A’ja Wilson is arguably one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. The Las Vegas Aces Center concluded the 2024 regular season leading the league with an average of 26.9 points and 2.6 blocks. She became the first player in the league’s history to cross the single-season mark of 1000+ points, finishing the season with 1021 in 38 games. But who knew that the unanimous 2024 MVP would be outclassed by a 22-year-old rookie from Iowa in reaching a key milestone?

When the Indiana Fever drafted Caitlin Clark as first overall, the WNBA world was divided. While many expected her to continue her NCAA rampage into the biggest women’s basketball league, a section of naysayers didn’t. She proved them wrong en route to grabbing the all-time rookie scoring record (passing Seimone Augustus’ 744 points), all-time assists record (surpassing Alyssa Thomas’ 316), most single-game assists (19), and many more.

On the back of this, she emphatically won the Rookie of the Year award, only 1 vote short of a unanimous win. The most special record she set was becoming the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double, before making it two for the season. This must have stung A’ja Wilson, who is yet to record her first career triple-double despite having 3 MVP trophies.

Consequently, Caitlin Clark joined an elite list of WNBA players with multiple career triple-doubles. Only 7 other women in the league’s history have achieved this, namely, Alyssa Thomas (15), Sabrina Ionescu (4), Candace Parker (3), Chelsea Gray (2), Courtney Williams (2), Courtney Vandersloot (2), and Sheryl Swoopes (2). It is rather baffling to know that Wilson isn’t one of them.

Though the Aces legend hasn’t entered this list, she tops another one for the longest double-double streak with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds – 5. But she is much more than these statistics, and that is why she is tied for most MVP awards won. Moreover, her influence has transcended the boundaries of basketball to inspire other sportspersons worldwide.

Coco Gauff reveals A’ja Wilson inspiration after historic China Open victory

Tennis star Coco Gauff, who made the world sit up and notice her performance since entering the teens, won the China Open last Sunday. She dominated Czech player Karolina Muchova to win 6-1, 6-3 in Beijing. As a result, she became the youngest woman to win it since 2010 and the first American woman to win it since Serena Williams in 2013.

She later revealed to the world how A’ja Wilson’s attitude inspired her. “People don’t realize people have great moments in sports and bad moments. It doesn’t mean anything,” Gauff said via the WTA‘s website. “I took inspiration from A’ja Wilson. Back-to-back champions. People wanted them to three-peat. She’s kind of like, ‘It’s hard to stay winning all the time.'”

Gauff was referring to Wilson’s candid admission after the New York Liberty knocked out 2x defending WNBA champions, Aces, in the semi-final. “You need to go through losses to realize what you need to do to evolve,” the 20-year-old American added. “Tennis fans need to be more accepting of that.”

Sport is a beautiful platform to live and inspire with an impact exponentially more than people realize. Wilson’s Aces couldn’t reach the 3-peat milestone this year, but they fought tirelessly. At the end of the day, it is the journey that we live, and never the result. But it will definitely take a lot more for Caitlin Clark to have any effect on the 3x WNBA MVP.