This year has been huge for A’ja Wilson. She was recently named WNBA MVP for the fourth time and became the first player in league history to score 30+ points and grab 20+ rebounds in a single game, while also reaching 5,000 career points faster than anyone else. With three MVPs, six All-Star selections, and three first-team All-WNBA honors already under her belt, her achievements in such a short span are remarkable. But with all this success, some fans are starting to wonder: Does this confidence ever risk tipping into arrogance?
The Fever will be heading to Vegas for Game 5 after a 90-83 win over the Aces in Game 4 on Sunday. After the game, the Aces’ star A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and coach Becky Hammon sat for a post-game press conference—and that’s when things got noticed. Fans immediately caught A’ja Wilson laughing. On its own, a laugh isn’t a big deal, but the reason behind it sparked reactions online. An X account, Bricks Center, tweeted, “A’ja Wilson laughs at an Asian reporter’s accent 😭,” which quickly drew criticism. So, what’s really going on? We’ll get to that—but first, let’s recap the game.
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The Fever’s victory evened the best-of-five series at 2-2. Despite missing four key players, Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald, the Fever leaned on Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, who led the charge with 25 points and 24 points, respectively. Odyssey Sims chipped in 18 points, while Lexie Hull added 7 points.
The Aces had strong individual numbers but came up short as a team. League MVP A’ja Wilson scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds, marking her 17th career playoff 30-point game and moving her within one of the all-time record.
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Jackie Young added 18 points and nine assists, and Chelsea Gray contributed 12 points, nine assists, and four steals. Despite the Aces’ effort and their high-powered lineup, the Fever’s aggressive play, smart ball movement, and clutch free throws were too much to handle, forcing a decisive Game 5 back in Las Vegas. “It was a good old-fashioned mistake,” Aces coach Becky Hammon admitted post-game. Apparently, the mistake not only happened on and off the court, and fans aren’t forgetting it.
From laughter to outrage: How fans reacted to A’ja Wilson
One fan commented, “You can’t be named A’ja laughing at someone FROM Asia.” While the comment itself is funny, it’s factually wrong—the reporter was actually French. Fans should also know that A’ja Wilson is a black woman and a top athlete who often speaks about her experiences as a minority in sports. She has worked to support young students, especially black girls, by challenging stereotypes and providing guidance. So laughing at someone’s race wouldn’t really fit with her actions and values.
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Another fan pointed out, “Except she and Becky were laughing before he started talking…this ain’t even thoughtful grifting,” and that’s closer to the truth. The player-coach duo was chuckling at an earlier joke or more like a jab at the WNBA itself, especially with the recent Napheesa Collier incident and Cheryl Reeve questioning the league’s officiating. Wilson had been checking the box score for foul totals and remarked that the numbers were “interesting.” “By interesting, do you mean that’s s–?” Hammon asked playfully. “Yeah, I can’t say that, ’cause I have a brand to protect,” Wilson replied. This back-and-forth was still happening when the French reporter asked his next question.
Another fan didn’t hold back, saying, “She is THE worst! People just now started paying attention to the WNBA and learning what a shit person she is.” While A’ja Wilson has faced some criticism, it’s not like she’s constantly in the hot seat. Recently, she drew attention when she boldly proclaimed herself GOAT-worthy: “When you are talking about the GOATs of the W, I need my name up there. At least top 3.” Fans quickly pointed out what they saw as overconfidence after her string of successes and accolades. Another moment that added fuel to the fire came in Game 1 against the Fever, when Aliyah Boston’s strong defense gave the Aces trouble. Wilson downplayed Boston’s effort, saying, “It was no different than any other time I play Aliyah, or any other big in this league,” which only added to the chatter about her being overly self-assured.
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Nonetheless, some fans were convinced A’ja was mocking the reporter’s accent; one wrote, “Not everyone’s fluent speaking their 2nd language, simpleton.” That argument makes sense on its own, but the context in which it was shared twisted the narrative, making it seem like Wilson was judging someone based on race, language, or accent. The misconception wasn’t entirely the fans’ fault—the X account posting the clip framed it in a way that misrepresented the truth.
One fan didn’t hold back and put the blame squarely on the league, writing, “It’s the WNBA does this surprise you?” The comment tapped into long-standing frustrations—players, coaches, and fans have all criticized the league for its handling of physical play, questionable referee decisions, and pay disputes. Cheryl Reeve’s bold words summed it up perfectly: “You’re hearing Becky [Hammon] talk about, when you let the physicality happen, people get hurt, there’s fights, and this is the look that our league wants for some reason.” Considering that A’ja’s laugh happened during a discussion on this very topic, the context of the comment makes sense.