One look at A'ja Wilson's list of accolades would lead you to presume that no other player in WNBA history has touched the basketball better than the Las Vegas Aces star.

While Wilson has spent most of her career deflecting claims that she is in the GOAT conversation, she is now accepting that label with full confidence.

In a sit-down interview with sports journalist Malika Andrews, Wilson was asked directly whether she believes she will have cemented GOAT status by the time her career comes to an end. And her answer was as self-assured as it was charming.

"The career and the journey that I've been on, it's been so blessed. Like, it's been just overjoyed with so much love that I receive. It's been so special, so I'm grateful. If I'm the GOAT cool, I'm there. In my eyes, I've been a GOAT since '96 (Wilson's birth year), so this is just a part of it." Wilson said.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old has already made quite a compelling case to be the greatest to ever do it in the WNBA.

Starting with MVP honors, Wilson is the only player in history to win four times. And with the season she is currently having as a defending champion, the fifth is almost within reach too.

Beyond the MVPs, she is the first basketball player in either the WNBA or the NBA to sweep the Regular Season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP, and scoring title all in a single season.

Overall, with such an impressive resume alongside guiding the Aces to three championships in four years, Wilson is easily the greatest in her generation.

The only remaining argument against her is longevity, but with the way she is playing, it won't be long until that conversation is done and dusted as well.

Wilson can further cement herself in the GOAT conversations by winning her fifth MVP this season, but right now, one of the only players standing in her way is a rookie.

Can Olivia Miles Provide Competition to A'ja Wilson in the MVP Race?

While Wilson is by far the top pick once again and is on route to win her fifth MVP award, nobody expected a rookie to be her direct competitor. But then again, Olivia Miles is no ordinary rookie, as we have all witnessed.

The No. 2 overall draft pick leads all rookies in points (19.3 ppg), made field goals (6.8) and assists (6.0). She’s scored double-digits in all 26 games to start her career, including a career-high 33 points against Phoenix earlier this season.

And to top it all off, Miles was named an All-Star starter, the only rookie to receive the honor this season.

"(Miles) doing this and shouldering so much, basically... the success of the team is on her shoulders, and that is impressive how she's handled it," Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said about Miles, who carried the team's offensive load without Napheesa Collier.

If the season ended today, Miles would be one of the deserving winners of the award, considering all factors.

But the next stretch of games will decide if the rookie can actually topple the four-time MVP and create history as the only player since Candace Parker in 2008 to potentially win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP award in the same season.

While that would be some story, we all know Wilson and her experience at the mountain top will not make things any easier for Miles, or for anyone else, including Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark.

So, do you think A'ja Wilson needs to stay wary of Miles as we approach the final third of the season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy