Olympic gold. Unanimous MVP. And an honor alongside USA VP Kamala Harris. If there’s one word to describe, the LV Aces star A’ja Wilson’s 2024 season, it is ‘spectacular.’ While the 28-year-old could not get the three-peat for the Aces, she surely seems to have checked off the other things from her bucket list. And now Wilson has earned an unexpected honor, getting herself a place with Harris and her former mentor Dawn Staley.

According to a list released by The Root, Wilson has found a place in the list of 100 most influential Black Americans this year. Ranking at the 14th spot, this wasn’t just another day for Wilson for the meaning the honor holds. Add Harris and Staley in the sentence and we know the value. While this year’s Presidential candidate is placed at the top spot, the South Carolina Gamecocks head coach occupies the fifth place.

This list celebrates the activists, leaders, and influencers who have significantly impacted the culture and helped the Black American community to progress. Plus, it celebrates extraordinary changemakers from sports, STEM, business, and other domains, and much like the previous year, they might be honored during The Root 100 event later this year.

This year, Wilson notably released the book “Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You.” According to the reviews, it is an inspiration to the girls of the Black community and compels them to accept their identity and be true to themselves without ever hesitating. The book aims to empower girls through personal stories from Wilson’s life that have a profound lesson for everyone. And Staley no less.

The 3X Championship-winning coach has also immensely helped community women and girls to follow their dreams. According to a tribute by NBJC, her “remarkable leadership, on and off the court, has not only solidified her place in sports history but inspired countless individuals, particularly Black women and girls, to pursue their dreams fearlessly.” And all this only added to their on court achievements this season, setting just the example needed.

A’ja Wilson and Dawn Staley scale heights this season

For Wilson the path was clear since the beginning: she wanted to avenge herself of the humiliation she had faced in her MVP run last season. The South Carolina alum stayed determined enough to become the first WNBA player to score more than 1000 points in a single season by the campaign’s end. She would also record the highest number of rebounds in a single season.

With this third MVP title, she became the fourth W star to have three titles. Apart from that, she had a spectacular Olympic campaign leading Team USA to their eighth consecutive gold.

As for her former coach, the 54-year-old won her second title in three years. Staley took the South Carolina Gamecocks to an undefeated season in the NCAA. While it cannot be denied that they had stars in MiLaysia Fulwiley and Kamilla Cardoso, Staley’s utilization of her players wasn’t any less of an impact. In the Final against Caitlin Clark’s superteam, Staley deployed Raven Johnson, which would help them win the game.

And now that the two might share the same stage with Harris later this year when being honored, we might hear what it feels like to be in the top 100 in their own words. And till then, we can only witness the duo doing their part.