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A'ja Wilson Wins 2024 Olympics MVP; Breanna Stewart, Gabby Williams in All-Star 5

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVAugust 11, 2024

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 11: Gold medalist A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States poses for a photo during the Women's basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

A'ja Wilson might need to build a second — or third — trophy cabinet at this point.

The Team USA star was honored as the MVP of the 2024 Summer Olympics after helping lift her team to a gold medal in Sunday's final against France. She was also one of two American named to the All-Star squad for the tournament.

FIBA @FIBA

THE MVP OF <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Women's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> ⭐️ <br><br>A'ja Wilson, United States of America 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/9HN4a7tDWH">pic.twitter.com/9HN4a7tDWH</a>

FIBA @FIBA

ALL-STAR FIVE of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Women's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> 💎<br><br>🔹 Gabby Williams, France 🇫🇷<br>🔹 Breanna Stewart, USA 🇺🇸<br>🔹 Alanna Smith, Australia 🇦🇺<br>🔹 Emma Meesseman, Belgium 🇧🇪<br>🔹 A'ja Wilson, USA 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/XyyaoIBwNX">pic.twitter.com/XyyaoIBwNX</a>

Wilson, who was MVP of the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup as well, averaged 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks across six contests in Paris. She put up a double-double (21 points and 13 rebounds) in the 67-66 win over France to clinch an eighth straight gold.

On the heels of leading the Las Vegas Aces to their second successive WNBA title, the 28-year-old staked a strong claim to be the best women's basketball player in the world. Her performance in France cemented that status further.

Stewart was the only other U.S. player to average double figures in scoring (16.3 points) while contributing 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.

Williams was one of the best two-way players at the Summer Games. She filled out the stat sheet (15.5 PTS, 4.7 TRB, 4.8 AST, 2.8 STL) and reminded WNBA fans of what they're missing thanks in part to the league's prioritization rules.

The French forward may have mixed emotions when it comes to the 2024 Olympics, though. While she helped the host country match its best-ever showing, she was mere inches away from sending the final into overtime.

NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympics

UNBELIEVABLE ENDING IN PARIS. 😱<br><br>Gabby Williams banked it in at the buzzer but her FOOT WAS ON THE THREE-POINT LINE. TEAM USA WINS BY A SINGLE POINT.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/DJI7YxfVMl">pic.twitter.com/DJI7YxfVMl</a>

Belgium's Emma Meesseman and Australia's Alanna Smith rounded out the All-Olympics first team. Australia's Ezi Magbegor, Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu, Belgium's Julie Vanloo, Germany's Satou Sabally and France's Valériane Ayayi were named to the second team.