Who better to get inspiration from than the best player in the WNBA? A’ja Wilson, a legend in women’s basketball, regularly shares powerful and unusually honest insights. Pay attention if she’s being interviewed, because you’re sure to get lessons on life, resilience, confidence, accountability, and pushing through challenges.
Here, we’ve gathered 22 of the most inspirational and motivational quotes from A’ja Wilson.
Inspirational A’ja Wilson Quotes
1. More Than a Great Player
“I get yall saying ‘best player in the world,’ that’s great… but I want to be the best person, I want to be the best teammate.”
After a tough loss, A’ja in an emotional press conference spoke on the importance of character and teamwork over personal accomplishments.
2. Invest in the W
“I hope that anyone’s invested and paying attention to it, continues to invest in it. Buy that jersey. Go to that game. Take someone else. Put your money where your mouth is and invest in these women.”
Speaking at the 2024 TIME 100 Summit, A’ja urges fans to support women’s sports by actively participating and investing in them.
3. Human Behind the Athlete
“Yes, you see me in a uniform. Yes, you can see the banners, the trophies and the rings. But behind all that, I’m a human.”
This quote from A’ja Wilson comes from a February 2024 interview with ABC News. She reminds us that athletes are people with feelings and experiences beyond their achievements on the court.
4. Pain and Growth
“It hurt like hell, it really did. But it’s all part of the game.”
Reflecting on not being named the 2023 WNBA MVP with the Associated Press, A’ja speaks about the pain of disappointment and its role in the game.
5. Overcoming Mental Health Struggles
“I just felt so angry with myself. I felt like I’d let my team down in the finals. There were a lot of days when I couldn’t get myself out of bed. It was like I genuinely couldn’t even control my movements. I was outside my body, floating up in my own head.”
In a personal essay in The Player’s Tribune, A’ja opens up about her mental health challenges and the importance of addressing them.
6. Go with the Flow
“My agent will tell you. She probably cringes every time I say something, like, ‘What is she about to say?’ But no, nothing’s really planned, I’m a go-with-the-flow type girl, and I just like to have some fun.”
This A’ja Wilson quote comes shortly after she was selected first overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She describes her spontaneous and fun-loving personality.
7. Be Yourself
“Like it or love it, I’m gonna be me regardless.”
In this motivational A’ja Wilson quote, she emphasizes the importance of authenticity and staying true to oneself.
8. Cherishing the Moment
“I’m out there having fun, and I get the opportunity to play with some amazing women. I don’t take these moments for granted.”
After tying the WNBA single-game scoring record in 2023, A’ja expresses gratitude for the joy and opportunities basketball brings.
9. Voice for the Voiceless
“The biggest thing with me is just being a voice for the voiceless. . . . I feel like I’m put on this earth to do that — to speak up for the next generation, to speak up for that young Black girl.”
According to this A’ja Wilson quote, she sees her role as a platform to advocate for social justice and inspire future generations.
10. Ready for the Challenge
“You have to come in and be effective as soon as possible. That’s something I have to be ready for. I have to get my body right. Have to get my mind right because this is a whole different league.”
A’ja talks about the importance of preparation and readiness for the professional level after being drafted.
11. Honoring Her Legacy
“My grandmother, Hattie Rakes, grew up in this area. Actually four blocks from the governor’s mansion to be exact. When she was a child, she couldn’t even walk on the grounds of the University of South Carolina. She would have to walk around the campus just to get to where she needed to go. If only she was here today to see that the same grounds she had to walk around, it now is the same grounds that houses a statue of her granddaughter.”
A’ja honors her grandmother’s legacy and reflects on her journey to success in a moving speech at the dedication ceremony of the statue erected at the University of South Carolina in her honor.
12. Defending the Trophy
“We have something that people want; and, we have to defend that.”
A’ja speaks about the responsibility and effort required to maintain success and excellence.
13. Believing in Yourself
“I hope when girls wear this shoe, they believe in themselves. I want them to hopefully lace them up, feel powerful and understand that nobody can stop them from their dreams. Set those goals high. Go get them — that’s the biggest thing.”
Referencing her upcoming Nike signature shoe release, this quote from A’ja Wilson inspires young girls to dream big and believe in their power.
14. Defying Doubters
“If you tell me no, I’m going to laugh at you and I’m going to do it anyway.”
A’ja’s determined spirit drives her to overcome obstacles and prove doubters wrong.
15. Belief in Potential
“It is truly a beautiful thing when someone believes in you. Thank you for taking a chance on this wide-eyed black girl. To every girl, especially every black girl, remember you can do anything that you put your mind to. Have faith. Work hard.”
A’ja’s words encourage young girls, especially Black girls, to believe in themselves and strive for their dreams.
16. Respecting the Game
“Of course, it’s entertainment, but this is my job. This is what I do, and the last thing I want to do is disrespect the game and be complacent in who I am and where I am in my career.”
A’ja emphasizes her dedication and respect for basketball, treating it as both a passion and a profession.
17. Hungry for Success
“I want another, I’m greedy. I’m a pretty greedy person. I mean, I’ll give the shirt off my back to anyone, but when it comes to my career and my legacy, I’m greedy. I want it all.”
A’ja’s competitive nature drives her to continuously strive for greatness in her career.
18. Shattering Glass Ceilings
“There’s no ceiling. I’m trying to shatter every glass ceiling there is. I feel like there’s no ceiling for me. I’m gonna go and go until I feel like I’ve done enough. And I’m not even close to that.”
In her interview with Taylor Rooks for the Taylor Rooks X podcast, A’ja shares she’s not going to let up and wants to achieve limitless success.
19. Promoting the WNBA
“We’re almost there, we’re cracking that glass ceiling. But I wanna see it more, as in like – when you go to an airport in Las Vegas, see Las Vegas Aces’ gear.”
A’ja envisions greater visibility and support for the WNBA, recognizing that the league is growing but at the same time aspiring to see more widespread recognition.
20. Celebrate Wins, Learn from Losses
“My biggest thing would just be: I’m a big celebrate the small wins, but dissect my Ls person. That’s what makes me who I am.”
This A’ja Wilson quote from an interview with Esquire speaks to her valuing her victories while learning from losses to continually improve.
21. Tuning out the Noise
“It’s noise that I don’t really listen to, honestly. Because I’m in season. I have other things to worry about than what other people have to say.”
When asked about accusations that she and other WNBA players had “pettiness” toward Caitlin Clark, A’ja reiterates that she stays focused on her game, ignoring distractions and external opinions.
22. Aspiring to be the Best
“I would love to have my name mentioned in conversations when you’re talking about the greatest women’s basketball player ever to play. But in my eyes, I still have a lot more I have to do to even be in that conversation.”
A’ja aspires to be one of the greatest, acknowledging in an interview with Boardroom that she still has goals to achieve to reach that status.
More Quotes from Basketball Greats
Check out our list of favorite A’ja Wilson shirts. Or, find even more inspirational basketball quotes throughout our blog. We’ve got curated lists of Lisa Leslie quotes, Caitlin Clark quotes, Dawn Staley quotes, and much more.
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Credits: Featured image uses photo via Las Vegas Aces. Quote graphic images use photo by Lorie Shaull from St Paul, United States – A’ja Wilson shoots a foul shot, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80514574
