Hard work, passion, and perseverance – anyone who follows A’ja Wilson will relate strongly to these three words. An inspiring journey that began from the alleys of Columbia, South Carolina, has seen numerous bumps but is steadily heading towards its desired destination. Along the way, the two-time WNBA champion has been a spectacle as she continues to rise above every pickle that has hindered her path to success.

Seemingly, a lot has transpired in her life, which she decided to pen down in her authorial debut, Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You. Of course, the world would want to hear many untold stories that forged her into a true champion.

A’ja Wilson and her struggles while growing up

Not many would have thought that a song from Steely Dan would produce a name that would be on everyone’s lips one day. However, the road was not at all easy for Wilson to make herself more popular than the track. Despite being the daughter of a professional basketball player, A’ja had to toil her way to become the star she is today. Being one of the few black women athletes growing up, her talent was often overlooked because of her ethnicity. Moreover, the prejudicial hostility she faced through her predominately white Heathwood Hall Episcopal School further aggravated her challenges as a kid.

Besides this, the 2023 WNBA Finals MVP also had to fight her way out of her learning disabilities. As it turns out, Wilson suffered from dyslexia before and during her time at the University of South Carolina. Following this, she, along with her parents and her academic advisor, even decided to let every professor know about it.

Nonetheless, the availability of convenient resources and backing from coach Dawn Staley helped her script a resounding college basketball career.

Dawn Staley’s impact on Wilson’s life

A 13-year-old A’ja was determined not to choose basketball as a career option. “I’ll never go! I’ll never be like you!”, was her response when she was by her father Roscoe C. Wilson Jr. to join a basketball day camp during a summer break. All that changed when she came under the guidance and mentorship of the mighty Dawn Staley. Unlike her teachers at high school who often forced her to ‘try harder’ or just say that she was just being ‘lazy’, Staley wanted her to embrace her dyslexia and not see it as a weakness.

Read More- Despite Going Through a NCAA Title Drought, A’ja Wilson Reveals What Led Her to Choose the South Carolina

Not only did she see her true potential, but the six-time WNBA All-Star also played a vital hand in helping her combat her learning disabilities. Apparently, Dawn would ask A’ja to read scriptures before her games, which later persevered with it. Consequently, Wilson could deal with her dyslexia better and it further improved her reading ability.

So, when Dawn Staley was announced as the head coach of the Gamecocks, A’ja could not contain her emotions. In an interview conducted in 2021, the power forward opened up about how much the announcement elated her. A’ja said, “I honestly remember being in college when she was named the head coach of the team. I just started crying. I just could not hold back the tears, because I was just so proud to be a player of hers.”

Symbolic achievement list of A’ja Wilson

Wilson first had a taste of glory when she combined with Dawn Staley and led the Gamecocks to their first national championship. Also, her contributions made her the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player for 2017. After this, in 2018, Wilson was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces as their first overall pick. Evidently, she didn’t take much time to settle down with the Aces. A stellar debut season that ended with her becoming the 2018 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Since then, she has been a prolific figure in the Aces’ locker room and has carved her identity as their tenacious No.22. Further, the dynamic 6 ft 4 forward was adjudged by the WNBA MVP for the first time in 2020. Unfortunately, the Aces were runners-up that season because of their loss to the Seattle Storm in the Finals.

Regardless, they had another crack at the championship gold in 2022. Following A’ja’s magical campaign, which included a league-high 17 double-doubles, the Aces got the job done against the Connecticut Sun and lifted their first-ever WNBA championship. As a result, Wilson was named the WNBA MVP for the second time in her career. Wilson repeated the heroics in the 2023 season and the Aces entered their second consecutive WNBA Finals. Defying all odds, the 27-year-old stepped into the Liberty’s backyard and rewrote history at the Barclays Center. She made Las Vegas only the second team after the Warriors to clinch back-to-back championships. Furthermore, Wilson’s iconic performance made her the Finals’ Most Valuable Player.

There is no denying that A’ja Wilson is a true role model for future generations. Her desire to overcome all the roadblocks is a perfect example of what a strong-willed woman she really is.

Watch This Story:  All You Need to Know About Sabrina Ionescu’s Journey With Nike and the Rise of Her Signature Shoes in the NBA Spotlight