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A’ja Wilson Seemingly Has No Hesitation About Rejecting Unrivaled

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated Apr 19, 2025 12:34 PM ET

Las Vegas Aces A'ja Wilson was, perhaps with Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum, one of the biggest absences in the inaugural season of Unrivaled. The league created by former UConn teammates Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier turned a lot of heads during its first campaign.

Young players such as Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston and Aaliyah Edwards showed more of their talents while seasoned veterans such as Chelsea Gray, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Kayla McBride found another window to showcase their dominance over opponents.

Wilson, who became the second-ever unanimous WNBA MVP in 2024, opted to get some rest after the Aces failed to three-peat and were eliminated by the eventual champions, New York Liberty, in the second round of last year's playoffs.

After averaging 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.6 blocks per game, having Wilson in Miami would have been a major attraction for the 3-on-3 league.

During a Friday conversation with USA Today Sports, Wilson touched on her decision to skip Unrivaled in 2025, saying that she needed to get some rest and focus on personal stuff to prepare for another WNBA campaign.

"Always much-needed," Wilson said. "I love the time that I can spend on the court, but also off the court as well. Whether that's just being a daughter or sister and everything in between. It was much-needed rest and I'm excited to get back to work."

The Aces parted ways with several players in the offseason, more notably Plum and Tiffany Hayes. They are entering a new era with Jewell Loyd and the expectations are high. Wilson is expected to take her game to a new level and try to lead her team to a new championship.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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