A’ja Wilson has always shown emotion on the court. Whether it’s pumping up her teammates after a great pass or herself after a big basket or block, Wilson uses it to fuel her MVP-level game. Apparently, not everyone is a fan.
Wilson said after the US defeated Belgium on Thursday night at the Olympics that one of the officials told her during the match to take it easy.
“[He said] “I have to control my emotions, and I think that just made my emotions stronger because I was like, ‘How are you going to tell me at work that I can’t show emotion or passion?’” she said. “So I stay calm. I stay true to myself. I stay calm by understanding who I am and who I have around me, and not looking back and just moving forward.”
Wilson said she had no plans to change her style of play when the U.S. plays Germany on Sunday with a top spot in their group on the line. Both teams are 2-0 and have already advanced to the quarterfinals in Paris.
“I’m not going to let a defender think they stopped me. I don’t think I’ll ever let them go,” Wilson said. “And that’s what I’ve got to keep doing. So I’m going to keep yelling at that referee. I’m going to keep screaming. I’m going to keep whining, swearing all over the place in between the cheers. Because that’s the game I play.”
Wilson said the official made the comment after he went back and watched a play. “I’m not telling him not to blow his whistle, just like I don’t tell you how to do your job, don’t tell me how to do mine,” the two-time WNBA MVP said.
Wilson, who averages 23.5 points and 13 rebounds for the U.S., wasn’t the only one showing emotion in the win over Belgium. The normally poised Breanna Stewart was excited after a big block, and Sabrina Ionescu silenced the crowd by putting her finger to her mouth after a late three-pointer.
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The Americans enjoyed themselves on their way to their 57th consecutive Olympic victory, despite being vastly outnumbered by the crowd. The Pierre Mauroy Stadium was packed, with more than 25,000 fans cheering on Belgium in particular because of the arena that about ten kilometers from the country’s border.
“Obviously knowing we’re a little bit outnumbered in our crowd, but we want to get the team fired up and you know what’s at stake and how important this is,” Stewart said. “We won one game, but that doesn’t mean anything. So just playing with a lot of passion and having fun.”