A’ja Wilson is having the best year ever.
The WNBA superstar has been named Time Magazine’s 2025 Athlete of the Year.
Wilson reflected on her epic year in an interview with the publication.
Wilson said: “When you’ve collected everything, that’s Thanos. And this year, I collected everything. I don’t really talk much sh-t. I kind of let my game do it. This was my biggest moment of doing it, because no one’s ever done what I’ve done. And I think people really needed to understand that.”
Wilson also responded to writer Mark Gunnels’ post on social media that she finally hit a wall.
“The A’ja Wilson regression was something I didn’t expect to see this season,” Gunnels wrote.
“That’s when I was like, ‘Oh, people are really playing on my name,’” says Wilson. “But my regression leads to a championship.”
Wilson even spoke about her case for the GOAT of the WNBA.
“I’ve been the GOAT since 1996 in my house,” says Wilson. “I think I’m on my way there,” she says. “I’m making it real hard for people to chase after me. That’s what it means to be the GOAT.”
When you think about a lot of GOATs, they have those career-defining shots that solidify you as the best. “I didn’t really have one of those. I had championships, yeah. But it was never really like a moment of like, whoooooooo. That’s why she is who she is. She’s exactly who she thinks she is,” she continued.
Wilson displayed historic dominance throughout her 2025 season. She led the Aces to their third WNBA title, earning her second Finals MVP award. Wilson became the first WNBA player ever to win the WNBA scoring title, WNBA championship, WNBA Finals MVP, and WNBA MVP in the same season.
Wilson averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game and she was named to the All-WNBA First Team and the WNBA All-Defensive First Team.