The WNBA has evolved and gained a lot of popularity since its inception in 1997. This mass following has brought more accolades to the new stars and the legends certainly have contributed to it. The Las Vegas Aces’ captain A’ja Wilson recently thanked three WNBA legends who helped change the face of the game and bring it to the spectators’ notice.

For the unversed, A’ja Wilson is the Las Vegas Aces’ power forward who has helped her team reach the Finals in 2023. Let us have a look at what she had to say.

What did A’ja Wilson have to say?

Andscape writer Sean Hurd on Tuesday posted on X that he was present during the Aces’ practice session ahead of the Game 4 and had asked their captain A’ja Wilson on “what it’s been like to compete for a title in front of some of the game’s greats like Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper & Dawn Staley.” To which Wilson humbly acknowledged the WNBA greats contribution to the game and said:

“Any time I step foot on this court, I am thankful for all the greats, Hall of Famers, particularly the ones that look like me who laid the foundation down for me to be able to do what I do. Having those conversations with Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn, all of them — they have been really pouring into me in this moment and I love that. Those are the ladies that paved the way for me to be able to sit in a sold-out Barclays Center and play in front of.”

For the unversed, Sheryl Swoopes was the first women’s basketball player to be signed by the WNBA. The Texas-born went on to clinch the coveted Championship title a record four times with the Houston Comets. She also won the WNBA MVP thrice and fans regarded her as the Michael Jordan of the women’s basketball. Her impact was such that the highest viewership Game 1 Final, taking place at the Lifetime Network, was the clash between the New York Liberty and the Houston Comets in 2000, averaging over 872000 viewers.

Cynthia Cooper was a point guard at the Houston Comets and was on the same team as Sheryl Swoopes when she won the WNBA championship for a record four times. Cynthia won the WNBA Finals MVP in all the Finals that featured the Houston Comets between 1997 to 2000. The 60-year-old also won the WNBA MVP during the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Read More: With A’ja Wilson’s Aces on the Cusp of History, Which Team Won Back-to-Back WNBA Championships?

On the other hand, Dawn Staley was a point guard who was drafted by the Charlotte Sting during the 1999 WNBA draft. Her contribution lies in the fact that she led the Sting to the championship game of the playoffs and hence became a major icon of women’s basketball. In 2011, she was also voted in the Top 15 players in the 15 years of the WNBA history since its inception. But how are the current teams performing in the Championship Finals?

Can A’ja Wilson led Aces win Game 4?

The Las Vegas Aces will take on the New York Liberty during Game 4 of the WNBA Championships Final at the Brooklyn Centre on Wednesday. The Liberty had upped their score 1-2 and the Aces will be looking to seal the Finals with a win. If the A’ja Wilson-led team is able to decimate the Liberty despite being shorthanded due to the absence of their stars – Kiah Stokes and Chelsea Gray, then it would come as a surprise for the fans. Though, the Aces started off as the favorites but after being undermanned seem to be falling behind the race.

Thus, the Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson expressed her gratitude for the WNBA legends namely – Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, and Dawn Staley, and would be looking to pay them back by winning the Championship Finals.

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Will the Liberty level the series during Game 4? Or will the Aces seal the deal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.