A’ja Wilson Stuns Fans in Unexpected Gear at WNBA Preseason Opener – and There’s a Wild Story Behind It
Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson made waves before even stepping onto the court for the 2025 WNBA preseason opener — not for her performance, but for her unusual choice of outfit.
Despite being a proud South Carolina alum and a two-time national champion, Wilson shocked fans by showing up in full UConn Huskies gear, including a branded T-shirt and bold navy-and-red striped overalls. The unexpected ensemble quickly became a viral moment, and fans were left wondering: Why would a die-hard Gamecock wear rival colors?
As it turns out, Wilson lost a friendly bet.
The culprit? Kiah Stokes, Wilson’s teammate on the Aces and a former UConn standout. After UConn’s victory over South Carolina in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Stokes cashed in on their wager and forced the reigning WNBA MVP to don the gear of her college nemesis.
“My girl trying to keep it together the best she can,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while another joked, “Kiah did her so dirty!” Even some UConn fans had to admit they felt a bit sorry for her.
Still, others admired Wilson’s integrity. “She always keeps her word — we all love her for that,” another fan praised.
𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀. 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
Thankfully, the outfit was only a pregame talking point. When the ball tipped off, Wilson got back to business. Facing off against the Dallas Wings — and none other than Paige Bueckers, the same player responsible for South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament exit — Wilson delivered a dominant performance. She racked up 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks, powering Las Vegas to an emphatic 112-78 victory.
The Aces are set to return to the court on May 6, when they take on a revamped Phoenix Mercury squad at home. But if one thing’s certain, it’s that Wilson probably can’t wait to get back into her Garnet and Black.
