The WNBA is gaining new fans — thanks to A’ja Wilson! The Aces center, who has already won two WNBA championship titles, is receiving praise from former NFL star Emmanuel Acho. The retired Eagles linebacker, now an analyst for Fox Sports 1, seems particularly impressed by her sense of fair play.

Wilson, the reigning MVP, recently delivered a post-game speech that went viral for its emotional depth. “I get y’all saying ‘best player in the world,’ that’s great… but I want to be the best person, I want to be the best teammate,” Wilson said, all tear-eyed. She stressed how she strives to be a “great teammate” and be “accountable” for everyone in her locker room. She acknowledged the challenges, noting, “It’s the hardest sh*t. Because there are tons of people that wanna break you.” And she concluded with, “I’m not going to stop” in striving for greatness.

Now, Acho, impressed by her emotional speech, reposted it on his X handle, stating, “A’ja Wilson is quickly becoming my favorite athlete.” Wilson’s dedication to being more than just a dominant player seems to have resonated with Acho, earning her praise from the NFL veteran.

Even last week, Acho was spotted singing her praise. He posted Wilson’s impressive game stats from the last four games with a caption, “Can’t let Caitlin Clark convos overshadow.” Though the post showcased Wilson’s “greatness,” Clark fans didn’t take the comparison well. 

Acho is all in for A’ja Wilson, especially since he called out Angel Reese for her emotional press conference. 

Acho applauds A’ja Wilson’s tears, dismisses Angel Reese’s emotions

Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese caused a stir last month with her emotional press conference after losing. Reese, who famously competed against Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team (that LSU had already defeated for the championship), got emotional talking about the intense pressure she deals with. She mentioned the incredible support from her teammates but couldn’t hold back tears when revealing “death threats” and “harassment” she’d endured. 

Enter Emmanuel Acho, who offered his “gender-neutral and racially indifferent take.” He criticized Reese, calling her emotional display “crybaby” and claiming she couldn’t have it both ways – wanting to be treated as a grown-up while showing weakness. He downplayed her feelings, stating, “Nobody mourns when the villain catches an L.”

Lots of fans were mad, pointing out how hypocritical it was to ignore the emotional stress women athletes go through. They criticized him for painting the 22-year-old Reese as a villain for simply expressing her struggles. Now, with Wilson’s emotional speech gaining traction, Acho seems to have rethought his words.