A'ja Wilson
A dominant force in the paint who led the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back WNBA championships while collecting MVP honors and redefining the power forward position.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American basketball player·Birthday: August 8·Millennials
Biography
A'ja Wilson plays basketball with a regal authority, a 6-foot-4 forward whose combination of skill, athleticism, and basketball IQ has made her the cornerstone of a modern WNBA dynasty. Hailing from South Carolina, she was a college sensation under Dawn Staley, leading the Gamecocks to a national title in 2017 and winning every major player of the year award. Drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018, she quickly became the franchise's heartbeat. Wilson's game is a blend of graceful footwork, tenacious defense, and a clutch scoring touch. She propelled the Aces to their first championships in 2022 and 2023, earning Finals MVP honors both times, and has secured multiple league MVP awards. Off the court, she is a vocal advocate for mental health and social justice, writing openly about her experiences with dyslexia.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
A'ja was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When A'ja Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
A'ja's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the Las Vegas Aces to consecutive WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, winning Finals MVP both times.
- Named the WNBA's Most Valuable Player in 2020 and 2022.
- Won an NCAA national championship with the University of South Carolina in 2017, also earning National Player of the Year.
- Earned an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Games (held in 2021).
- Became the WNBA's all-time single-game scoring leader with a 53-point performance in 2022.
Did You Know?
She has a tattoo of her hometown area code, 803, on her wrist.
Wilson published a young adult novel in 2022 titled 'Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You.'
Her grandmother was the first Black homecoming queen at her South Carolina high school in the 1960s.
She is a global ambassador for the NBA and has appeared in a 'Space Jam' sequel.
““I’ve always been the person that’s like, if you don’t like me, that’s fine. I’m not for everybody.””
