It was 83 degrees and sunny when Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson woke up Wednesday morning in Miami, Florida.
The weather offered a reminder of the historic performance by Wilson’s boyfriend, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo that she witnessed Tuesday night.
Adebayo scored 83 points in the team’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center, etching himself into the league’s history books with the second-highest scoring game in NBA history — a performance he said Wilson inspired.
Wilson, who spends her offseasons living with Adebayo in Miami, posted on social media about the accomplishment just like she posted about Wednesday’s temperature.
“Welp. Don’t have the highest career high in the house anymore,” Wilson wrote on Threads from the Heat game during Adebayo’s performance. “But at least it gives me something to go after.”
Wilson’s career high is 53, which is the highest among active players in the WNBA and is tied for the league’s all-time mark.
Although Wilson’s 53 points came years ago in a win over the Atlanta Dream in 2023, she has earned countless awards, records, accolades and championships since then to remain the most decorated player in her household.
Power couple shares success
Last year, Wilson joined Bill Russell as the only players in WNBA or NBA history to win three MVPs and three championships in a four-season span.
The 2025 WNBA MVP award was Wilson’s fourth, setting the league record for most career MVPs.
She racked up a few other awards as she powered the Aces to their third league title in four seasons, becoming the first WNBA or NBA player to win the title, Finals MVP, league MVP, and defensive Player of the Year in the same season in 2025.
It’s hard to remember a milestone moment during that historic campaign of Wilson’s that Adebayo wasn’t there to witness. He often sat courtside with Wilson’s parents at Michelob Ultra Arena throughout the season and even presented her the MVP trophy.
So in a fitting turn of events Tuesday, Adebayo welcomed Wilson to join him at the podium as he addressed reporters on his big night.
“The behind-the scenes, the workouts, the conversations, they’re very motivating and you get inspired every day by that,” Adebayo said of Wilson’s impact on him. “So I’m thankful to have her in my life. She’s gonna cry, by the way.”
With another nod to the woman sitting next to him, Adebayo noted that his performance came after Wilson had finally returned from the week-long European tour she took as part of the promotion for her latest signature shoe with Nike.
She wasn’t there on Sunday night when Adebayo scored 24 points, giving him 10,001 for his career — a milestone Wilson wanted to witness.
“She wanted me to wait,” Adebayo said. “To have 83, the first game she’s here, is very special.”
Wilson admitted that his latest feat made amends, saying, “He’s forgiven.”
“This has been an incredible — game, obviously — but journey, for Bam,” Wilson told reporters while sitting beside Adebayo on Tuesday. “Witnessing it firsthand, the highs and the lows of it. It’s been so much fun.”
There’s no denying that the pair makes a great basketball power couple, a status that reached public knowledge when they were seen together on multiple occasions surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics where they both won gold with Team USA.
“I know he says that I’m his inspiration, but I don’t think he has a clue how much he inspires me to continue to be the person that I am, but to show up for him,” Wilson said. “That’s my biggest goal. Is always, just to be present and show up for him.”
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Callie__Fin on X.
