A’ja Wilson inspired one of the greatest comebacks in the history of basketball. The Las Vegas Aces’ season was in peril. They had a topsy-turvy start. Their longest win streak in the first 28 games was three, and things were not looking good.
The Aces looked far away from making the playoffs. They had a 14-14 record. That was when Dawn Staley’s former player made a promise to the fans. She was not going to go down without giving her 100%, and that’s what she did. She led the Aces to 16 straight wins to enter the playoffs in style. The team rallied behind Wilson and grabbed the season by the neck.
After a winning streak of 16, the Aces beat the Seattle Storm in Round 1 of the WNBA playoffs. They won Game 1 comfortably but lost Game 2 by three points. The challenge increased in Game 3 when it went down to the wire. A’ja Wilson dominated the proceedings, and her 38 points led the Aces to a narrow one-point victory. The Aces also faced a resilient Fever side, who were without their star Caitlin Clark (out with injury).
Despite missing some of their key players, the Fever almost won against the Aces. But A’ja once again had different plans. Jackie Young and A’ja combined to lead the Aces to a 3-2 series win. The Aces comfortably won the finals against the Phoenix Mercury, 4-0, to lift their third WNBA championship. It was an epic comeback, and we just got to know what triggered the players.
Dawn Staley revealed her conversation with A’ja Wilson when the Aces were in trouble.
“They got blown out. I used to text her, ‘Y’all suck,'” Dawn Staley revealed what she would text Wilson. “And she’d be like, ‘I know, but we’re gonna get it together.’ She never felt like they were just so far out of the playoff run. And that’s what great players do. YOU ACT. And she acted after that 53-point loss, and they were a different team after that.”
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A’ja never lost belief in herself and the Aces. The Aces turned up and changed the fate of their season after an embarrassing 53-point defeat against the Minnesota Lynx.
Fans React To Dawn Staley’s Motivation For A’ja Wilson
Everyone was pretty much blown away by the Aces’ comeback this season and their eventual WNBA title win. Fans also loved the exchanges between coach Staley and her former player.
“I honestly can’t think of a more impressive in-season comeback than the Aces this past season, they looked DEAD in a water,” one fan commented.
“Dawn a real one! And A’ja knew how to respond to the call,” one fan appreciated their bond.
“When it’s all said & done, A’ja will be one of the GREATEST EVER,” one fan heaped praise on Wilson.
“I so LOVE this season story, started on the bottom to get back on TOP. What an inspiring season,” another fan appreciated the Aces’ season.
“I don’t know any championship team that hasn’t been down on the dumps. But the heart and commitment to turn it around is impeccable,” another commented.
“Remember Dawn said ‘the Aces are coming’ everyone laughed…she wasn’t wrong,” another wrote.
Read more:
Dawn Staley Makes Her Feelings Clear on Being the First Female Coach in the NBA
“AI Is Wild”: A’ja Wilson Reacts After BF Bam Adebayo Trolls Her for New Hairstyle
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