After leading the WNBA in scoring each of the last two seasons, it has become quite clear that Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson is among the most skilled women’s basketball players on the planet. And according to NBA legend Dwyane Wade, Wilson may even have the talent to beat some NBA players in a 1-on-1 matchup.
Wilson’s resume speaks for itself, winning three MVP awards and two WNBA championships over the course of her eight-year WNBA career. Should she continue on her current career trajectory, there may very well be a good case that she is among the greatest women’s basketball players ever.
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Discussing Wilson’s abilities during an appearance on “The Underground Lounge” podcast, hosted by fellow former NBA player Lou Williams, both Williams and Wade made the argument that there are some NBA players that they believe Wilson would match up favorably against in a 1-on-1 matchup.
“Let me get your opinion on it,” said Williams. My home boys were like, ‘No professional women can beat a professional man.’ I said they can’t. But there is a handful of them that they can beat.
“You are damn right it is,” replied Wade. “There is a few. A’ja Wilson can get a couple. She is smart. One thing about a lot of basketball players, they are not smart. A lot of basketball players know how to do one or two things. You may just be athletic and they say, ‘Go be an athlete.’ This is not your fault. They are not coaching you sometimes. Just go be an athlete.
“So you don’t know the game outside of pick and roll. Get into a 1-on-1 with someone like A’ja Wilson, who knows how to play basketball, that’s got crazy footwork and all that, your a** is gonna get tore up if you don’t know the game. This isn’t just about being an athlete. You know what I’m saying? Like, ‘I have jump higher than you.’ That’s not gonna be the thing. So she can definitely cook.”
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Wade didn’t name any NBA players in particular that he thought Wilson could beat. But clearly, he seems to have a lot of confidence in her abilities.
At the end of the day, any game against Wilson would be a lose-lose scenario for the NBA player facing her, where they likely lose credibility if they were to lose, while also not getting much credit if they win. So ultimately, it will likely never be known how Wilson would do against NBA competition.
Regardless, someone like Wade, who has played basketball at the highest level, is certainly someone with plenty of insight into this topic. So maybe Wilson truly does have the skills necessary to beat some NBA players.
For more on the Las Vegas Aces and all things WNBA, head to Newsweek Sports.
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