Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson’s trip took her parents, Roscoe and Eva Wilson, from South Carolina to Las Vegas, where they witnessed her win her third WNBA MVP award in five years and break league records.

As the Aces fall to the New York Liberty 1-0 in the WNBA semifinals (Game 2, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) and fight for a spot in the WNBA Finals with hopes of winning a 3rd straight WNBA title, Eva simply sums up her success daughters with the words: “God’s plan in God’s time.”

That’s a sentiment Eva has been consistently posting on social media in the wake of her daughter’s standout season, during which A’ja set recent WNBA single-season records for total points and rebounds. When Wilson was announced as the league’s first unanimous MVP in nearly twenty years, her mother was wearing the jersey black shirt with the phrase front and center written in daring white font.

For Eva, the phrase encompasses all the life lessons she and Roscoe taught their children.

“Everything that happens to (A’ja), every thing that happens to anyone, will occur only when God’s time comes and it’s in accordance with His plan. We’re just waiting to see what happens next,” Eva told Andscape. “I tell A’ji not to fret about all these other things, because guess what, if it’s for you, it’s for you, I imagine in it. I firmly imagine that that is for you, nobody can take it away from you.

This statement was the results of the motherly advice Eva received when A’ja was going through a difficult time. The life lessons the Wilsons instilled of their daughter laid the foundation for her success in the league.

During her MVP speech this season, Wilson thanked her parents for the sacrifices they made and for holding her accountable. Eva believes that with three league MVP awards, two WNBA championships and two Olympic gold medals, her daughter is reaping the harvest of her faith.

“A’ja believes in it. You have to believe with all your heart that this is your time. You do what you have to do. God will do the rest,” Eva said.

“If A’ja can take care of every thing she’s coping with – all these eyes on her, all the different opinions about her, and they typically come from individuals who don’t even know her – but when she will be able to take care of this stuff and still have the opportunity to attain what he does is nothing. But God, that is quite a bit for someone who’s been doing this probably since she was 15 or 16. She really handled it as best as anyone can.

Born and raised in South Carolina, the Wilsons learned from their parents’ experiences and the personal experiences of African Americans fighting racism. Roscoe Wilson got here of age in the Sixties during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. He remembers the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., desegregation and attending an integrated highschool.

The Wilsons are graduates of historically black colleges and universities. Eva Wilson attended South Carolina State University in Orangeburg and majored in business administration. Roscoe Wilson followed in the footsteps of many relations and attended Benedict College in Columbia, where he played basketball for the Tigers. It has been introduced Benedict College Hall of Fame as a player in 2011 According to BenedictAs a sophomore, he was eighth in the country in rebounding, averaging 22.5 rebounds. He was chosen to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference thrice. He focused on school and basketball, and attending an HBCU was key.

“It gave me a sense of security and peace of mind that there were other people around you who were going through what I was going through,” Roscoe said. “We could communicate at this level. Also while watching things happening around us that weren’t very nice for African Americans and harmful to our lifestyle

He recalls his father, Roscoe Sr., praying frequently and his mother, Ethel, who was a professor at Benedict, desperate to serve and help others, traits he sees in his own children. Eva Wilson recalls that her mother Hattie Rakes taught her to work hard, not to chop corners, and never to cheat the process. The Wilsons ensured that their kid’s lives reflected discipline, respect and faith in God.

“I don’t think we did anything extraordinary. We are simply parents, raising children based on how we were raised. That’s all we had to do,” Eva said. “We weren’t trying to be friends. I am your mother. And that’s how it is. Your children require respect, and above all, they must respect you as a parent. That’s what A’ja always did. Everything else is just a blessing.”

Present for the joyful occasion of the birth of their daughter, who’s knowledgeable athlete, the Wilsons witnessed the challenges and pressures that Black women face in the highlight – from negative comments on social media to nagging questions on their daughter.

“People only know about themselves what A’ja lets them know about themselves,” Wilson’s mother said. “You do not know her beyond what she lets about herself. You cannot imagine every thing you see on social media and skim about her.

“As you start to climb higher and higher, the more people will come and say what they think they can say about you, even though they don’t even know you.”

