A'One of One: A Las Vegas Aces Documentary

What you gonna do When you say to a man He has lost control Take a look at him now He has lost his soul He's breathing up as I breathe I should tell him so Show this Asia's just been putting up these crazy stat lines. She led the league in scoring, in blocks, second and rebounding. She had more 30 point games in a season than this league has ever seen. It's not often that great players get to smell their flowers. You know, while they are as young as she is. She is very young. She just turned 29 this summer. And she's still a sad thing in her prime. She's a young MVP. She's a young superstar. She's a young legendary player. What most people underestimate is her heart. When you put her on stage, she's gonna perform. When she hangs her shoes up, we'll be talking about the greatest ever. South Carolina Gamecock legend Asia Wilson will be remembered forever as she should be. Her number 22 will hang from the rafters. That news kind of shook me up a little bit because, one, it let me know that I was old. And I feel like when jerseys are retired, they're like, oh yeah, you remember they played in the 90s. Thank you all so much for being here today. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. To have my jersey retired at the University of South Carolina, the place where my dreams began, is an honor I can hardly put into words. First, I want to thank my coaches, teammates, and every person who was a part of this journey. You pushed me to my best. And the bonds we created here are unbreakable. When she steps foot on the floor, she loves her teammates. She loves her fans. She loves her coaches. And you can feel it. Columbia, South Carolina is my home. And it shaped me not just as an athlete, but as a person. As I look up in the rafters and see my jersey, I'm reminded how important it is to chase your dreams without fear. When you talk about celebrating someone who is successful at a high level, you don't typically see it all happen in their backyard. With the caliber of player that she became, she could have gone to any school in the country. You got the Tennessees, the Yukons, the big powerhouse schools. And why go to a school where they already have legacies built, and then you're just another notch on the belt. And stay home, homegrown girl right here, and build and create your own legacy. Asia grew up in Columbia, went to high school in Columbia, went to college in Columbia. Most of her family is here. Most of everybody who's kind of poured into her journey is here. And so to be able to come back, you know, you see jersey retirements all the time. But to have someone who is homegrown, have someone who the community kind of stood behind, invested in, and has continued to support throughout all these years, it just, it feels like she's about to not just celebrate herself, but also celebrate the family that she's created over the years. My grandmother had an opportunity to see my first game as a freshman. It was an exhibition game, it was at noon, like so she could get back home. It was perfect, it was a perfect setup. That was like the highlight of my collegiate career. I also would say when it came to Coach Staley, when it came to someone that has done everything that I wanted to do, she was the person that could do it, and also a black woman. So I'm just like, she could really tell me the honest truth. And I always say, Coach Staley just so happened to be in my backyard, but if she was anywhere in the world, I probably would have gone to be coached by her because I just felt that connection. Thank you, Coach, for seeing the light in me, even when I couldn't see it in myself. And for showing me that it's not about the destination, but the journey and the people you meet along the way. I wouldn't be who I am today without the love, support, and sacrifices of so many people. And what a blessing to have those most special to me courtside today, especially my favorite Olympian from out of town. There would be no me without Eva and Roscoe. Mom and Dad, there aren't enough thank yous I can say. But in everything that I do, I hope I make you proud. Thank you all for believing in me and for making this moment possible. Go Cocks. I think that Asia deserves everything that she is getting because she's worked so hard and she's earned it. But to have your jersey retired knowing that no one else would be wearing her jersey really, really was great. It was just a great, great feeling for me and for my family. And as we were there in attendance, and just to see the jersey go up in the rafters, just knowing that nobody else will wear that number 22 of South Carolina was really meaningful for us. It was definitely an emotional, emotional, emotional day. Only because I remember sitting in those stands when not a lot of fans were there to support the women's team and kind of looking up and being like, Oh my God, look at these jerseys, look at the conference and all this. And now I can look up and I see myself, I see Tiffany Mitchell, I see us up there, and it's like we were a part of a lot of history in these rafters. It's not just her journey that she's able to celebrate, but she's also able to celebrate all the other journeys that she's been able to impact just by her presence in Columbia. My 803 fam is going to always keep me grounded because every time I look at them or even I speak to them, even my childhood friends, I get to be just Asia. I just get to be just Asia, not just the Asia Wilson. Because I feel like Vegas knows me as the Asia Wilson, and South Carolina knows me as Asia. So it always brings me back home, and it always feels like a warm hug when I can just speak to them, talk to them. We can go down memory lane. But it's also, I'm so grateful that my worlds can collide. They can come out to Vegas and see that I'm still doing the things that I said that I was going to do when I