Carmelo Anthony’s daughter idolizes one of the faces of the WNBA originally appeared on Sports news. Add The Sporting News as Favorite source by clicking here.
In naming his podcast’s 2025 Athlete and Person of the Year, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Anthony ‘doubled down’ The Aces of Las Vegas superstar A’ja Wilson, who won her fourth WNBA MVP award and third WNBA championship in a stellar calendar year.
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Anthony explained that his eight-year-old daughter, Genesis, idolizes Wilson – who is arguably the best player in WNBA history at just 29 years old.
“His voice is powerful, it’s impactful,” Anthony said on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. “My daughter looks up to A’ja Wilson. She stamped her flag.”
Wilson’s marketability was evident in the introduction of his signature Nike shoe, the A’One, last May; it sold out on Nike’s website within minutes. She was able to use her platform as a public figure to speak out on behalf of her fellow players, as well as a book about her upbringing in South Carolina, “Dear black girls,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2024.
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MORE: A’ja Wilson is The Sporting News’ 2025 Female Athlete of the Year
Anthony argued that Wilson had a LeBron James-like impact, not only on the WNBA, but on women’s sports as a whole. He’s impressed by her ease in using her voice and experiences – not to mention her talent – ​​to transform The W as it enters a new era.
“LeBron James understands this role,” Anthony said. “A’ja has that type of impact when it comes to women’s soccer and being the face of women’s sports. For so long we had Serena (Williams). Now we have A’ja.”
