For what feels like the 100th time this summer, A'ja Wilson has made WNBA history. The former South Carolina basketball star had a ridiculous showing against the Atlanta Dream on Friday, finishing the game with 33 points, 18 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 steals while shooting better than 50% from the field, making 75% from the 3-point arc, draining 100% of her shots from the free throw line, and committing 0 turnovers.
Wilson's game was a record-breaker in four ways and tied another record.
According to acrossthetimeline.com, before Friday, there had never been a WNBA player to post a stat line of 25 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 3-pointers. Not only did she become the first to reach those marks, she had 8 points and 3 rebounds to spare. In the history of the league, only four players had ever put up a 25-12-4-3 performance, and she blew past those numbers previously accumulated by all-time legends like Lauren Jackson, Tamika Catchings, Elena Delle Donne, and Tina Charles.
Wilson also became the first WNBA star ever to have multiple games in the same season with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. It was the second time she had accomplished the feat in 8 days as she reached those thresholds against the Los Angeles Sparks last Friday. Wilson set another two records by becoming the first player to post at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks in back-to-back games and the first player to average 30 points and 15 rebounds over a 4-game span.
Friday was A'ja Wilson's 10th 25-and-10 performance of the 2024 season. That tied her with Brittney Griner for the most in a single season in WNBA history. With almost half of the season remaining, she has plenty of opportunities to set a new record. The domination of the Atlanta Dream was her fifth 30-point, 10-rebound game of the season, putting her just one off of Tina Charles' single-season record of six such performances.
The MVP trophy might as well be sent out for engraving already.