was in South Carolina. My goals that I'm trying to obtain, the life that I'm going to live, I'm still here, but I'm still grounded. And people are going to always know that I don't play about my faith or my family or my money, but my faith and my family are going to always eat. So yeah, I think it's just pretty cool that they can still be alongside of me during this journey. Asia Wilson has finally released her own Nike Signature shoe and athletic apparel collection. Her pink shoe and clothing line represent her style. Wilson says tonight that this is truly a dream come true. Leading up to just my shoe release and the pop-ups, I was crying every single day because I just could not imagine me doing this. Like, the community coming out and doing this for me. I've been here since 4 a.m. And the shoes too, I already got them on. I wore my props. So I was like, I need to put my shoes on. Surreal, like, speechless. The amount of love that I received from Vegas was truly remarkable. And now we're on to the next stop. I love your uniform. Of course. And it was truly a blessing. Like, I remember just like the day that the shoe was supposed to drop, I was just sleeping. I was just like, I can't wake up. I don't want to wake up. I was just like, please. I'm going to sleep through the drop because I don't know, like, what if I wake up and not one shoe sold? And I was going through it. And then that's when I kind of rolled over and I was just like, okay, here we go. Just got to check my phone. And it sold out. And like that moment, I just felt so much joy. I feel like that was probably the most joyful moment that I've ever had because, you know, you never know. People can talk a lot. But it's just like a big, big moment. And when I went to the pop-up shops and there was lines wrapped around buildings, I mean, people were following me from store to store, like amazing support. And I have just the best fans ever. And I wouldn't be the person I am without them. So I'm just thankful for them. Hey, look, I'm rocking these all season. If y'all see me dunking these this year, it's because of the shoes. Just knowing that she has her own signature shoe, she's impacting our communities through that way as well. You know, by giving back to different youth groups and AU teams and things like that, it's just wonderful. I'm so proud of her because she's used her platform to really spread a really positive message for young black girls. All the girls on my team look up to her. All the girls in the city look up to her. And it's just so special for them to be able to see someone from their hometown, be able to accomplish the things that she was able to, and be able to overcome all the things that she's been able to. This is a blessing. A blessing to have these girls out here, to be able to interact with them. Can you imagine the Sia shoes out here? See the A1s? Beautiful, man. This is a blessing. I'm enjoying watching my daughter. There's nothing better than a father to know that his daughter is happy and in a good place. You can't top it. When it came to my shoe, I was very, very hands-on, only because this is how many people can say that they can release their shoe. And my first one. This is my baby, and I wanted it to make sure that it pinpointed every little detail about my life, what I stand for, and my future. Nike did an amazing job of putting that all together into a shoe that people can love on and wear as much as the love that we poured into it. And so when it came to just the Easter eggs of my tattoos, to my parents, or just the quotes out of my book, or just the color and the pearl swoosh to, like, kind of nod at my grandmother, it was just perfection to me. The A1 is perfection to me. And when it came to the colors, obviously we had the OG pearl because she was someone that was like, girl, pretty girls wear pearls. Stand in your truth. Be confident. With my mom, you probably know the story of my mom giving her her first set of pearls. And so that was one way of my mom getting her to understand that you are enough. And then when it came to pink aura, she's a good one because pink is my favorite color. And it was something that's just so vibrant, something that catches the eye. And I feel like even today when I see people with pink shoes and I'm like, is that an A1? And I wanted that feel. I wanted people to, like, double check and be like, and signify pink with the A1 and Asia and us and Nike. Like, that was what I wanted. And then the indigo blue pair was because of my sister Jan. She said, Asia is special. She said, I need you to look up indigo girl. Indigo children are very free-minded, spirited. They like leadership. They love, they can pick up on a lot of different things. And I wanted people to know that that was me. That is me off the court, on the court, and everywhere in between. So those are the three that I really wanted to highlight because they're part of me. Tonight inside Michelob Ultra Arena, we're celebrating Asia Wilson's signature shoe. I have to give all my glory to God because he has really helped me be who I am and allow me to share that with the world. It may come in a form of a shoe, it may come in a form of a leg sleeve, but he works within me to allow me to show my gift that he's provided me with. So this day may have my name on it, but at the end of the day, God gets all the glory of his name. Every area of Asia Wilson's game has improved. Dawn Staley is in the house. She is the first time in nearly 30 years that we've seen a black woman from Nike have her own signature shoes. If you look around the court today and you see all these pink Auras out here, you know they are representing Asia Wilson. Just seeing my shoe court side is just truly a blessing and amazing. And I'm so appreciative to everyone. I mean, I couldn't stop thinking Tina because she doesn't have to do that. I don't ask her to do that, and she