Aces star A'ja Wilson on NBA expansion: 'Don't steal our shine'

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Aces star center A’ja Wilson said she’s ready to welcome the NBA to Southern Nevada should the league choose to expand, but she doesn’t want the potential team to steal their spotlight.

Wilson, a four-time WNBA MVP, said she didn’t have an opinion on where a Las Vegas expansion team should play or what their name could be, but she did want to remind everyone whose city this is.

“I just don’t need them to steal our shine,” Wilson told the Review-Journal with a laugh. “Because we got some good shine here. We brought a lot of shiny things here.

“So, whatever they (NBA) do, I hope they’re good. Obviously, that’ll be our brother team, so we’ll support them, but don’t steal our shine, ’cause we built this shine.”

Wilson had opinions about a variety of other subjects during a recent interview after filming a commercial for Booking.com. She discussed championships, brand building and the marketing of A’ja.

Chasing titles

The shiny things Wilson alluded to are the Aces’ three WNBA titles in four seasons, with back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 and the title win last season. The Aces are now in the hunt to again go back-to-back again this season.

Pulling that feat off the first time between ’22 and ’23 was a tough task, and the team’s quest to repeat history has been no different. This season has featured mostly ups, but some down moments, most recently losing to the Atlanta Dream at home on Tuesday, dropping them to fourth in the WNBA standings with the playoffs around the corner.

Wilson said the Aces have all the pieces of a championship-winning team, but they themselves are their own worst enemy. She is using a saying that Aces minority owner and former NFL great Tom Brady passed down to her to help get the team through the rough stretches in the season.

“I think some of the toughest part is just getting out of our own way,” Wilson said. “Sometimes I feel like we’re in our own way of games and possessions, where if we just step aside and really see what we have, the greatness that we have, the chips will fall where they may.

“But Tom Brady would always say that you’re never focused on your other championships, you’re focused on the next one. And it doesn’t matter when that may be. Of course, we would love to go back-to-back, but you’re constantly focusing on the next one. And I think that’s what we’re doing, is just focusing on the next one.”

Dynasty talk

Having already won three titles in four years, Wilson said that should already be considered a dynasty, but winning a fourth in five years would cement that legacy.

“What we’re looking at, we did three and four years,” she said. “I think that is, we’re on the brinks of the dynasty. I think if we get one (this year), it’s gonna just capitalize the D. I think we are there.

“I think if you look at us and what we’ve done in a short span of time under (coach Becky Hammon), I think it’s phenomenal. … I think she helped transform obviously our league. So yeah, I think we are a dynasty and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Off-the-court success

Aside from starring on the court, Wilson has been excelling off it. She has been building her brand over the past few years, from having her own signature shoes with Nike to being the face of the NBA video game NBA 2K last year, from inking a multiyear deal with Gatorade to dabbling in commercial appearances.

Wilson was shooting her next commercial spot for online travel agency Booking.com on Monday in a massive three-bedroom suite inside Resorts World.

“It’s all a part of the brand,” she said. “I have an amazing team behind me that makes sure that I’m with people and with companies that represent me and I think the best thing about Booking.com and the commercials that I have been doing with them, it gets me out of my comfort zone.

“It’s pretty cool to kind of see the ideas that they bring to make it really come to life. So it’s been so much fun. We just kind of go with it. I think that’s the beautiful thing about it, it may be scripted, but from within, it’s kind of like, ‘Oh, just be you,’ and I love those things.”

Acting future?

Becoming more comfortable behind in front of the camera off the court Wilson said she would consider acting, but only if she could play one person.

“I wouldn’t mind being an actress, but I feel like I would have to play myself,” Wilson said. “I don’t think I’m good at playing anybody else. But I would love to see anyone play me in a movie. But in front of the camera, I would have to do like me kind of like cameo being myself a little bit.”

Handling success

Wilson doesn’t mind juggling her on-court responsibilities with her off-the-court tasks, showing her dedication by arriving at Resorts World in the afternoon straight from Aces practice to shoot the commercial spot. Although it can lead to long days, Wilson said it’s all part of the process to be great and build her brand.

“You have to learn how to compartmentalize a lot of different things in your life, and I’m appreciative that I have sponsors and companies that are kind of like, ‘No, we understand that she has to do the work on the court or else we wouldn’t want her off the court.’

“So, if I can continue to be in that space and then kind of flip the page and have some fun here, I think that’s what I’ve always loved about kind of the versatility of my life that I live. And it’s long days. It’s really, really long days. And some days I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I just want to be in bed.’ But at the same time, this is something that I prayed for and asked for, so why not go out there and give it my all?”