Sport

A'ja Wilson Makes History: Breaks WNBA Single-Season Rebounding Record!

2024-09-18

SEATTLE - In a stunning display of talent, Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson rewrote the record books on Tuesday night during her team's impressive 85-72 victory over the Seattle Storm.

With seven critical rebounds in the game, Wilson surpassed the previous record set by injured Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, securing the WNBA's single-season rebounding title.

Just last week, Wilson also shattered the WNBA single-season scoring record, becoming the first player in league history to score over 1,000 points in a single season.

"It's a blessing," Wilson expressed with humility. "This league is tough, so if my name can be in the record books in some sort of way, it's a blessing. So that's cool."

In a light-hearted moment following the game, Aces coach Becky Hammon revealed Wilson's new record during the postgame interview.

"No, she didn't know," Hammon playfully commented, highlighting Wilson’s nonchalant approach to rebounding. Wilson herself was surprised and mentioned, "Only because I don't hunt rebounds, so it's not something that’s always on my mind."

Despite Wilson's casual demeanor about her rebounding success, Hammon couldn’t help but showcase her player’s unique ability.

“Earlier in the year,” she recalled, “it was midway through the third quarter and I looked at her and said, ‘A'ja, you have two rebounds.’ She said ‘OK.’ In the next minute and a half, I think she had seven."

It emphasizes that with a little reminder, Wilson can dominate on the glass without it being her primary focus.

Reese's briefly held record, set just three weeks ago, ended prematurely due to a season-ending wrist fracture after just two more games.

Her remarkable average of 13.1 rebounds per game was impressive, but it paled in comparison to Wilson's newly established record.

This season, Wilson has averaged a career-high 11.9 rebounds, a stunning improvement from her previous seasons where she had not averaged double-digit rebounds.

With this win, the Aces secured home-court advantage for the upcoming playoffs, where they aim to defend their title as back-to-back champions.

Currently positioned fourth in the league standings, the Aces have one final regular-season game against the Dallas Wings, a match that could elevate them to the third seed with a win, depending on the outcome of the Connecticut Sun vs. Chicago Sky game.

As for A'ja Wilson, she remained unfazed by playoff seeding implications.

"I don't care what seed we are," she stated confidently. "It would be nice to have a higher seed and play at home, cool, but that doesn’t matter.

It’s a whole new basketball that you get a chance to play when it comes to playoffs. You just have to go out there and start playing the best basketball."

With Wilson's unprecedented achievements and the Aces aiming for yet another championship, it's clear that basketball fans are in for an exhilarating playoff season!

Will Wilson continue her record-breaking ways in the playoffs? One thing is for sure: the WNBA is witnessing a historic season!