&#8230; Don&#8217;t Tell Me! On the other hand, her middle name is one many might be familiar with &#8211; the Saudi Arabian capital where her maternal aunt was deployed in Operation Desert Storm. Her high school education took place at the Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, a private institution in Southern Columbia. There, she led the Highlanders to a regional title and the 2014 SCISA Class 3A state crown, a state runner-up finish in 2013, and the 2012 state semifinals. The Aces Center was diagnosed with dyslexia as a kid. College life and achievements Wilson played for the South Carolina Gamecocks in college and competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). With Wilson, the team reached their first NCAA Women&#8217;s Basketball Championship in 2017. The star player also swept the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player award that year. In 2018, she won a record third straight SEC Player of the Year award, leading South Carolina to a record fourth straight SEC Tournament Championship, becoming the all-time leading scorer in South Carolina women&#8217;s basketball history, and was a consensus first-team All-American for the third consecutive season. She finished college as the all-time leading scorer for South Carolina and majored in broadcasting. A statue of her likeness was erected near the main entrance to Colonial Life Arena, unveiled on January 18, 2021, as part of the university&#8217;s observance of Martin Luther King Day. Career in the WNBA and for Team USA so far After being drafted first overall in 2018, Wilson won her first WNBA MVP in 2020, as well as her first Olympic Gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2022, Wilson helped lead the Aces to their first title in franchise history, a feat she repeated in 2023 while earning Finals MVP. Wilson also won the MVP of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney after winning her second World Cup title (first in 2018).  On July 7, 2024, in a matchup against the Dallas Wings, she became the Aces&#8217; all-time leading scorer. She also won the gold medal in basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Paris 2024 Olympics &#8211; Basketball &#8211; Women&#8217;s Victory Ceremony &#8211; Bercy Arena, Paris, France &#8211; August 11, 2024. Gold medallists A&#8217;Ja Wilson of United States and Breanna Stewart of United States celebrate on the podium. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Wilson has also dabbled in writing and is a New York Times best-selling author with her book Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You released in February 2024.  A&#8217;ja Wilson contract A&#8217;ja Wilson signed a 4 year, $232,178 contract with the Las Vegas Aces in 2018, including an average annual salary of $58,045. This was followed by a 2-year, $398,422 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $199,211. Wilson then signed a 2-year, $400,000 contract extension in 2023, including $400,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $200,000. In 2024, Wilson will earn a base salary of $200,000, while carrying a cap hit of $200,000 and a dead cap value of $200,000. Before this, Wilson had an overseas stint in China when in August 2018, she signed with the Shaanxi Red Wolves of the Women&#8217;s Chinese Basketball Association for the 2018–19 off-season. The details of this contract are unclear and it’s uncertain how much Wilson earned. A&#8217;ja Wilson Family Wilson&#8217;s mother, Eva Rakes Wilson, worked as a court stenographer for the Richland County School District 1 in Columbia, South Carolina. Wilson&#8217;s father, Roscoe Wilson, Jr., played college basketball at Benedict College and professionally in Europe for 10 seasons. Wilson also has an older brother, Renaldo, who also played professional basketball overseas. A&#8217;ja Wilson awards won in the WNBA 2× WNBA Champion (2022, 2023) 6× WNBA All-Star (2018–2020, 2022–2024) WNBA Rookie of the Year (2018) WNBA Most Valuable Player (2020, 2022) WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023) WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player (2023) 2× Best WNBA Player ESPY Award (2023, 2024) Best Female Athlete ESPY Award (2024) A&#8217;ja Wilson awards won in college From the SEC Freshman of the Year and the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2015 to four-time winner of First-team All-SEC (2015–2018), A’ja Wilson’s college career was decorated with honors. Along with being a two-time winner of SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2016, 2018) and three-time winner of the SEC Player of the Year from 2016–2018, Wilson also led her team to become the three-time Consensus first-team All-American from 2016–2018. She was also the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2017. Near the end of her college career, Wilson won the Lisa Leslie Award, USBWA Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, Honda Sports Award, John R. Wooden Award, and the Wade Trophy, all in 2018. A&#8217;ja Wilson business partnerships and endorsements Wilson, along with her mother, founded the Burnt Wax Candle Company in 2021. The candles were priced at approximately $40 at that time and were named after her numerous accomplishments – National Champion, All-Star, MVP, Olympic Gold 2020, etc. As per Forbes, Wilson had also invested in Masters, a fitness app, during its seed round. Thus, A’ja was both a trainer and an investor for the app. For the unversed, the app has workout routines by top athletes that can be accessed from the comfort of home.  The Las Vegas Aces star has added a high-profile sponsorship to her portfolio. Gatorade has signed the 2x WNBA MVP to a multi-year endorsement deal. Wilson became the first female basketball player to join Mountain Dew’s roster, which already includes several National Basketball Association players, such as Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook. A&#8217;ja Wilson announced that she&#8217;ll have her own signature shoe with Nike prior to the Las Vegas Aces&#8217; preseason game against the Puerto Rico national team on Saturday. A&#8217;ja Wilson’s signature shoes Wilson&#8217;s signature show, the &#8220;A&#8217;One,&#8221; will debut in 2025. She&#8217;s the 13th WNBA player to ink a signature shoe deal. The Olympic gold-medal winner joins tennis greats Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, soccer standout Megan Rapinoe, and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu on Nike’s roster of signature athletes. A&#8217;ja Wilson social media accounts: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aja22wilson/ Twitter: https://x.com/_ajawilson22 Website: https://www.ajawilsonfoundation.org/

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