Why A’ja Wilson 'Cried Like a Baby' Following Las Vegas Aces' Championship Win

The Finals MVP credits the close relationship she has with her family for her success in the league

It’s been a week since the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA championship, but A’ja Wilson is still riding high.

While on The Jennifer Hudson Show Friday, the Finals MVP revealed that winning it all this year is not the same as taking the title last season — and that she was particularly emotional when her team beat the New York Liberty.

“The first one was cool, but this second championship hit different,” Wilson, 27, told Hudson.

She added, “I cried to my parents, I’m a huge family girl. They sacrificed so much for me so to have them on the court with me, after we won, I cried like a baby because it was just a wonderful moment.”

Related: Las Vegas Aces Party After Winning Back-to-Back WNBA Championships

In the final game of the series, Wilson finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds, which solidified her selection as MVP.

“Everything that we’d been through, fighting that adversity and to be able to share that moment, it was just something truly special,” the South Carolina alum said.

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The difficulties were not lost on head coach and recent Hall of Fame inductee Becky Hammon either, who noted her own suspension to start the season as well as the loss of WNBA star Candace Parker before this year’s run, as significant challenges last week to ESPN.

Elsewhere in her appearance on the show, Wilson disclosed that she still gets anxious before games, despite having played six seasons in the league.

Related: Usher Responds to A'ja Wilson's Request for Him to Join the Las Vegas Aces Championship Parade

“I get super-nervous, I’m pacing,” she said. “I’ve got sparkling water … I always say it’s a good thing to be nervous because that means you care.”

Yet after she tearfully celebrated with her parents following winning the title and the MVP crown, Wilson reached for another type of beverage post-game.

“I cried with them, and went to the locker room popped a couple of bottles,” she told Hudson.

On Sunday, the South Carolina native made headlines after she posted a message to Usher on social media, inviting the musician to celebrate the team’s victory.

“Hey @Usher 🤭,” Wilson wrote. “If ya not busy our parade is tomorrow …if ya wanna slide 😁.”

In response, he posted a video message on his X account Wednesday, saying, “Shout out to the defending champs, the Vegas Aces. A'ja Wilson, I got your message. I see you. I hear you.”

But Usher ultimately couldn’t make the appearance work.

“Couldn't be at the parade, but I wanted to send this out to you to say congratulations to you and all the lovely ladies that — once again — did it again,” he said, praising the team.

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