A’ja Wilson Is the Perfect Successor of Diana Taurasi for Team USA – Here’s Why

“This is going to be the GOAT of the GOATs.” That’s what Las Vegas Aces head coach, Becky Hammon, had to say about the most prized possession of the franchise, A’ja Wilson. Well, by the looks of how the 2× WNBA champion played her part in completely revolutionizing women’s professional basketball, this assessment seems reasonable. But can the same be said about her keeping in mind the national scheme of things? Especially when there has been a “White Mamba” who has coiled her way through 5 gold medals over the past two decades on the grandest stage of them all.

The reason why this discussion is coming to the surface at this very moment is because the 2024 Paris Olympics will be the final appearance of one of the iconic names in women’s basketball–Diana Taurasi. And, who better can the 5x Olympic gold medalist pass the torch to than the reigning Best WNBA Player ESPY Award winner?

A’ja Wilson on national duty

Only one of six athletes to participate in two U19 World Cups, the year 2013 was when A’ja Wilson announced her arrival. Alongside Breanna Stewart, she ended her tournament with 10.9 PPG. After Team USA captured the gold in Lithuania, her services were again required the following year in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Here as well, a 5-0 record ensured Team USA a gold. A perfect 7-0 record was not enough for Wilson in the 2015 FIBA U19 World Cup as she delivered a single-game record of 30 points in the gold medal fixture against the hosts, Russia. Clinching the MVP award in the process, she made a convincing case for herself at a senior level.

A first piece of senior USA action came the way of the Aces No.22 in Spain. Sharing the stage with greats like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson tasted gold in her first World Championships in 2018. Not to forget that she was still a WNBA rookie at that time. Anyhow, this didn’t stop her from aiding the Women’s National Team to have a 6-0 record by scoring at least 10 points per content. On top of that, she was the team’s best playmaker with a total of 9 assists.

Three years later, the moment that she was waiting for finally arrived. Her reputation with the Aces earned Wilson a starter position at the 2020 Olympics. And she didn’t disappoint. By compiling 16.5 PPG and 7.3 RPG, she architected a 6-o run for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team. These numbers eventually handed Team USA their 7th consecutive Olympic gold in Tokyo.

A’ja Wilson picked up things from where she left at the Olympics. An MVP-caliber performance awaited the 19th edition of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney. Producing the third-best numbers of 17.2 points per game, Wilson paved the way for Team USA to clinch their fourth-straight World Cup gold medal with another unbeaten run.

While the illustrious nature of these developments makes a compelling case for her to be at the same level as Diana Taurasi, there is another aspect of her game that furthers her cause.

Is Wilson taking the baton from Diana Taurasi?

What makes A’ja Wilson the obvious choice in the eyes of many? Why can’t it be Breanna Stewart, who has more Olympic experience than Wilson? The one-word answer to that is Leadership. Wilson arrived in Vegas in 2018 as their first overall pick. Her advent was during the time the Aces were deprived of a play-off position since 2015. Then, she started to turn the tides in the Aces’ favor in 2019 when they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

Bill Laimbeer’s crew then went a step further in the subsequent season. They overcame Connecticut in the best-of-5 series of the Conference Finals. This is after starting the series 0-2. Las Vegas sadly lost the WNBA Finals to Seattle Storm. Regardless, Wilson, with her 20.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG grabbed the MVP honors for the season. And, in 2021, the Aces may have lost the Conference Finals to the Mercury, but she did share the gold medal podium alongside Diana Taurasi in Tokyo.

2022 marked the appointment of Becky Hammon as head coach. But, what the year would really be remembered for is how their 6 ft 4 in center unleashed herself completely. Displaying her sheer dominance on the court helped the Aces get the job done this time around. Just like what Taurasi did in her 4th season with Phoenix, A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas to their first-ever WNBA crown. Fittingly, a range of accolades came her way. These include a second-time WNBA MVP recognition, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, and an All-Star, among others.

And for those who thought 2022 was a fluke, she made sure to shut them down emphatically in 2023. An MVP-worthy performance in the Finals got her and the franchise rare back-to-back titles. In addition to this, she matched what Diana Taurasi managed to achieve after turning pro. And that is justifying their No.1 overall draft tag by winning 2 championships in just 5 years.

“And not only is she the best player in the world, she’s the best leader I’ve ever been around.” To sum it all up, that’s A’ja Wilson in the eyes of Kate Martin. A rookie witnessing first-hand what this whole narrative is all about. For those who have been following Wilson’s game, it seems to be a valid elucidation.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.