Sheryl Swoopes has been A’ja Wilson’s biggest fan throughout the 2024 WNBA season. From crossing the 1000-point single-season mark to unanimously winning the 2024 MVP, the Las Vegas Aces Center has swept Swoopes off her feet repeatedly. In the 6x All-Star’s opinion, Wilson is the “GOAT” who is “on a whole another level”. However, disappointment entered this equation after the defending champs succumbed 3-1 to the NY Liberty in the semi-final.

The Liberty has been a team reborn this year. Finishing the regular season as the top seed, they ensured early elimination of their 2023 WNBA final rivals. The Aces were simply no match for the likes of Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, whose standout scoring overwhelmed A’ja Wilson & Co. Though the 2024 MVP was consistent, scoring a minimum of 19 points per game, including a double-double in Game 4, Swoopes felt that she didn’t do justice to her regular season reputation.

“I thought A’ja played well, but she wasn’t the A’ja that we’ve seen all season,” the retired 4x WNBA champ said. “I can’t begin to know all the stuff that she has in her head. It’s been a long season, but she still performed. But I was wanting and needing more from A’ja,” Swoopes further told host Jordan Robinson on the Queens of the Court podcast.

“Game 4, Jordan, I’ll be honest with you, they looked a little tired to me.” Robinson swiftly agreed with this assessment, replying, “They did. They ran out of gas.”

Swoopes’ view stands out in the sea of opinions where Wilson was credited as the team’s sole star performer. However, there was one section of fans who mercilessly criticized the Aces star after their Game 4 loss. Then, Swoopes was very quick to step in and neutralize such negativity.

Sheryl Swoopes shuts down the public disrespect of A’ja Wilson

For the Aces, it was indeed a tiring season. They recorded more losses in the first half of 2024 than the entirety of 2023. Though Chelsea Gray’s return and A’ja Wilson’s consistency sped things up in the winning direction, they weren’t the favorite, despite being the defending champs. Eventually, the surrounding pressure got to them, and they looked like mere passersby in their losses against the Liberty.

Though Wilson averaged a team-high 20.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in the semi-final series, her competence was questioned first. Chants on the line of “Not my MVP” picked pace on social media. But Sheryl Swoopes, who has been through the highs and lows during her time since the WNBA’s inauguration, reshared a post on X that said: “I don’t care what team you root for, don’t ever disrespect A’ja Wilson around here.”

Even the best players have off days and sometimes, off phases. However, the hate towards the Aces’ 3x MVP was unjustified considering how her performance never dropped. Her regular season averages of 26.9 points (league high), 11.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks (another league high), deserved the unanimous vote.