A'ja Wilson once reached out to her 'second mother' Dawn Staley for Sheryl Swoopes' crucial advice in key moment 

Reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces has achieved tremendous success in her career, but that hasn’t stopped her from seeking advice from other greats in the game to continue improving as a player. This was evident last year when she sought the help of her former collegiate coach and "second mother," Dawn Staley, to connect with four-time WNBA champion Sheryl Swoopes.

The interaction occurred before the 2023 WNBA Finals, as the Aces aimed for back-to-back titles against the New York Liberty. Staley, who coached the Aces All-Star at the University of South Carolina, shared with CBS Sports how Wilson approached her, saying:

"She's probably going to kill me for saying this, but it actually brought me to tears. She (A'ja Wilson) texted me probably a week ago, that was before Game 1 of the Finals, and she asked me for Sheryl Swoopes' number. She said, 'I need her number because I want to know how to repeat.'"

Swoopes was part of the legendary Houston Comets team that won the first four championships in WNBA history, alongside stars like Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson. Swoopes was also an exceptional individual player, earning both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors three times.

The Aces did repeat in 2023, defeating the Liberty in four games of their best-of-five series. Wilson was Finals MVP after averaging 21.25 points and 12.5 rebounds. It was her second WNBA title.

A'ja Wilson takes leadership qualities from former coach Dawn Staley

Beyond her accomplishments on the basketball court, A’ja Wilson has also established herself as a champion in the community—something she said she learned from her former collegiate coach, Dawn Staley.

Wilson reflected on this as she accepted the WNBA’s Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award last season for her dedication and positive impact on the community.

Speaking about Staley and the award, Wilson said:

"Coach Staley has been so giving to so many people throughout her life, and I'm blessed to have been able to see firsthand how she embodies the league's community leadership award."

She added:

"For me to now be in a position, trying my best to help future generations, and help my community, it is truly an honor to receive an award that is named after her."

The community leadership award was one of several accolades A'ja Wilson earned this year. She also won her second WNBA MVP award, claimed a gold medal with Team USA at the Paris Olympics and was named the tournament’s best player.