“She understands her privilege”: When WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson praised UConn star Paige Bueckers during Final Four

AA’ja Wilson and Paige Bueckers (IG: A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers)

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson made headlines earlier this year when she made comments about UConn guard Paige Bueckers. The three-time WNBA MVP shared with her teammate Kelsey Plum how she appreciates Bueckers.

Aces duo Wilson and Plum were in attendance for the Final Four matchup between the UConn Huskies and Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in April. Bueckers and UConn lost to the Hawkeyes 71-69 which ended their season.

When Paige Bueckers’ name was announced, AT&T courtside cam captured A’ja Wilson telling her Kelsey Plum that Bueckers reminded her of Plum, and how Paige had a great way of navigating her privilege in basketball.

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“Us, as Black women, Paige reminds me a lot of you,” A’ja said to Plum. “Like, you say, ‘It’s not really about me.’ She knows. And she knows how her privilege has gotten her to that point.”

“And also, she’s good at basketball, obviously. She understands her privilege. It’s like what pushes her over the top in a sense. It reminds me a lot of you. And I mean, that’s a compliment.”

Bueckers, a two-time Big East player of the year, has led the Huskies to three Final Four appearances in the last four years. They came one game short of winning the national championship in 2022. Her best season came in 2023-24 when she averaged 21.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

A’ja Wilson once attributed Caitlin Clark’s fame to race

A’ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA champion, not only made remarks about Bueckers but she also linked Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark’s popularity to her race.

Wilson responded when asked by the Associated Press about the racial aspect of Clark’s reputation.

“I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about Black and White, but to me, it is,” Wilson said. “It really is because you can be top notch at what you are as a Black woman, but yet maybe that’s something that people don’t want to see.”

In a press conference before her WNBA debut in March, Clark was asked about her stand on Wilson’s comment.

“I think there’s opportunities for every single player in women’s basketball. I think the more opportunities we can give across the board, that’s what’s going to elevate women’s basketball,” Clark said. “The parity in women’s basketball is what’s making more people want to come and watch it.”

Clark’s rookie WNBA season came to an end after Indiana Fever lost in the first round of the playoff against the Connecticut Sun.