WNBA star A’ja Wilson is TIME’s Athlete of the Year https://t.co/PuL1wnkUzH pic.twitter.com/mt0o71L207
— TIME (@TIME) December 9, 2025
Amid that impact, A’ja Wilson has raised her voice about the WNBA’s growth and the narrative surrounding Caitlin Clark, whose rise has brought both excitement and tension.
The Caitlin Clark debate
A’ja Wilson explained that media attention on Caitlin Clark doesn’t affect her directly. But she worries the league’s essence could be lost. “We can’t forget the recipe or the history,” she said, reminding everyone of the effort past generations made to build women’s basketball.
The conversation, as Essentiallysports noted, turned divisive at times, with racial debates pitting the new star against established WNBA icons.
Growth that doesn’t stop
A’ja Wilson pointed out that despite the controversies, the 2025 season confirmed the league’s progress. ESPN broadcasts rose by five to six percent per game, even with Caitlin Clark sidelined most of the year. For Wilson, that proves women’s basketball keeps gaining ground.
It was only a matter of TIME 👑
4x MVP A’ja Wilson adds @TIME Athlete of the Year to her long list of accolades 👏
Photograph by Kanya Iwana for TIME (@kanyaiwana) pic.twitter.com/mhV5j4lFan
— WNBA (@WNBA) December 9, 2025
Still, she stressed that the real challenge lies in compensation and working conditions.
The showdown with the league
A’ja Wilson will be one of the main voices in negotiating the new collective bargaining agreement, which expires in January. Alongside Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the Aces star made it clear the players won’t move “until we get exactly what we want.”
Tension with commissioner Cathy Engelbert surfaced, and A’ja Wilson didn’t hesitate to say that players are now working harder to secure a fair deal.
A future at stake
A’ja Wilson wants athletes to receive a fair share of the WNBA’s growing value. The new plan would raise the salary cap from $1.5 million to $5 million per team, with minimum salaries at $225,000 and maximums at $1 million.
The possibility of a lockout threatens the momentum built in recent years. But A’ja Wilson, praised as an inspiration even by LeBron James, remains firm in her role as leader and cultural icon.
