Wilson told to tone it down in win over Belgium
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — A’ja Wilson has always shown emotion on the court.
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — A’ja Wilson has always shown emotion on the court.
Whether it’s to pump up her teammates after a great pass or herself after a big basket or block, Wilson uses it to fuel her MVP-level game.
Apparently not everyone is a fan of it. Wilson recalled after the U.S. beat Belgium on Thursday night at the Olympics that one of the officials during the game told her to tone it down.
“I need to, get my emotions in check (he said), and I think that just heightened my emotions even more because I’m like, ‘How are you going to tell me at my job that I can’t show emotion, passion?’” she said. “So I keep my cool. I continue being me. I keep my cool by understanding who I am and who I have around me, and don’t look back and just keep going.”
Wilson said she didn’t plan on changing the way she plays when the U.S. faces Germany on Sunday with first place in their group on the line. Both teams are 2-0 and have already advanced to the quarterfinals in Paris.
“I’m not going to let a defender think that they stopped me. I don’t think I’m ever going to let them off the hook,” she said. “And that’s what I got to keep doing. So to that ref, I’m going to keep yelling.”
Wilson said the official made the comment after he had gone back and looked at a play.
“I’m not telling him don’t blow your whistle, like I’m not telling you how to do your job, don’t tell me how to do mine,” the two-time WNBA MVP said.
