A’ja Wilson is the star center of the Las Vegas Aces and one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. People are searching for her right now because the Aces are in a tied first-round playoff series with the Indiana Fever, and she drew a technical foul in Game 2. This article covers her latest news, her background, her family and what is known about her money.
Latest Update: September 30, 2026
As of September 30, 2026, the Aces and the Fever are tied 1-1 in their first-round series. Wilson scored 38 points with 16 rebounds and four blocks in a 102-85 Game 1 win on Sunday, September 27, according to ESPN. On Tuesday, September 29, Indiana won Game 2, 99-89, and Wilson finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. The deciding Game 3 is on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Las Vegas.
In the fourth quarter of Game 2, Wilson drew a technical foul after walking toward a courtside fan. She said afterward that the man stepped toward her and pointed at her, and she called that unacceptable. The Fever said arena security found no violation of the fan code of conduct and did not remove the fan. Reports differ on whether he was briefly moved from his seat. As of September 30, 2026, no league discipline has been reported.
Who Is A’ja Wilson?
A’ja Riyadh Wilson plays center for the Aces. The team’s April 15, 2026 announcement calls her a four-time WNBA MVP who helped the Aces win three championships in four seasons. She is also the only player in league history to average at least 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal per game, according to that release.
Background / Early Life
Wilson was born on August 8, 1996, in Columbia, South Carolina, and she grew up in nearby Hopkins. Her name comes from the Steely Dan song “Aja,” which was her father’s favorite. She started playing basketball at 11, and her father coached her. She attended Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia.
She has spoken publicly about growing up dyslexic, and her foundation supports bullying prevention and dyslexia awareness, according to one reference site. She was named national Player of the Year in high school by Parade and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
Career Path
College at South Carolina (2014–2018)
She played for coach Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina and finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer. In 2017 she led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA championship, and South Carolina retired her No. 22 jersey in February 2025.
WNBA rise
The Aces drafted her first overall in 2018, and she won Rookie of the Year while averaging 20.7 points and eight rebounds. Her four MVP awards, three Aces titles and 2024 Olympic gold medal followed. In 2025 she became the only player in league history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP and lead the league in scoring in the same season. That year she averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in the regular season.
2026 season
On April 15, 2026, the Aces re-signed her. She added another 1,000-point regular season before the playoffs began, according to FOX 5 Las Vegas.
A’ja Wilson Age
Wilson was born on August 8, 1996. As of September 30, 2026, she is 30 years old. The calculation is 2026 minus 1996 equals 30, and her 2026 birthday on August 8 has already passed.
A’ja Wilson Family and Parents
Her father is Roscoe C. Wilson Jr., who played college basketball at Benedict College in Columbia and then played professionally in Europe. Her mother is Eva Rakes Wilson, who worked as a court stenographer and later became an entrepreneur and executive director of the A’ja Wilson Foundation, per Sportskeeda. Two lesser-known sites say she has an older brother named Renaldo who played overseas, but I did not find a major outlet confirming it. She and her parents formed the A’ja Wilson Foundation.
A’ja Wilson Boyfriend / Partner
Confirmed: Wilson confirmed in February 2025, in an interview with People, that she is dating Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo. Dating rumors began in the summer of 2024 before the Paris Olympics. Reports disagree on when the relationship started. E! News says they first got together in 2021, while People says they were first linked in 2024. As of September 30, 2026, the most recent report I found, from E! News in July 2026, still describes them as a couple.
Not reported: I found no report of an engagement or marriage in the sources checked. Earlier reports linked her to basketball player Josh Cunningham, but those were long before her confirmed relationship with Adebayo.
A’ja Wilson Children
No children have been reported in the sources checked.
A’ja Wilson Education
She attended Heathwood Hall Episcopal School and then the University of South Carolina from 2014 to 2018. One reference site says she studied mass communications. Her degree has not been independently confirmed here.
A’ja Wilson Religion
Her religion has not been confirmed by a major source I found. One reference site describes her as Christian, and a March 2026 BET profile, as summarized by another site, describes her as grounded in faith and service. Neither is a direct statement of affiliation, so no denomination is listed here.
A’ja Wilson Height
Britannica lists her at 6 feet 4 inches. This is a listed height from a reference source, not a medical measurement.
A’ja Wilson Net Worth
Her exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Here is what is known, separated by type.
Contract (reported): In April 2026 she signed a three-year, $5 million supermax deal, according to ESPN as summarized by Yahoo Sports. It is fully guaranteed and was the largest in WNBA history when signed. Spotrac lists her 2026 base salary at $1.4 million.
Earlier pay (reported): Celebrity Net Worth says her four-year rookie deal was worth $232,178 in total. It also says she earned just over $1 million in WNBA salary across her first seven seasons.
Endorsements: She has a signature Nike line, and she signed a six-year Nike extension in 2024. The value of her Nike deal has not been publicly disclosed. In 2022 she became the first female athlete to sign with Ruffles.
Third-party estimates: Celebrity Net Worth estimated $4 million in October 2025 and $8 million in 2026. Other sites give ranges of $5 million to $8 million and $7 million to $9 million. These are outside estimates, and the jump between years shows how much they change.
A’ja Wilson’s Business / Work / Major Achievements
Beyond the Aces, Wilson has a Nike signature shoe, the A’One, and the A’Two followed. She is also the author of the memoir Dear Black Girls, published in 2024, per one reference site. Her Olympic gold came at the 2024 Paris Games. She has also run the A’ja Wilson Foundation since 2019.
Quick Table
| Full Name | A’ja Riyadh Wilson |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 8, 1996 |
| Age | 30 (as of September 30, 2026) |
| Birthplace | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (center) |
| Known For | Las Vegas Aces star, four-time WNBA MVP, three-time champion |
| Education | Heathwood Hall Episcopal School; University of South Carolina |
| Spouse/Partner | Bam Adebayo (confirmed dating in February 2025); no marriage reported |
| Children | None reported |
| Parents | Roscoe C. Wilson Jr. and Eva Rakes Wilson |
| Net Worth | Not verified; estimates range from $4 million to $9 million |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (listed) |
| Religion | Not confirmed by a major source |
| Current Status | Playing Aces vs. Fever first-round series, tied 1-1; Game 3 on October 1, 2026 |
Reader Questions
Who is A’ja Wilson?
A’ja Wilson is an American professional basketball player and center for the Las Vegas Aces. She is a four-time WNBA MVP and a three-time WNBA champion.
How old is A’ja Wilson?
A’ja Wilson is 30 years old as of September 30, 2026. She was born on August 8, 1996.
What is A’ja Wilson famous for?
She is known for winning multiple MVP awards, leading the Aces to three titles and becoming the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a season. She also won Olympic gold in 2024.
Who is A’ja Wilson dating?
She is dating Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, which she confirmed in February 2025. No marriage or engagement has been reported.
Who are A’ja Wilson’s parents?
Her parents are Roscoe C. Wilson Jr. and Eva Rakes Wilson. Her father played college basketball at Benedict College and professionally in Europe.
What is A’ja Wilson’s net worth?
Her exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Third-party estimates for 2026 range from about $5 million to $9 million.
How tall is A’ja Wilson?
A’ja Wilson is listed at 6 feet 4 inches tall. That figure comes from Britannica.
What happened to A’ja Wilson in Game 2?
She drew a technical foul after walking toward a courtside fan late in the Aces’ 99-89 loss to the Fever on September 29, 2026. The Fever said security found no fan code violation.
Wrap-Up
Wilson’s career has moved from a first-overall pick to a player many call the best in the league. What makes her numbers stand out is the mix of scoring, rebounding and defense, since she has won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Her off-court profile has grown too, with a signature shoe line, a memoir and a foundation.
Her finances are the least documented part. Her salary was low for most of her career, and her endorsement income is private, so net worth websites are mostly guessing. The new supermax deal signed in April 2026 is the largest verified step up.
As of September 30, 2026, Wilson is 30, under contract with the Aces and preparing for a winner-take-all Game 3 against the Fever on October 1, 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information as of September 30, 2026. Net worth figures and some personal details come from third-party or unconfirmed sources and are labeled as such.
