Las Vegas Aces and USA women's team star A'ja Wilson was present for the last Team USA pre-Olympic preparation game against Germany. The men's team will face a strong rival on Monday following a big scare against South Sudan over the weekend, escaping that game with a 101-100 win.
The world champions want to extend their sweet moment in international basketball with a gold medal in the upcoming Paris Olympics while Team USA will try to dethrone them in the French capital.
To do so, the U.S. will have a lot of fans from around the world. On Monday, however, they had a couple of stars cheering for them sideline. A'ja Wilson was spotted with fellow WNBA stars Kahleah Copper and Jackie Young. The three sat together before the game as they await the start of the Olympic tournament.
Wilson and company just wrapped up the first half of the 2024 WNBA season after losing to Team WNBA in the All-Star Game on Saturday.
The Olympic team and the WNBA squad went toe-to-toe in the first half, exchanging buckets and swapping leads until halftime. Once the third quarter started, it was the Arike Ogunbowale show, who dropped 34 points and dominated Team USA to give her team the win.
While Breanna Stewart led the way for Team USA with 31 points, A'ja Wilson contributed 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. She shot 8-for-13 from the field, 2-for-3 from deep and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in 20 minutes.
Wilson remains the favorite to win the MVP award this season, but now the goal has changed and she's working to get another gold medal.
A'ja Wilson notes major difference in WNBA All-Star Game during Olympic and non-Olympic years
A'ja Wilson knows the All-Star Game is a big show, but her approach to it changes when she's getting ready for the Olympic Games.
Speaking on the differences between Olympic and non-Olympic years and how they affect the All-Star Game, Wilson acknowledged:
"Our mindset is different when the Olympics are going on. So, yes, I feel like the defense has to be there because the parties, all the extra stuff, it's not there because we have to focus on the game. When it's not an Olympic year, I don't want to play defense."
The Aces star is set to help her nation win another gold medal at the Olympics, and seeing how well she's played in the WNBA this season, it'll be hard for opponents to take her down.