Photo:Sarah Stier/Getty
Sarah Stier/Getty
It’s been a week since the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA championship, butA’ja Wilsonis still riding high.
While onThe Jennifer Hudson ShowFriday, the Finals MVP revealed that winning it all this year is not the same as taking the title last season — and that she was particularly emotional when her team beat the New York Liberty.
“The first one was cool, but this second championship hit different,” Wilson, 27, told Hudson.
In the final game of the series, Wilson finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds, which solidified her selection as MVP.
“Everything that we’d been through, fighting that adversity and to be able to share that moment, it was just something truly special,” the South Carolina alum said.
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The difficulties were not lost on head coach and recent Hall of Fame inducteeBecky Hammoneither, who noted her own suspension to start the season as well as the loss of WNBA starCandace Parkerbefore this year’s run, as significant challenges last week toESPN.
Elsewhere in her appearance on the show, Wilson disclosed that she still gets anxious before games, despite having played six seasons in the league.
“I get super-nervous, I’m pacing,” she said. “I’ve got sparkling water … I always say it’s a good thing to be nervous because that means you care.”
Yet after she tearfully celebrated with her parents following winning the title and the MVP crown, Wilson reached for another type of beverage post-game.
“I cried with them, and went to the locker room popped a couple of bottles,” she told Hudson.
On Sunday, the South Carolina native made headlines after she posted a message toUsheronsocial media, inviting the musician to celebrate the team’s victory.
“Hey@Usher🤭,” Wilson wrote. “If ya not busy our parade is tomorrow …if ya wanna slide 😁.”
In response, he posted avideo messageon his X account Wednesday, saying, “Shout out to the defending champs, the Vegas Aces. A’ja Wilson, I got your message. I see you. I hear you.”
But Usher ultimately couldn’t make the appearance work.
“Couldn’t be at the parade, but I wanted to send this out to you to say congratulations to you and all the lovely ladies that — once again — did it again,” he said, praising the team.
source: people.com
