A’ja Wilson is breaking basketball. Honestly, it’s the only way to describe what happened during the 2024 WNBA season. If you look at A’ja Wilson stats from the last few years, you see a steady climb, but 2024 was something else entirely—a statistical anomaly that felt like watching a video game character with the sliders turned all the way up. She didn't just win the MVP; she redefined what a single human being is supposed to be able to do on a 94-foot hardwood floor.
She's the first player in league history to hit 1,000 points in a single season. Think about that for a second. In a league that has seen the likes of Cynthia Cooper, Lauren Jackson, and Diana Taurasi, nobody touched four digits until A’ja.
It wasn't just volume shooting, either. She was efficient. She was dominant. She was, quite frankly, exhausted by the end of it because she was carrying the Las Vegas Aces on both ends of the court every single night.
The Numbers That Changed Everything
When people talk about A’ja Wilson stats, they usually start with the scoring. 26.9 points per game. That’s the highest scoring average in WNBA history for a single season. But if you only look at the buckets, you’re missing the defensive masterclass she puts on every night. She averaged 11.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in 2024. She is a defensive anchor who also happens to be the best offensive player on the planet.
Most players specialize. You have your rim protectors and you have your bucket getters. A’ja is both.
She led the league in blocks. She was second in rebounding. She was first in scoring.
It’s actually kind of ridiculous when you lay it out like that. Most experts, like Rebecca Lobo or Andraya Carter, have pointed out that her footwork has become virtually unguardable. She developed a mid-range jumper that is basically a cheat code. If you sag off, she hits the 15-footer. If you press up, she blows by you with a first step that shouldn't belong to someone 6'4".
Efficiency vs. Volume
A lot of people tried to argue that her 1,000-point season was just a byproduct of the league playing more games. The WNBA moved to a 40-game schedule, sure. But A’ja didn't even need all 40 games to break the previous record held by Jewell Loyd. She did it in fewer games and with significantly better shooting percentages.
- She shot 51.8% from the field.
- Her Player Efficiency Rating (PER) was a staggering 34.9.
- She accounted for nearly 30% of her team's total points while on the floor.
That PER isn't just "good for a woman." It's one of the highest marks in the history of professional basketball, period. Comparing her 2024 campaign to Peak Shaq or Peak LeBron isn't hyperbole anymore; it’s just looking at the data.
Defensive Impact That Doesn't Show in the Box Score
Stats are great, but they don't capture gravity. When A’ja is on the floor, the entire geometry of the court changes. Opposing guards drive into the lane, see the #22 jersey, and immediately kick the ball back out to the perimeter. That’s the "A’ja Tax."
She won the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) twice before 2024 for a reason. In 2024, she was arguably even better defensively, even if she didn't take home the trophy that specific year. She recorded multiple games with 5+ blocks and 10+ rebounds.
She’s a vacuum.
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If the ball is loose, she’s there. If there’s a missed shot, she’s probably the one coming down with it. Her defensive win shares—a stat that measures how much a player contributes to their team's defensive success—topped the league.
The Context of the "Unanimous" MVP
There’s a reason A’ja Wilson was the first unanimous WNBA MVP since Cynthia Cooper in the league's inaugural season. It wasn't just the A’ja Wilson stats being high; it was the gap between her and the rest of the field.
Usually, there's a debate. Breanna Stewart is incredible. Napheesa Collier had a career year in 2024. Caitlin Clark brought a whole new level of attention and playmaking to the league. But when the ballots came in, there was no debate.
1st place votes: A'ja Wilson.
Every single one.
That doesn't happen unless the numbers are so overwhelming that even the most contrarian voters can't find an excuse to look elsewhere. She became the first player to lead the league in total points, rebounds, and blocks in the same season. That is statistical "Triple Crown" territory that we might not see again for another decade.
Career Trajectory and All-Time Greatness
Where does she stand now?
She’s 28. She has three MVPs. She has two rings. She has two DPOY awards.
If she retired tomorrow, she’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But she’s not retiring. She’s actually getting better. If you look at her year-over-year progression, her shooting range has expanded every single season. Early in her career at South Carolina and her first few years with the Aces, she was mostly a paint player. Now? She’s a three-level threat.
The scary part for the rest of the league is that her "down" games are most players' career highs. A 20-point, 10-rebound night is considered a "quiet" game for her. That’s the standard she’s built.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
People love to talk about the "superteam" aspect of the Las Vegas Aces. They have Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray. People argue that A’ja’s stats are inflated because she plays with other stars.
Actually, it's the opposite.
In 2024, Chelsea Gray missed a significant portion of the start of the season. Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum had stretches where their shooting struggled. During those periods, A’ja’s usage rate skyrocketed. She didn't just maintain her efficiency; she increased it.
She carried the load when the "superteam" was shorthanded.
Another misconception is that she’s "just" a post player. Watch her handle the ball in transition. She’s leading breaks. She’s making cross-court passes that point guards would be proud of. Her assist numbers are creeping up because teams are forced to double and triple-team her the moment she touches the paint.
How to Analyze A’ja’s Performance Like an Expert
If you want to truly understand her impact, stop looking at points per game. Look at "On/Off" splits.
When A’ja Wilson is off the floor, the Aces' defensive rating plummets. They go from being a championship-caliber defense to middle-of-the-pack. Offensively, the spacing disappears. Without her drawing two defenders every time she rolls to the rim, the shooters don't get those wide-open corner threes.
Advanced Metrics to Watch:
- True Shooting Percentage (TS%): This factors in threes and free throws. A'ja consistently hovers near 60%, which is elite for a high-volume scorer.
- Rebound Percentage: She grabs a huge chunk of all available rebounds when she’s on the floor, particularly on the defensive end.
- Usage Rate: Seeing how much of the offense goes through her vs. her turnover rate. She has one of the lowest turnover rates in the league for someone who touches the ball as much as she does.
What’s Next for #22?
The 2025 and 2026 seasons will be about legacy. She’s chasing Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie now. She’s chasing the "Greatest of All Time" title.
The A’ja Wilson stats we see in the coming years will likely focus on longevity and cumulative records. She’s already climbing the all-time scoring list at a pace that is frankly terrifying.
If she stays healthy, she will likely break every major record the WNBA has. But more than the records, it’s the way she’s doing it. She’s doing it with a smile, a signature shoe line, and a level of cultural impact that is lifting the entire league.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
To get a real sense of her dominance, you have to look beyond the basic box score. If you are tracking her performance, pay attention to these specific areas:
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- Shot Charting: Notice how she’s moved from being a purely "left-block" player to scoring from the "elbow" and the "short corner." Her versatility is her greatest weapon.
- Defensive Versatility: Watch how many times she switches onto a guard during a pick-and-roll and stays in front of them. It’s rare for a center to have that kind of lateral quickness.
- Second Half Surges: A'ja is notorious for "feeling out" a game in the first quarter and then absolutely taking over in the third.
The best way to appreciate what we're seeing is to acknowledge that we are in the middle of a historic peak. We aren't just watching a great player; we're watching the gold standard of modern basketball. Whether you're a casual fan or a die-hard stat head, her 2024 season is the new benchmark for excellence.
Stop comparing her to what came before. Just watch what she’s doing now. It’s more than enough.