When basketball enthusiasts see iconic images of Wilt Chamberlain with his handwritten sign after scoring 100 points, or watch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar showcasing his dominance in the paint, their immediate thought often is:

I wish I could have witnessed that live.

A’ja Wilson, however, is offering fans the closest experience possible. She has had one of the most impressive regular seasons in the 30-year history of the WNBA, breaking records with 1,021 points, 451 rebounds, and 98 blocks—becoming the first player to lead all three categories in a single season.

Such a feat is extremely rare and has never been accomplished in the NBA (while Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain may have come close, blocks as an official NBA statistic began only in the 1973-74 season).

This achievement comes in a year where she has helped the U.S. women’s basketball team secure its eighth consecutive Olympic gold and offers the Las Vegas Aces a shot at their third consecutive championship (they begin the playoffs on Sunday against the Seattle Storm).

In the twilight years of many great athletes, fans often look back on their illustrious careers. But A’ja Wilson, at 28 years old, is just entering her prime, allowing fans to truly enjoy her greatness in real-time.

Her teammates are certainly in awe.

“When you have players of A’ja’s caliber performing now, you need to appreciate it,” said Alysha Clark after the Aces’ recent 86-75 win over Indiana on September 11. “One day she won’t be here. She’ll retire and then, people will look back and marvel at her achievements. So let’s appreciate her now.”

Becky Hammon, in her third year as the Aces’ coach, has been pondering a comparison for Wilson’s skills and stats—wondering which NBA player might be able to offer fans context for her exceptional play. However, she finds it difficult to pinpoint one.

When asked if she can truly appreciate Wilson’s spectacular performances while coaching, Hammon chuckled.

“I mean, I have two eyes,” she said with a laugh. “But then it’s on to the next play. You can’t linger in greatness, and I have to ensure she’s executing correctly on the next play.”

Yet, during games she revisits, Hammon finds herself in awe of Wilson’s performance and often pauses the video to urge nearby friends to watch. For instance, there are moments when Wilson seems to defy gravity, leaping instantly to block a shot while her opponent is already releasing the ball.

This season, however, Wilson’s incredible play has somewhat gone unnoticed due to the team’s early struggles without star point guard Chelsea Gray (the Aces registered a 6-6 record while Gray recovered from a foot injury). Now, Las Vegas finds itself in an unusual position, starting the playoffs as the fourth seed.

Nevertheless, Wilson’s consistent excellence throughout the season makes her a leading contender for the MVP award, expected to be announced next week, with the main question being whether she will receive unanimous votes. Only Cynthia Cooper has achieved this honor in the league’s history, earning the top spot on all 37 ballots in 1997, whereas this year there are 60 voters.

Even if she secures that unanimous title to complement her impressive record, Wilson, known to thrive on ambition, remains hungry for more.

“I don’t think I’ve truly reached that zone where I can say, oh, this is a next-level performance. I still feel I have more to offer,” she told YSL News Sports.

During her time at South Carolina, while helping the Gamecocks establish themselves as a women’s basketball powerhouse, coach Dawn Staley had specific advice to elevate Wilson’s game.

“You’re blending!” Staley would shout from the sidelines.

This meant Wilson needed to stand out in every play—a lesson that continues to motivate her.

So if Wilson indeed becomes the unanimous MVP, what will drive her? Without hesitation, she replied,

“I want back-to-back unanimous MVPs,” she emphasized.

Clearly, she’s determined to stand out and not fade into the background.

contributing Lindsay Schnell connect with her on social media@Lindsay_Schnell