Former South Carolina women's basketball star A'ja Wilson up for another pair of ESPYs

WNBA superstar A'ja Wilson, a South Carolina women's basketball legend and three-time MVP, has been nominated for two ESPY awards following her record-breaking 2024 season. She is nominated in the categories of "Best Athlete – Women’s Sports" and "Best WNBA Player," and fans can vote for her online.

Wilson's 2024 campaign was historic. She averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals, shooting 52% from the field and 84% from the free throw line. She set WNBA all-time records for total points (1021), total rebounds (451), points per game (26.9), and single-game points (53), becoming the only player to reach 1000 points or 450 rebounds in a season. Wilson led the league in points, points per game, rebounds, blocked shots, and blocks per game, while also ranking in the top five for rebounds per game and steals. She was one of only four players averaging at least 20 points and two assists, and the only player averaging at least 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. Off the court, she received the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

During the WNBA season, Wilson also played for Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She led the team to a gold medal and earned Olympic Starting Five honors as well as the Olympic MVP award.

The ESPY Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, July 16th in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre, hosted by comedian Shane Gillis. It will be broadcast on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET and streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

This nomination follows Wilson's success at the previous year's ESPYs, where she won both the "Best WNBA Player" and "Best Athlete – Women’s Sports" awards. Additionally, her undefeated, National Championship-winning South Carolina team won the ESPY for "Best Team," and head coach Dawn Staley received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance for her cancer research advocacy and support for children undergoing treatment.