South Carolina Basketball: Aja Wilson wins highest defensive honor

It is a rare thing when a player is the league’s best offensive player and the league’s best defensive player, but that is the reality in the WNBA for Aja Wilson. The former South Carolina basketball legend is the reigning league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She is one of two players to ever score 53 points in a single game (along with Liz Cambage), and she led the WNBA in blocks for the third time in the last four seasons.

In a decision that is questionable at best, Aja Wilson was not selected as the Associated Press’ WNBA Player of the Year, an award she won a season ago. That honor went to Breanna Stewart who is, along with Wilson, a top-2 player in the sport. However, Wilson had a more rightful claim to the award and should win the league’s MVP trophy when it is announced.

Stewart and Wilson have almost identical scoring and rebounding numbers. Even steals are close to even between the two players. Stewart has a slight edge in assists, but Wilson has more blocked shots. Where Wilson separates herself from Stewart is in her efficiency. Wilson shot 55.7% from the field compared to Stewart’s 46.5%. Also, while Stewart is a very good defender, Wilson is the best in the WNBA.

Demonstrating this defensive prowess, Wilson was awarded with the AP’s Defensive Player of the Year honor. Leading the league in blocks with 2.2 per night, Wilson anchors the top-ranked defense in the entire league with her presence down low and her ability to switch onto smaller players with her athleticism.

Aja Wilson also made the AP’s All-WNBA First-Team (in unanimous fashion), and she was joined on the First-Team by her Las Vegas Aces’ teammate Chelsea Gray. Fellow Aces All-Star Jackie Young made the AP’s Second-Team.

Wilson and the Aces are second in the AP’s Power Poll heading into the WNBA postseason and are considered the favorite to win the Western Conference and play in the WNBA Finals.

Fellow Gamecock great Aliyah Boston was chosen as the AP’s Rookie of the Year and was placed on the publication’s All-Rookie Team.