Every so often, a player arrives who doesn’t just dominate the court–but redefines it. In this era of women’s basketball, that player is A’ja Wilson. From her rise as a force in the WNBA to her command in the 2025 Finals, Wilson has shown what it means to be a game-changer. And behind that brilliance are the lessons she learned from two of the sport’s greatest minds: Dawn Staley and Becky Hammon. Recently, Wilson paid tribute to both, highlighting how their guidance and mentorship helped shape her into the superstar we watch in awe today.

“When it comes to Becky and Coach Staley, I think the biggest thing that sticks out to me is their ability to create bonds with their players. And when you can do that, I feel like that’s what makes you want to go win. That’s what makes you want to put things together–because you’re buying into their system, they’ve built trust with you, and you believe in them as much as they believe in you,” she said in an interview with The Ballers Magazine.

We all know what A’ja and Staley have achieved together. Joining the Gamecocks in 2014 as the nation’s top prospect, Wilson quickly blossomed into a national sensation under Staley’s guidance. She earned three All-American honors, claimed the 2018 Naismith National Player of the Year award, and helped lead South Carolina to its first-ever National Championship. Their journey didn’t stop there–Wilson and Staley also shared Olympic success when Staley coached Team USA to gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

And Becky Hammon? Her impact speaks for itself. Under Hammon’s guidance, the four-time league MVP added two Finals MVPs and claimed her third WNBA championship in just four years. Together, they’ve forged one of the most dominant and celebrated coach–player partnerships in women’s basketball history.

A cornerstone of both coaches’ success has been their talent for forging deep connections with their players. Since A’ja turned pro, Staley has added two more championships to her resume, while Hammon has guided Wilson to continued dominance on the court. Midway through the season, with the Aces sitting below .500, few expected a championship run–but together, Wilson and Hammon defied the odds. The reason for their success?

As A’ja explains in the same interview, “Our motto this year was others. Like we always wanted to focus on the next person and other people because it’s not going to be just you that wins a championship.” This mindset of counting on everyone and making each player feel equally important, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket, is what has made Becky Hammon such a successful coach.

Coach Hammon also had high praise for her star player following the Game 4 win over the Mercury, a victory that capped off an incredible WNBA season.

Coach Becky Hammon praises A’ja Wilson

“You have your Mount Rushmore, she’s alone on Everest,” Hammon said. “There’s no one around.” And it would be hard to disagree with the Aces’ head coach here. Wilson finished with 31 points and nine rebounds and averaged a double-double in the Finals.

No player in WNBA history has ever accomplished the historic triple crown of MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Even as young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers dominate the headlines, A’ja Wilson remains the gold standard. In the Finals, she made history once again–becoming the first player ever to record three straight games with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds.

It’s fair to say that both coaches have played a huge role in cementing A’ja Wilson’s place among the greatest players in women’s basketball history. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to call her the greatest to ever play the game. And after the confetti settled on yet another championship, Aces owner Mark Davis stepped forward, took the mic, and asked a simple question: “Can we do it again?”

With A’ja Wilson and Becky Hammon leading the way, anything feels possible….