A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR A'JA WILSON FOR HER REMARKABLE BASKETBALL CAREER AS A CENTER FOR THE LAS VEGAS ACES AND TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR HER TEAM'S 2025 WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY.

 

Whereas, A'ja Wilson was the first player to score one thousand points in a single Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) season. She posted thirty-one points to help the Las Vegas Aces win the WNBA title and to win for herself the Finals MVP in that championship game. It was not her first such accolade; and

 

Whereas, beginning with her high school career, Ms. Wilson was named the McDonald's All-American and the Parade All-American for the 2013-2014 season. She was named the 2014 National High School Player of the Year by WBCA, Naismith, and Parade. She was the three-time South Carolina Independent Schools Association Player of the Year; and

 

Whereas, to the delight of her fans, Ms. Wilson remained in South Carolina for her college career at the University of South Carolina (USC) in the heart of the state's capital city. She was named the Southeast Conference Player of the Year for the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018 seasons. She was awarded the John R. Wooden Award and the Wade Trophy in 2017-2018 and was the Naismith College Player of the Year for the same season. With 2,389 points and 363 blocks, she is first in both categories in the school's history. When she graduated, her No. 22 jersey was retired by South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena, and she was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025; and

 

Whereas, Ms. Wilson's international accomplishments have been astounding. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2020 and 2024, the FIBA Women's Olympics MVP in 2024, and a member of FIBA Women's Olympics All-Star Five in 2020 and 2024. She has twice won FIBA Women's World Cup gold medals in 2018 and 2022 and the FIBA Women's World Cup MVP in 2022, and she is a two-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year for 2015 and 2022; and

 

Whereas, in 2018, Ms. Wilson was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year and the first-team All-Rookie. She was named WNBA blocks leader in 2020, 2022, and 2023, and she holds the WNBA record for single-season rebounds; and

 

Whereas, Ms. Wilson is a three-time WNBA champion and a six-time WNBA All-Star. She has been named three times to the first-team All-WNBA and twice to the first-team All-Defense. In 2024, she received the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award and the Community Assist Award in 2019; and

 

Whereas, in this season of 2025, Ms. Wilson accrued her record fourth WNBA MVP award, her second WNBA Finals MVP award, and her third WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award during her legendary accomplishments as the Las Vegas Aces' center. In 2025, she was the first player in WNBA history to win a championship, Finals MVP, league MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season and the only player with 300 points in a single WNBA postseason; and

 

Whereas, South Carolina takes great pride in recognizing A'ja Wilson for her outstanding career and character, and the members of the House of Representatives wish her continued success both on and off the court. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor A'ja Wilson for her remarkable basketball career as a center for the Las Vegas Aces and congratulate her for her team's 2025 Women's National Basketball Association championship victory.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to A'ja Wilson.

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