Player of the Week: A’ja Wilson Goes Off at Olympic Games
A’ja Wilson Stats & How She Impacted the Olympics
Team USA’s A’ja Wilson had a 2024 Olympic Games to remember, leading her team to a narrow gold medal win over France.
A’ja Wilson stats were off the charts, and the 28-year-old won the Olympics MVP with relative ease over her teammates.
We look at what the Las Vegas Aces and USWNT player achieved in Paris, and how she helped her team win the ultimate challenge.
Averaging a Double-Double
If it wasn’t for Wilson averaging a double-double, we don’t think Team USA would have come close to winning a gold medal.
Despite being the overwhelming favorites to beat France in the final, they won 67-66, which is hardly a comprehensive victory.
However, the Summer Olympics 2024 went to USA and they have Wilson to thank for that.
She averaged 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Those are impressive numbers, especially given the depth in the team.
“It’s amazing. It truly is a dynasty that we have built here at USAB has been incredible,” Wilson said. “And I am so proud of the resilience that my team showed. We could have fumbled it many times, but we pulled through. To say I am a two-time gold medalist, I am so blessed.”
We often see statistics drop off from the WNBA to represent basketball because there are more quality players coming off the bench, as we saw with the men’s team. However, A’ja Wilson stats didn’t suffer.
She increased her rebounding and steals average from the 9.0 and 1.2 average in the NBA, which means she had an excellent tournament.
Olympic basketball isn’t easy because players see much different defenses, but Wilson showed why she’s one of the more trustworthy players in the team.
A Big Impact on the Team
Wilson scoring 21 points in the final was the reason USA defended its Olympic title, so she had a massive impact.
Her play throughout the tournament was incredible, but coming up tough in the final against France showed her class.
Without her, we think France had their chances, and it was Wilson who inspired her team to make buckets when they needed them.
Much like the men’s basketball team when trailing Serbia by 14 points in the final quarter of their semifinal. It was senior players like Steph Curry and LeBron James who got them over the line, and Wilson did the same for the women’s team.
“Gabby (Williams) hit some great shots down the end, tough shots,” Wilson said. “We understood what we had in our locker room and leaning on each other and talking to one another and believing that we believed in each other and that’s the greatest thing about it.”
She also came up big on defense, and that doesn’t always show up with A’ja Wilson stats.
Paris Olympics dates 2024 will forever have the USA Women’s Basketball Team as the champions, and they have Wilson to thank.
It’s always hard to pinpoint one player who made the biggest difference, but it’s clear why Wilson was awarded the Olympics MVP for women’s basketball.
Back to the WNBA
It’s back to the WNBA for Wilson and her teammates, as she looks to get the Aces to a Western Conference Finals.
The Aces are currently third in the West behind the Lynx and Storm, but they have 16-8, and Wilson has looked good in 2024.
She has played 24 games and is averaging 27.2 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Those are some electric numbers, so she is currently the most outstanding player in the WNBA.
If that form continues, she could elevate the Aces, who are the two-time defending champions, to another title.
- She is the seriously short -4000 favorite to win WNBA Most Valuable Player, and it’s tough to bet against our Player of the Week.
There is better value with backing the Aces to win at +145, which has also attracted plenty of attention despite not having the best WNBA record.
View this post on Instagram
For Olympic picks today, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
