“A’ja Wilson’s dedication on the court is matched only by her commitment to her community,” Dawn Staley once said about A’ja Wilson. Scoring 1,000 points in a single WNBA season was a feat many considered out of reach—until last season. Wilson shattered that notion, making history as the first player to achieve this milestone. What makes her achievement even more remarkable is her resilience in overcoming the challenges posed by a condition that affects a large portion of the population.

During her appearance on The Roommates Show, the Las Vegas Aces star took a moment to reflect on her journey beyond basketball. The conversation steered toward one of the books she’s written for her community—a project close to her heart.

Back in February, A’ja Wilson added another accomplishment to her growing list—becoming a published author. Her book, Dear Black Girls, offers readers an intimate look into her journey, revealing the challenges and triumphs that shaped her into the powerhouse she is today. Through its pages, Wilson opens her heart, sharing stories and lessons that reflect her deep connection to her identity and community.

The host, intrigued by Wilson’s passion, asked, “So talk about obviously your goals with that and talk about the book and, you know, the role model you’re trying to be.” Wilson quickly gave an explanatory response.

“Yeah, I mean, for those that follow me, they probably know I am dyslexic. So, me writing a book was so far-fetched ’cause I was like, ‘I barely even… I’m barely comfortable reading aloud, let alone just writing a book and having someone read it and have me read it.'” This takes us back to the time when Wilson wrote an essay for The Players’ Tribune about her struggles with dyslexia and how she found out about it.

“School was stupid… That’s how I felt growing up,” she documented. “It was like a really bad dream. And this activity called ‘popcorn reading’ … that was my nightmare.” As the WNBA MVP explained, ‘popcorn reading’ was when a teacher asked a student to read a passage from a book, and after a while, when they said, “Popcorn!” followed by another student’s name, they had to continue where the other left off. “I got popcorned a lot.

“And anyone who popcorned me became my enemy. Don’t popcorn me.” All this was because A’ja had trouble with reading. She’d always known that. But it wasn’t until sophomore year of high school that she found out exactly why.

“One morning, a few months into the school year, I got called out of class. Someone led me all the way to the other end of the campus and sat me down in a freezing cold trailer across from a woman I had never seen before. She started asking me to fill out all kinds of papers and then to read these long passages… I still had no idea why I was even there. So I just did what she told me as best I could, at first just wanting to get it over with.” But shortly after, Wilson got overwhelmed.

“I can read the words,”  she tried explaining to the woman. “They’re just… not right.” It was then that her parents came into the trailer. “I remember being asked if I knew what a ‘learning disability’ was. I said I didn’t. And that was the day I found out that I had something called dyslexia. Basically, my brain had a hard time comprehending big blocks of text. And that made reading difficult.” Fast forward to just over a decade, and A’ja Wilson has written her own book. Maybe this was why she was so surprised with herself.

Coming back to her conversation on The Roommates Show, the 28-year-old revealed, “I didn’t really know where this book was going to go. I just started, just kind of writing and thinking and talking with a lot of different people. And I found myself writing a whole chapter book, which kinda felt like a journal. I think that what made it easier on me was that it felt like a diary.”

Explaining her motivation behind writing Dear Black Girls, which she specified isn’t only for Black girls, Wilson continued, “I really wanted to write that book to say, ‘Be true to yourself. This world is hard; it’s ugly on its own. It doesn’t need your help. So, just be kind to yourself and understand that all journeys are different, but we’re destined for something, and if we continue to just stay on the right path, we’re going to get there.'” That’s what the two-time WNBA champion did, and see where it’s led her!

Dyslexia is more common than many realize. Discovery ABA reports that over 40 million adults in the United States have dyslexia, yet only 2 million are formally diagnosed. Wilson, open about her struggles with reading, highlighted a startling statistic: between 70% and 80% of individuals with limited reading proficiency have dyslexia.

That said, writing a book is just one piece of Wilson’s contributions to her community. Her influence extends far beyond the pages, earning accolades from legendary coach Dawn Staley and even receiving an award named in Staley’s honor.

A’ja Wilson’s impact beyond the court gets her the Dawn Staley Award

In August, Wilson added yet another accolade to her name, but this one came from her work beyond the hardwood. The Las Vegas Aces superstar was honored with the prestigious Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The Aces celebrated the moment on social media, proudly posting, “Awards on and off the court. Congrats, A’ja, on being the 2024 recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award!”

The WNBA awards this honor, named after Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, to a player who exemplifies exceptional leadership in their community. It celebrates those who embody Staley’s passion, charitable efforts, inspirational presence, and love for the game. As part of A’ja Wilson’s recognition, the WNBA had to donate $10,000 to a charity of her choosing, further extending the impact of her award.

“Winning this award is a testament to her unwavering passion for making a positive impact both in basketball and in the lives of those around her. As a former player of mine, this holds even more significance, reflecting the values I strive to instill in all my players,” Staley expressed her pride in mentoring Wilson during her college days at South Carolina.

Through her dedication both on and off the court, A’ja Wilson continues to inspire. Her journey to overcome the challenges of dyslexia adds another layer of motivation, serving as a powerful example for younger generations.