South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley, is a highly influential figure in college basketball. Her three national championships and eight SEC regular season and tournament titles speak volumes about how good she is at her job.
As the 2024 WNBA season reaches its midpoint, the race for the league’s next Most Valuable Player continues to heat up. While many names are being discussed, including rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, Coach Staley believes A’ja Wilson will win her third MVP title.
“I know yall will say I’m crazy and biased or both…. maybe, but A’ja Wilson is your WNBA Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved…..,” Staley tweeted on Tuesday with three rolling on the floor laughing emojis.
Wilson played under Dawn Staley at South Carolina for four seasons and won the national championship in 2017 — the first in Staley’s NCAA coaching career.
The 6-foot-5 Las Vegas Aces forward has made 23 appearances as of July 17, averaging 27.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.5 assists. As the WNBA heads into the All-Star break, Wilson is on the verge of setting personal bests in points, rebounds, steals (1.9), and 3-point field-goal percentage (39.5%).
FoxSports also favors the Gamecocks alum to win the WNBA MVP, with current odds at -1000, while Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun trails with +2000. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark is in fifth place and has odds of +6000, which means if you bet $10, you will win $610 in total.
A’ja Wilson’s statistics have left Dawn Staley in awe
Dawn Staley posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday letting everyone know how impressed she is keeping a close eye on Wilson’s career progression.
The four-time national Coach of the Year winner is particularly awestruck by Wilson’s WNBA rebounding stats. In Tuesday’s loss against the Chicago Sky alone, she grabbed 14 rebounds.
“Dizzam I just checked A’ja Wilson statline…..oh you back to rebounding huh Ms. Wilson?!! Double double and almost double that up! You really trying to send a message to that voter who gave you a 4th place MVP vote.”
Her current rebounding average already surpasses her college career high of 11.8 RPG, which she recorded in her senior year. If she maintains this pace, she will tie Sylvia Fowles’ WNBA record for the highest RPG in the regular season, set in 2018.
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