"My little sister I never wanted": A'ja Wilson once shared true feelings on $504,900 championship-winning teammate

The Las Vegas Aces are WNBA champions once again, with much of their success credited to their top draft picks A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young. Wilson, selected in 2018, and Young, picked in 2019, each averaged double-digit scoring during their sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Finals.

The duo has now played together for seven years, and in a 2022 ESPN interview, the year the Aces won their first championship, Wilson spoke about her bond with Young.

"That's my little sister I never wanted, but God put in my life," Wilson said.

The Aces also secured championships in 2023 and 2025, with Wilson earning Finals MVP this year, posting 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while Young averaged 20.3 ppg, 6.0 apg and 5.0 rpg, highlighted by a 32-point performance in Game 2.

In a Friday ESPN interview, former Aces coach Bill Laimbeer noted their strong chemistry, saying it stems from understanding that “the grass is not greener on the other side,” and encouraged them to value each other.

"You two are a team forever," Laimbeer recalled telling the two during his stint with the team. "Don't ever leave each other."

Wilson is an incoming unrestricted free agent after completing her two-year $400,000 contract with the Aces, while Young also completed her two-year $504,900 extension. Their future with the team remains intriguing as the collective bargaining agreement has yet to be finalized.

Chelsea Gray praises A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young as Aces win 3rd title in 4 years

The Aces reached dynasty status by capturing the 2025 WNBA championship, their third in four years. After a .500 start to the regular season, they finished on a 16-game winning streak, carrying that momentum into the playoffs.

Following the championship, guard Chelsea Gray, who contributed 11.8 ppg, 7.3 apg and 5.3 rpg in the Finals, lauded her star teammates.

"We got the best player in the world in A'ja Wilson," Gray said (per ESPN). "Jackie Young the best guard in the league. Everybody that stepped in was huge. We champions."

A’ja Wilson earned Finals MVP honors, finishing the sweep with 31 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in Game 4. Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray each added 18 points in the closeout game.

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

Know More

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro