A’ja Wilson fires back at WNBA dunk obsession, highlighting league skill and craft over flashy plays.
A’ja Wilson didn’t just battle the wings. She confronted one of the most persistent talking points surrounding the WNBA.
During a recent episode of Hot Ones, the Las Vegas Aces star was asked by host Sean Evans whether too much is made of the idea that WNBA players should dunk. Wilson, working her way through the show’s signature lineup of increasingly spicy sauces, offered a quick answer through the discomfort.
In a separate paragraph, Wilson gave her initial response while wiping away tears from the heat.
“Yeah,” she said, speaking bluntly as she tried to power through the spice.
After collecting herself, Wilson expanded on the topic and delivered a clearer message about what she sees as misplaced expectations placed on the women’s game.
“Dunking is cool. It's amazing. I've seen people dunk a lot. It's cool, but maybe it's just not part of our game, and I wish people could really understand that,” she said.
Wilson paused, then continued with a wider point about how the conversation detracts from what players actually bring to the floor.
“I wish they could really cherish the other things that we bring to the game that maybe is just kind of flashy as dunking ... I wish people could get away from that. Stop talking about lowering rims ― all that shenanigans ― and just kind of focus on the craft we have in our league right now.”
Her comments carried added weight given what she accomplished this past season. Wilson led the Aces to their third championship in four years, closing out the 2025 WNBA Finals with a 97-86 win over the Phoenix Mercury. She had 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks in the clincher and averaged 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds during the series.
Wilson was named Finals MVP for the second time and became the first player in league history to win Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in the same season. She also set postseason records for total points and rebounds, climbed to third on the all-time playoff scoring list and recorded the highest scoring total in a Finals series.
For Wilson, the dunk conversation is less a debate and more a distraction from the execution and skill that define the league. Her performance throughout the postseason offered its own response, built on scoring versatility, defensive production, and postseason dominance.