In a season where players have been vocal about fan comments, the WNBA issued an announcement Condemning racist, derogatory and threatening comments towards players. An emotional Wilson said during her MVP speech to her teammates, “There are days where I hate being A’ja Wilson.”

“It’s Hard” Wilson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It’s really hard to just navigate a world that doesn’t necessarily want you to succeed, or that has to constantly wonder why you’re succeeding. And it gets exhausting because I’m literally just here to do my job. I’m here to play basketball. I’m here to have fun and bring people together by watching me play. So when passive aggressiveness and the racist conditioning that comes along with it, it’s sometimes hard to deal with.”

For parents, it was overwhelming to see their daughter frequently ridiculed on social media platforms. While they resisted the temptation to clap online, they as an alternative provided encouragement.

“The point is, to whom much is given, much is anticipated, so that you take care of it as best you’ll be able to. It doesn’t necessarily mean you may be prepared to handle all of it,” her father said. “If you wish help, you wish help. I do not think it’s any different from the others.

“We just listen. We’re just sitting there and making sure he has the support and love he needs.”

During the first round of the WNBA playoffs against the Seattle Storm, Wilson’s parents jumped on the court with joy when their daughter made a superb play or jumped in anger after missed calls. They described watching their daughter achieve her life goals as a blessing.

“I’m glad she chose basketball,” her father said with a broad smile. “I’m completely happy since it’s something she found her way into. I told her, ‘Listen, you’ve gotten to commit to being excellent. Don’t cheat the game. She took it literally and went through the roof with it.

There’s an enormous sense of gratitude and pride when someone mentions their daughter’s name as one in all the best players in the league. The Wilsons also feel proud when teammates praise their daughter.

Defensive Aces Kelsey Plum described Wilson as a lightweight who’s MVP on the court and as an individual. Aces guard Sydney Colson publicly thanked Wilson in a post on X, formerly often called Twitter. The Wilsons imagine it was a manifestation of what that they had been in a position to pour into their daughter throughout her life.

“A’ja is a superb soul. I feel she’s been there before,” her father said. “It was all the time obvious that he was a superb person. Being a world-class athlete got here later.

“That is why we never urged A’ji to do anything apart from to have a relationship with God in his own way. She follows the rules she has set for herself. She shows in TV shows, magazines and programs that she is just throughout her. It makes us proud that we did some things right.

While the Wilsons are pleased with their daughter’s record-breaking achievements, they imagine their daughter’s true legacy is what she achieved outside of basketball.

“Basketball is just a vehicle. I believe A’ja was destined to impact the lives of other people, especially young people,” her mother said. “Basketball just gave her a wider and larger platform.

“But I strongly believe that because of her makeup and DNA, she would be able to impact other people’s lives.”

Depending on your perspective, college football’s current landscape when it comes to paying players is either too radical or doesn’t go far enough. From my perspective, the conversation is on the goal line and wishes a little push. Thank goodness for former NFL linebacker Reggie Bush recreating one in all his most iconic players game.

Bush’s final push is lawsuit against his alma mater, USC, the PAC-12 and the NCAA, looking for damages for the usage of his name, image and likeness during his time with this system. According to Bush’s lawsuit, these entities continually made money from him – while he was a student-athlete, an NFL player and beyond.

Bush’s attorneys also said in a press release that after Bush left USC to play within the NFL, the three entities continued to financially profit from his popularity “without any recognition of his contributions.”

“This case is not just about seeking justice for Reggie Bush,” said Evan Selik, one in all the lawyers representing Bush. “This is about setting a precedent for fair treatment for all college athletes. Our goal is to right this injustice and pave the way for a system where athletes are rightly recognized, rewarded and treated fairly for their contributions.”

Today’s gamers could make decisions that previous generations lacked. UNLV quarterback Matt Sluka and point guard Michael Allen announced they’ll redshirt and be out for the remainder of the yr on account of a NIL dispute.

“I committed to UNLV based on certain representations made to me that were not maintained after my enrollment” – Sluka published on X. “Despite the discussions, it has become clear that these commitments will not be implemented in the future. I wish my teammates all the best this season and look forward to continued success in the program.”

Sluka has the leverage and subsequently the conviction to make this very difficult decision: give me my money or I won’t attack. However, if Sluka was promised something and didn’t receive it, it’s an injustice just like what Bush’s lawyer described.

