A'ja Wilson, star of the Las Vegas Aces, has stood out not only for her impressive performance on the court but also for her role as a mentor to the team's rookies.
In the highly competitive world of the WNBA, rookie initiations take unique and fun forms, and bets between veterans and rookies have become a tradition full of humor.
In one of the latest chapters of this tradition, Wilson joyfully recounted the bet she made with rookie Kate Martin.
Kate Martin's rookie hazing at the Aces
During her appearance on the "Roommates Show," Wilson couldn't help but express her satisfaction about Martin's obligation to wear a South Carolina Gamecocks sweatsuit, Wilson's alma mater.
"Yeah, sorry. It was part of the bet. It was the bet, you have to do it. You can't say no," Wilson said, laughing.
The bet stemmed from a friendly clash of collegiate pride. Kate Martin, known as "the glue" for her ability to unite the team, had played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA, while Wilson is a proud South Carolina alum.
The bet originated after a game between Martin's team and the Gamecocks, where Martin had to wear the bright white South Carolina gear, surprising even her followers. One joked, saying, "Either Kate lost a bet, or it's the hazing of a rookie."
The loss of the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Gamecocks in the 2024 NCAA Championship Game (87-75) was the trigger for the bet. However, Martin took it in stride.
"Instead of feeling bad, the guard took the bet with great sportsmanship," the article stated, mentioning that the entire Aces team had to wear South Carolina merchandise if their team had ever lost to them in an NCAA game.
Martin landed well with the Aces
Martin, selected in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, has shown great potential, averaging 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Despite being a rookie, her defensive intensity and court vision have caught the attention of her coach, Becky Hammon.
"I know she's freaking tough. I don't know how bad it is, but she's a tough cookie. For her not to come back, I'm hoping for the best," Hammon said after Martin suffered an ankle injury.
This bond between Wilson and Martin isn't just about bets, but also viral moments, like their handshake inspired by Finding Nemo, which quickly went viral.
Wilson explained: "It came across my timeline one time, and I was just like, I love this handshake. Let's do it."
These dynamics show the chemistry and unity that drive the success of the Las Vegas Aces.
Angel Reese, the rising WNBA star, and the Brooklyn Nets player Ben Simmons are at the center of a viral story that took the internet by storm. The buzz began when a parody account on X (formerly Twitter), known for spreading humorous misinformation, claimed that Reese would work with Simmons to improve her jump shot during the offseason.
The report, posted by NBACentel, caught fire online despite being a joke. Fans speculated on the unlikely collaboration, with many poking fun at both players' perceived weaknesses in their shooting abilities. However, some users didn't realize it was satire and debated the potential impact of such training.
While the fake report stirred reactions, it inadvertently highlighted real statistics. During her rookie season in the WNBA, Reese shot 39.1% from the field. By comparison, Simmons, who is in his seventh NBA season, boasts a 54.4% shooting percentage in his first 12 games this year.
Reese's rise: from LSU success to WNBA challenges
Angel Reese has quickly made a name for herself with her rebounding skills, but her shooting game remains an area for growth. After transferring from Maryland to LSU, Reese led her team to a national championship and solidified her reputation as a dominant force in college basketball.
On her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, Reese shared insights into her transition to LSU, admitting it wasn't always easy.
"Getting up and transferring, it's scary," she said. "But I won a national championship from it. It wasn't perfect, but I got what I wanted. Now, I look back, and I love LSU."
A moment of laughter in sports culture
While the viral story about Reese and Simmons collaborating is nothing more than a lighthearted internet moment, it underscores the influence of social media on sports narratives. Fans and athletes alike should always double-check their sources before believing what they see online.
As Reese prepares for her second WNBA season, her focus will remain on improving her game, with or without any help from Simmons or any other NBA star.
Ever since last year's Women's College Basketball Final, where Angel Reese and LSU defeated Caitlin Clark and Iowa, the rivalry between these two incredible athletes has been a major talking point. This rivalry has carried over to the professional level in the WNBA. By rivalry, I don't mean negatively, but rather that they will likely be competing against each other for years to come, pushing each other to become even better players.
Of course, there will be more intense moments and more meaningful comparisons as their careers progress. For now, both are in the offseason, but their approaches are different. Clark seems to fly under the radar, making appearances at NBA games, NFL games, College games, Taylor Swift concerts, golf tournaments, and charity events without making a big deal about it. Reese, on the other hand, tries to let everyone know what she's up to, mainly through her podcast, which releases new episodes every Thursday, and by being very active on social media like Instagram and TikTok.
Reese's Skims Post Sparks Buzz
Last night, Angel Reese shared an Instagram story featuring Skims sleepwear, a brand owned by Kim Kardashian. Reese posted a mirror selfie, seemingly inviting reactions from admirers - or maybe someone special. Let's not forget, she's currently single and she has been commenting a lot on her podcast about what she would like his next relationship to be like. This boldness is a trademark of Reese, who is not afraid of public opinion. It's commendable, especially considering that Reese often plays the villain in her "rivalry" with Caitlin Clark, which inevitably attracts more criticism.
But that's not all. She also posted photos of her workouts showing her determination after missing the playoffs - a disappointment that left her feeling unfinished, especially given her incredible winning record at LSU. Seeing Clark go farther than she did in the WNBA playoffs likely added to her motivation. Reese is now training relentlessly for the 2025 WNBA season. But first, she'll be competing in Unrivaled, an innovative six-team, six-player, 3v3 women's basketball league. The league's inaugural season will debut in Miami this January.
Unrivaled Teams Are Set
Unrivaled, co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, announced its rosters today, a big step ahead of its inaugural season, which begins in January. Unrivaled features six teams consisting of 34 WNBA players, with two rosters still holding open wild-card spots. Reese's team and lineup is as follows, and includes a teammate of Caitlin Clark's.
Team Rose (coached by Nola Henry)
- Angel Reese, Forward, Chicago Sky
- Chelsea Gray, Guard, Las Vegas Aces
- Kahleah Copper, Wing, Phoenix Mercury
- Brittney Sykes, Guard, Washington Mystics
- Lexie Hull, Wing, Indiana Fever
- Azurá Stevens, Big, Los Angeles Sparks