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A’ja Wilson is no stranger to being a trailblazer.
She was the cornerstone that led Dawn Staley and South Carolina to their first championship, helping lay the foundation for a dynasty to be built upon. She was the first-ever women’s basketball player to earn three SEC Player of the Year awards, which she did from 2016 to 2018. The Gamecocks erected a statue in her honor in 2021, making her the first female athlete at South Carolina to earn that honor.
She’s the first WNBA player to record a 1,000-point season and the first to lead the league in points, rebounds, and blocks in a single season. A feat she accomplished in 2024.
She’s a two-time champion and a three-time MVP, and most recently was named the first Jr. WNBA Global Ambassador.
🚨CHECK UP!!🚨 A’ja Wilson has officially been named the Global Ambassador for the Jr. WNBA! 🌎🌍🌏
As a 3x WNBA MVP, A’ja’s impact is undeniable. Her dominance? ⚡️Unmatched. Her dedication to uplifting the next generation? 💪Unwavering.
We are proud to team up with A’ja to… pic.twitter.com/rVth1VwVlr
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 24, 2025
Among all her honors, that one might be her favorite.
“That role? It’s huge. That one warms my heart,” Wilson said in a recent interview with Winsidr. “I’m really big on our youth and our next generation, and making sure that they have the resources and everything in between to help them feel like they belong and they’re enough.”
The Jr. WNBA program came to fruition in 2018, founded on a mission to keep girls ages five through 17 engaged in sports. Working alongside the NBA, the program offers initiatives like Belonging in Basketball resources, created in partnership with non-profit partner Girls Leadership and designed for and by girls to recruit and keep girls in the game. Jr. WNBA participants also gain access to the Jr. WNBA Vision Box, allowing girls to embrace their creativity and construct a vision board that reflects their passions, dreams, and goals for the future.
A’ja Wilson will be more than just the face of the initiative, preferring to take an active role. She is expected to be at events hosted by both the NBA and WNBA, where, according to a press release, she will engage in “on-court instruction & competition and off-court programming aimed to help girls gain confidence, face challenges, and learn the importance of physical and mental wellness.”
Wilson says it’s exactly where she wants to be.
“I was like, ‘yes, absolutely, sign me up for that’, because that’s what I want to be,” Wilson said. “That’s my whole why and purpose as to why I play and why I play so hard. Giving them a light that they can follow.”
Wilson will also serve as the Strategic Advisor to the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Court of Leaders, which is a comprehensive development program for select top high school basketball players. According to Candice Haynes, Director of Youth Basketball Development, this program provides networking opportunities, physical development, and educating and empowering the whole person.
“We really look at the Jr. WNBA as an opportunity to educate girls on different things they can do, not just as basketball players, but as young women,” Haynes said. “Whether that’s setting goals, thinking through different career opportunities, or just falling in love with the game and being a fan.”
The partnership with Wilson was an obvious one to WNBA leadership, who have seen the seven-time All Star live her mission on and off the court.
“She already embodies the values of the Jr. WNBA,” Haynes said. “She genuinely cares about young people and the future of young women.”
For A’ja Wilson, caring about young people is about more than providing her time. It’s about continuing to break down barriers and provide opportunities for the next generation.
“I hope that I can continue to open doors,” Wilson said. “Not just open, but hold the door open for others to go through.”
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