Injustice. Now we’re talking. Paying college players is not just a labor rights issue – it’s a civil rights issue.

In 2022The National College Players Association has filed a civil rights grievance with the U.S. Department of Education against Division I schools. “This multibillion-dollar sports enterprise imposes discriminatory practices that disproportionately harm Black athletes while mostly white coaches and administrators earn millions of dollars,” Ramogi Huma, the association’s executive director, said in a statement.

The concept of the “student-athlete” was created by the NCAA within the Nineteen Fifties to avoid having to treat college athletes as employees. Ray Dennison, a Fort Lewis A&M lineman, suffered a skull contusion during a game in 1955 and died. When his widow applied for the death profit, it was initially approved but was rejected on appeal. Why? Because Dennison was neither a “student” nor an “employee.”

What would the NCAA do to perpetuate the lie? Simple. Smear black athletes.

OJ Simpson, who worked at USC from 1967-68, was allowed to maintain his Heisman Trophy after he was convicted of armed robbery charges in 2008. Bush was stripped of the trophy for 14 years, only getting it back after The NIL made his excommunication an unquestionable hypocrisy. USC treated him like a pariah, though his highlights remain in our imaginations. Bush didn’t give the sport a black eye, he gave it a black eye – pride and distinction. NCAA prohibited the news can be black.

Michigan forward Chris Webber and his great five brothers suffered a similar fate on the university after it was discovered that he and 4 other players had borrowed $616,000 from Michigan State coach Ed Martin. Webber first said he had no financial relationship with Martin, but then said he had borrowed money from him. They were crushed when the university initiated a long separation from the group missed victories and imposed sanctions on itself in 2002. Mary Sue Coleman, then the university’s president, called it a “day of great shame.” Webber responded to college sanctions saying, “It was just heartbreaking because we gave everything to Michigan. They recruited us, asked us to come there, and we wanted to.”

The rhetoric about “unacceptable benefits” has never convinced me identical to Jalen Rose and Webber’s comment An ESPN documentary during which the 2 lamented that they didn’t receive a dime from T-shirt sales. Like Bush, the Fab Five were icons, and the true crime was their inability to money in on their fame.

When Cam Newton was Auburn’s quarterback – should you’ll let opposing SEC fans say it back then – he was a cheater. The truth is that, like Michigan coach Ed Martin, Cecil Newton, Cam Newton’s father, saw through the student-athlete’s lie. According to the documents, Cecil Newton and former Mississippi State player Kenny Rogers demanded between $120,000 and $180,000 for the Bulldogs quarterback to contract, but didn’t ask every other school for money. “Cecil Newton’s Gap” which allowed Cam Newton to play in Auburn’s 2010 national championship game became a legend (or a lie, depending on your viewpoint) and, after initial uncertainty, was deemed eligible to play.

From my perspective, there was one other lie beyond the student-athlete narrative.

While Newton, the Fab Five and Bush were criticized, quarterback Johnny Manziel, who played at Texas A&M, was respected though his father had the identical forward-thinking philosophy as Cecil Newton. Manziel won the Heisman Trophy as a freshman in 2012, which earned him $37 million in media coverage, based on the Netflix documentary. Texas A&M raised a record $740 million in donations through the fiscal yr Manziel won the Heisman, which was $300 million greater than he ever raised.

“It’s spring 2014, December 2013.” Manziel said on the show episode Shannon Sharpe Podcast. “I’m preparing to make a decision if I’m going to enter the NFL draft or stay… My dad went to fulfill Kevin Sumlin. And I actually reached out to him personally and said, “We’ll take $3 million and stay for the next two years.” The university turned them down and Manziel declared for the NFL draft.

In my opinion, Bush should not be the one player demanding compensation for ZERO money lost.

Some see the NIL era as opening Pandora’s box, but evil has already been built into the language of not paying college athletes. Maybe it is the three-letter acronym NIL, which stands for name, image and likeness, but I still don’t see zero within the proposition of paying players because those funds are paid by third parties, not schools, conferences or the NCAA.

This is mental dishonesty at best and blatant robbery at worst.

