A New Year, A Lasting Lesson: What A’ja Wilson Can Teach Us About Confidence
As we step into 2026, it’s natural to look ahead—to new goals, new opportunities, and everything the year has the potential to bring. And at Leveling the Fields, we are incredibly excited for what’s next. But before we charge forward into a new year of programs, planning, and growth, we want to pause and reflect on a story that perfectly captures why getting girls into sports matters so deeply.
That story belongs to a South Carolina legend.
Growing up just outside of Columbia, South Carolina, A’ja Wilson didn’t look like a future WNBA superstar. In fact, basketball wasn’t even her first choice. As a child, she explored a variety of interests—piano included—before reluctantly giving basketball a try at the encouragement of her father, a former professional player. And despite what many assume about elite athletes, A’ja wasn’t immediately great. In a recent interview with TIME, her dad candidly described her early skills as “trash.” Harsh—but honest.
Those early years were shaped by far more than missed shots. A’ja faced racism from classmates and quietly struggled with mental health challenges stemming from undiagnosed dyslexia until the age of 16. Feeling different, behind, and unsure of herself, she often struggled to feel “normal.”
Basketball didn’t erase those challenges—but it gave her a way through them.
Through the game, A’ja learned how to turn her differences into strengths. She learned how to persist when things felt uncomfortable. How to show up even when confidence hadn’t arrived yet. How to fail, adjust, and try again.
To call her a “success” today almost feels inadequate. In 2025, following another championship season with the Las Vegas Aces, A’ja Wilson was named Finals MVP for the second time in her career. Add four regular-season MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year title, and countless other accolades, and it’s clear why her name now lives in the GOAT conversation.
But her legacy extends far beyond the stat sheet.
The most powerful part of A’ja Wilson’s story isn’t just what she’s accomplished—it’s who she’s become. Sports served as the training ground where she developed confidence, resilience, and selfless leadership. When you look at A’ja only as an athlete, you miss the bigger picture. Author. Businesswoman. Advocate. Leader. As Melinda French Gates put it, “A’ja isn’t a rising star anymore—she’s the center of her own solar system.”
As we head into 2026, we look to A’ja not simply as inspiration because of her success on the court, but because of the character forged through sport. Her teammates describe her as relentlessly selfless. Her coaches call her one of the hardest workers they’ve ever coached. Those traits weren’t accidental—they were learned.
Confidence didn’t come to A’ja because she succeeded. It came because she learned how to struggle first.
As her dad stated, “she was trash.” And that’s exactly the point.
Confidence isn’t built by avoiding adversity—it’s built by moving through it. When girls learn to trust their ability to handle setbacks, mistakes, and challenges, they stop being afraid to step forward. They raise their hands. They take the shot. They believe they belong.
Whether the girls in our programs go on to play in high school, college, or simply carry these lessons into other areas of their lives, the impact of sports lasts far beyond the game. Sports may be “just a game,” but when we teach girls sports, we teach them about life. About strength. Grit. Leadership. Community. Lessons that don’t stay on the court, field, pool, or gym—but travel with them wherever they go.
In 2026, when we teach girls sports, we’re doing more than running drills or keeping score. We’re helping guide them through a new year filled with challenges—and equipping them with the confidence to overcome them.
Just like A’ja Wilson did.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
The Leveling the Fields Team
