In her previous game, A’ja Wilson set the record straight, becoming WNBA’s only player to tally 100+ points and 50+ rebounds in just 4 games. Moreover, she achieved a feat of 1000 career free throws in just 193 games, leaving Angel McCoughtry and Breanna Stewart trailing behind with 195 and 207 games mark. It has only been 4 days since she achieved this milestone and today she went ahead to add one more star to her gilded career in the W.

In today’s game against the Minnesota Lynx, A’ja Wilson became the first player in the WNBA’s history to record 20+ points, and 10+ rebounds in 5 consecutive games. The Aces took an 80-66 win over the Lynx, where Wilson registered 29 points and 15 rebounds, alongside 3 assists and 4 blocks.

The stats made Wilson’s the longest double-double streak in the WNBA. It was previously held by Sylvia Fowles who had a four game streak twice in 2011. The 2023 WNBA finals MVP started her streak in the season opener against the Phoenix. She scored 30 points, 13 rebounds and took an 89-80 victory. Then, the Aces played against the LA Sparks grabbing an 89-82 win. A’ja Wilson scored 22 points and 10 rebounds with an assist, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Maintaining her scoring momentum, she scored 21 points and 13 rebounds in the next clash.

It was her recent game against Indiana Fever where she scored 29 points and 15 rebounds, with 2 assists, a block and a steal that led Wilson to this stellar achievement. However, to whichever heights may she rise, A’ja Wilson never forgets her roots.

A’ja Wilson honors her beginnings

For today’s game, A’ja Wilson arrived at the Target Center sporting a custom-made white crop top with her former South Carolina head coach and Hall of Famer, Dawn Staley’s photo from her unreleased SLAM cover; thus, paying tribute to the mentor, whom she claims is her ‘second mother’.

While the training camp was in session before the season kicked off, Dawn Staley and assistant Lisa Boyer went to watch Wilson practice. Sitting a few rows away from the court, watching the 27-year-old practice, Staley uttered, “Look at her, we had a chance to coach her. (I’m) watching the best player in the world work.”

The next day, A’ja Wilson and the Aces played their preseason game against Team Puerto on the same court where she used to play during her time at South Carolina. “haven’t really seen her up close in seven years, she’s got muscles in her legs and her arms now,” said Staley seeing Wilson show off her physicality during the game.

Under Staley, Wilson won multiple titles, including NCAA Most Outstanding Player, 3-time SEC Player of the Year, and numerous more that stand a testament to her MVP titles today. Thus, being back on the familiar ground, Wilson, after the preseason game iterated, “It’s truly special to see a program that has watched me grow come back and show them I’m a big girl now, I’m an adult now.” 

Surely, A’ja Wison has come a long way since she graduated from the Gamecocks program, becoming an NCAA champion along the way and keeping up momentum after winning back-to-back WNBA championships.