However, Pandora’s Box will not be only a story about evil, but additionally about hope. How fitting that the story began with a basketball player from USC’s rival, UCLA. Forward Ed O’Bannon took on the NCAA and won in 2014 when a the judge ruled that the NCAA cannot stop players from selling the rights to their name, image and likeness, which might pave the best way for NCAA Policy Change in 2021.

Now, in line with the familiar promotion, Bush has finally pulled as much as The Heisman House. But that is not enough. He wants the entire neighborhood and I hope a few of his famous brothers follow suit.

Not one for hyperbole, Washington franchise legend Doug Williams selected his words fastidiously.

After greater than 46 years within the NFL, Williams has seen enough to know that one great game doesn’t guarantee a Pro Football Hall of Fame profession. He’s the established, starting quarterback for the Commanders Jayden Daniels caught Williams’ attention.

“When you draft a quarterback as high as we did, you have to be happy with what you’ve seen so far,” Williams told Andscape on Tuesday. “But really, considering what he’s doing… I’m still trying to know the way it all happened. And one night you only don’t see it in a young guy.

After his breakout performance in a 38-33 road victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on , Daniels is each the talk of the league and a (very) early favorite for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. How could he not be at the highest of the list after dealing a series of crushing blows to the Bengals?

Completing 91.3% of his passes – he did not connect with Washington receivers only twice in 23 attempts – Daniels set an NFL rookie record en path to being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He also had 254 passing yards, two passing yards and one rushing touchdown, while continuing to display exceptional pocket presence and elite elusiveness as a running back.

In just his third profession start, Daniels led Washington in scoring on all six possessions (excluding kneels). The Commanders have been out of punts since Week 1 and haven’t committed a turnover this season. Add all this up and it’s no surprise that the team starts the match with a 2-1 record.

The Commanders and their long-suffering fans were eagerly waiting for a passer to steer them out of the NFL desert. While Williams is not yet able to anoint Daniels because the Commanders’ savior, he said Daniels looks as if the fitting person for the job.

“We have a starting quarterback, a rookie, and we’ve not hit the ball in two weeks. said Williams, senior adviser to the commander. “(Monday) night was really something. You don’t expect that after the last two matches without points. But really, you’ll be able to’t ask for more from a rookie in all three games up to now.

Entering week three, Daniels, the second overall pick within the 2024 draft, was already off to one of the best start amongst six signal-callers chosen in the primary round, tying a record set in 1983. a canyon-sized gap between Daniels and the remainder of the pack: The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner leads the NFL in completion percentage with a formidable 80.3%.

With the Arizona Cardinals scheduled to host the Commanders in Week 4, Washington’s charter plane headed straight to Phoenix after the team’s victory over Cincinnati. The next morning, Williams woke up desperate to watch game film.

After graduating, Williams had much more reasons to smile.

“Even if he misses a player or two here or there, he makes up for it with a positive streak or something like that,” Williams said. “Every time they scored, we scored. He was all the time capable of answer the bell. And once I have a look at this guy, he never gets offended.

“What really stands out about him is that he’s on top of things in any respect times. He’s never in a rush. This is unheard of for a novice. Again, you only don’t see novices having that much composure, especially (after just three starts). Believe me, I do know.

Williams’ iconic, myth-busting Super Bowl performance got here when he led Washington to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988. Williams became the primary black passer to begin within the Super Bowl and won the sport’s MVP award.

Although Williams was not drafted by the brass and only played 14 games for the team over 4 seasons, the entire black quarterbacks on the team accomplish that in his shadow. The club also drafted Jason Campbell (2005, twenty fifth overall), Robert Griffin III (2012, 2nd overall) and Dwayne Haskins (2019, fifteenth overall) in the primary round.

Williams understands there will likely be no tempering of expectations amongst Washington fans immediately. That’s not realistic after Daniels’ first signature performance, “but he’s still going to have his ups and downs,” Williams cautioned. “He will still must undergo some things. He’s not immediately inducted into the Hall of Fame after Monday night.

“You also understand the work he does. You’ll be hard-pressed to see a rookie quarterback doing what he’s doing after just three games. And what he does, he does due to the person he’s. No matter what happens, he’s the identical guy each day. He’s cool. He is selective. That’s what I’m going to say about it.”

Enough said. For Washington, Daniels does the heck out of it. And Williams is here for it.