A’ja Wilson’s decision to skip the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup has faced criticism from basketball fans after the Las Vegas Aces’ exit from the WNBA Playoffs.

One X user mocked the four-time WNBA MVP for resting during the international break, only for her team to suffer a playoff sweep.  The post quickly gained attention, with fans sharing different views on her decision and the Aces’ performance.

An X account named Naa wrote on X, “So you rested for a whole FIBA to get swept by an expansion team. Lmao.”

Wilson decided to skip the World Cup because of injury concerns ahead of the WNBA Playoffs. ESPN reported that Wilson had not been fully fit for some time.

There were concerns that the tournament’s busy schedule could make her condition worse. She had also appeared on the Aces’ injury report with back issues but continued to play for the team.

Wilson’s absence was a big loss for Team USA. She had won MVP awards at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Aces entered the playoffs with a 27-13 record and hoped to make another deep run. Wilson averaged 26.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists during the season.

However, the Aces’ playoff run ended in a sweep. This gave critics another reason to question Wilson’s decision to miss international basketball. 

Fans react to A’ja Wilson’s FIBA World Cup decision

The same X post connected Wilson’s World Cup absence to the Aces’ playoff exit and prompted fans to share their opinions.

One fan suggested that Wilson’s decision to rest might have helped the Aces go further in the playoffs.

The fan wrote, “Honestly, they might not have gotten out of the first round if she didn't take that rest.”

Another fan questioned the criticism of Wilson, pointing to her success in the league. 

The user wrote, “Saying this with already having 3 championships isn't a flex.”

However, another fan questioned how Wilson was treated by officials during games.

 The fan wrote, “I think she skipped FIBA because she wouldn’t get the special whistle.”

Some fans also defended the Aces by highlighting their earlier playoff win against a strong opponent. 

One user wrote, “Before she got swept by the expansion team, she beat the team with 2 MVP candidates and 3 All-Stars.”

Another fan disagreed with the criticism of the opposing team and pointed to its strong position in the standings. 

The user argued, “acting like they weren’t the second seed have fun getting s*** on by Atlanta bro”

Wilson’s decision to miss the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup has become a topic of debate following the Aces’ playoff sweep. The reactions show how a decision to manage fitness can become controversial when a team fails to meet expectations. 

However, the Aces’ playoff exit alone does not prove whether Wilson made the right decision. For now, her absence from Team USA and the Aces’ early playoff exit have given basketball fans plenty to discuss.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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