did. So from my teammates to opponents to fans, just thank you. Asia enters the 2025 season 218 points away from 5,000 in her career. Asia Wilson is knocking on the door of 5,000 points. Wilson lets it drive, lets it lay out to Wilson. With her 5,000th career point, the fans, they know it, they drop the signage. When you can hit a milestone like this in a league like this, I can't let it go unnoticed, so I'm grateful, I'm blessed. It's my first time ever, like, riding something on shoes, but I'm definitely gonna cherish this moment because it's been a lot of fun. Man, man, man, feels great. A lot of buckets, but it's a blessing. It really is. I'm grateful. Gonna take it in this moment, but we gotta get back to work tomorrow, but it's been a blessing. Got 5K. Who pissed Asia Wilson off, CJ? I just don't know how. You can see what the Aces are doing right now and what Asia's been doing all season long and think to yourself, all right, somebody else has got to be the MVP. I do think that if you put anyone else in a predicament that they came off a unanimous MVP vote, there would be no focus on anyone else coming into the season. Anyone else's team, anyone player, it would solely be about that team. And we didn't have that. I know you probably are a little biased because of Asia playing for you, but make the case for her MVP. I think anytime an immediate person has to ask a question, who's as good as Asia Wilson, that's where you start with the conversation. That's your answer. Asia had me talking crazy this year, but that's because everybody else was talking crazy way early on, so then I had to wake up for time towards the back end like, no, don't y'all get this wrong again. Don't get it wrong again. This is not who's the best on their team or anything like that. This is who's the best in the league. This is the league MVP. So please stop all that silliness talking about who's more impactful on their team. By the way, Asia wins that argument too. We went one and three without her. She impacts both sides of the game. Becky's always been probably, if not my number one supporter here in Las Vegas when it comes to just always rooting for me, always trying to see what's best for me and also our team. But when it comes to having a voice at that table, at that press conference table, she can say some things that I can't necessarily say or either of my teammates can say. And so, yeah, for her to go out there and to really root for me in an area and in a space where I really sometimes don't get rooted for a lot, I appreciate her. If she's the conversation starter, she is the conversation. Wake up with a purpose Hustle with my veins Every sweat drop Feel the drive in my veins I'm built different No, I can't quit Got the focus locked Every target's in my grip Pushing through the pain No limit in sight I'm the one they fear When the day turns to night And it's dead And see I'm born for the crown And when the pressure hits No, I never back down My prediction was Nafisa Collier. And for a long time, I stood on that because Nafisa Collier looked like she was going to be the MVP. And then here comes Asia Wilson and the Aces. And now the conversation's a little bit different. Don't compare Asia to anyone. Because when you do that, now you pull a fire out of her that you should have left alone. I mean, she's averaging 27.4 points per game, 12 rebounds, 2.4 assists. I think that the MVP race is done. I don't want the world to miss her because she's here. She's right now. She's in the prime and she is killing it. She is the best women's basketball player in the world right now. She is the best player in the WNBA. And she is a massive reason, the biggest of reasons, why the Aces have gone and won 16 straight and gone from being a team that we thought might not make the playoffs to being a team that might be the two seed in the WNBA playoffs. Listen, I wanted to bring you guys out here. I need you to go back to training camp and all the work you've put on in between these lines. But you see these banners? That's always the goal. You got to own each moment because you don't know which moment is going to be the one that puts you over the edge. That's all I got. Carolyn, what do you got? We do have some media. Apologies. Carly, could you just let him in? Watching her go on this historic Hall of Fame, I don't even know, this Superman run was amazing because it looked so effortless, but she was also motivating every one of her teammates. Four times, only been the commissioner for five years, four times MVP, back to back, and since 2020 when we were in the bubble and I handed you your first one, I've admired the way you've led with grace, humility, humor, and just one of the greatest players to ever be in this league, to ever play this game, a global icon, a global ambassador, not just for our game, all women's sports and all sports. So we are here to present you with the 2025 WNBA Kia Most Valuable Players. Woo! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! Oh my God! Wait, what? Goodness! Oh my God! What? What? You men in those wigs are going to another league. In the Vegas? No, like, thank you guys, like, more than God, it's just so good. He's been, yeah, he's been, he's been with us through this whole journey and my team knows, like, this ain't been easy for us. It hasn't been easy for us, they counted us out, they rode us all along, but we showed up every single day and we worked our asses off. We worked our asses off and I'm just, this, it has my name on it and it's going to be that, but this one is all of us, y'all. There is no that without each and every last one of you guys. And I just want to thank y'all so much for just putting up with me for one, but also never losing yourselves through this process. Like, we, we've been through it, but we never lost hope and belief in each other and that's what makes this so special and I just can't thank you guys enough. Like, I gotta process it, but I can't, I can't thank you guys enough. And from front office to everybody, just thank you guys for always betting on us. A lot of behind the scenes doesn't go unnoticed, but this isn't done. We still got some work to do, so I'm grateful, so thank you, thank you. Every conversation was, you know, hey, I missed you on this pass, my bad. I gotta get you. I missed that rebound. And every time she felt like she wasn't doing enough, she would come back to the huddle and either empower us and be like, hey, my fault. I need to be there to help. It never was, hey, I need the ball to score 30. Hey, I need, I'm open, pass me, nothing. And to have a superstar like that where it really wasn't about her at all. It was all about just how can I get my team in a better situation? How can I be better for my teammates? That was the best part. Well deserved. You're the only one. The only one. You're the only one. Get your bag home. This, this, you know, people talk about who's on your Mount Rushmore. Asia's on a Mount Rushmore, but she's also Everest. She's at the peak. She's at, she's at the peak and there ain't nobody else up there. She's the only one. And as much as I know you appreciate and everybody appreciates and is so happy for you, they're so happy for you because they love you. They're so happy for you because of how you lead with cameras or no cameras. You are the same person every room you walk into. I give credit to your parents. A hell of a daughter you raised. This is the daughter. If I had daughters, I'd want them to be like her. If I had daughters, I'd want them to be like her. And, you know, this has never been done. This is four times. And I said it today on NBA. If you're the best in the W to ever do it, which I would say you are, it also makes you the best person on the planet and best player on the planet, for sure. Congrats. Going into the season last year, I wanted to say, I wanted to test myself if I could win an MVP in an odd year. I felt like all my MVPs came in even years. I was like, what's going on with odd? Why can't I do it? Once again, Crazy Thoughts by Asia. And I was just like, it was just something I was just trying to do. It wasn't something that I'm like, oh God, yes. I was more so focused on how can we get a championship? What is it going to look like for us? It's really easy for a lot of people to make it about them. Definitely when everyone's talking about them, you're everywhere, you're on this historic run, you're aware of what's going on, but she's always about us. And that's really cool and that's a testament to her character. You look at Asia and you're just like, every year she's just getting better. Every year she adds something new to her game and every year she's just better. And I think this is what makes Asia such a great player is when the lights shine the brightest, she's stepping up to the plate. She don't shy away, she don't back down. We go as she goes, right? And she was just, she'd get a look in her eye and be like, oh this girl is possessed. I hear a lot of people saying like, you don't look like yourself. But it wasn't in some like, girl you look bad, it was in some like, let me get out your way because you are on a tear right now. Gray gets it in, Wilson on the drive, the fade, you bet! Asia Wilson with point one to go! I guess I get into this mode of like, it has to look this way, it's gonna look this way and I'm gonna do it this way. And if you're in my way, I'm so sorry, but you gotta get out of it. But it's funny that people say I look possessed because it's not the first time I heard it, which is scary to me. But I don't know the look, I don't feel it, I just get into a mindset. I'm gonna tell you, I have spent now four seasons with Asia and she has just built different. When she gets between the lines, it is about physical. Here we go, Wilson! The Las Vegas Aces! I know people talk about a lot of different players and I'm not saying they are, she's the GOAT. Okay Asia, I had to get a cheat sheet because you've made so much history, we can't keep updating it. You have become now the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win the scoring title. The MVP, the defensive player of the year and the finals MVP. How did you keep ascending every step of the way for this championship run? Man, God is good. He's been working, I've always said, he's been working on this team from the jump. And for us to be able to celebrate this is truly special. We worked our butts off to get to this point and now it's time to have some fun. But I wish I could take this credit but this is God working, this has nothing to do with me. This is not about X's and O's. This is from what's inside. Asia deserves everything that she is receiving and then some. It's all in his plan and Asia is so rooted in her faith, in her family, in this organization, her friends. She's someone that plays this game at such a high level because she's playing it for the right reasons. She's special and she knows that this talent that she has, it's been in her and it's constantly growing. Like, there is so much more to Asia still. But there is because she is never satisfied. For us to end up on top and for me to check off boxes on my go list, I think that is something that I'm like, okay, that was a successful year for us. That was great, that's what I wanted, cool. But then also on the other side, I'm just like, okay, what's next? Like, I need to know what's next, what can I gear towards, what is something else that we, how can we be better? So yeah, I think I've accomplished something that I checked off my list but I haven't accomplished everything that I want, which is crazy but I'm crazy. Now, I want to be a part of history. I want to continue to write history, create it here within this franchise. So whatever that looks like, that's what's next for me.