NBA legend Dwyane Wade made a bold comment when asked about whether the best female basketball players in the world could defeat their male counterparts. The WNBA’s surge in popularity over the past year has sparked more basketball dialogue during the NBA offseason, and Wade weighed in on the topic during his appearance on “The Underground Lounge” podcast.
The discussion began with host and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, who shared a common talking point from his friends that no professional female basketball player could beat a professional male player. Williams disagreed, arguing that several WNBA stars could in fact beat some NBA players today.
“You are damn right,” Wade responded. “There are a few. A’ja Wilson can beat a couple. She is smart. One thing about a lot of basketball players is they are not smart. A lot of players only know how to do one or two things. You may just be athletic, and they say, ‘Go be an athlete.’ That’s not your fault. Sometimes they don’t coach you, they just tell you to go be an athlete.”
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The conversation turned to Wade highlighting A’ja Wilson as a historically great player, who could be the exception to the rule. Wade noted how many current NBA players rely heavily on coaching schemes and formulaic play, which makes them struggle when forced to adjust.
“You don’t know the game outside of pick and roll,” Wade explained. “Get into a 1-on-1 with someone like A’ja Wilson, who knows how to play basketball, has crazy footwork and all that—you’re gonna get tore up if you don’t know the game. This isn’t just about being an athlete. You know what I’m saying? Like, ‘I jump higher than you.’ That’s not the thing. She can definitely cook.”
Wade’s point also doubled as a critique of the modern NBA. With so much emphasis on running pick-and-rolls or every team planning to set up corner three-pointers all night, creativity often gets stifled. By contrast, the WNBA has drawn praise for its more varied style of play, with teams needing to find different ways to win night in and night out.
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A’ja Wilson already enjoys strong support from Miami Heat fans, thanks in part to her relationship with Bam Adebayo, with the two becoming basketball’s most beloved couple. Wilson was recently named the WNBA’s co-Defensive Player of the Year, as her third time winning the award, and she remains one of the favorites for league MVP, with the announcement coming soon.
Wade has grown into one of the WNBA’s most vocal supporters, frequently attending games as partial owner of the Chicago Sky and going out of his way to praise Wilson in particular. His Miami ties through Adebayo, combined with his genuine appreciation for the women’s game, have made Wilson a clear favorite to praise.
With the NBA’s All-Star Weekend often searching for new ideas, stronger WNBA involvement has become a popular rumor for the future. Whether or not fans ever see a WNBA player take on an NBA player in real competition, Wade has made it clear he believes it would be a far more competitive matchup than many expect.
Dwyane Wade Says A’ja Wilson Can Beat NBA Players