{
  "id": 10172745,
  "title": "‘It kind of hurts me’ – A’ja Wilson finally reveals why she had been distant from her fans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/it-kind-of-hurts-me-aja-wilson-finally-reveals-why-she-had-been",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-27T08:08:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kind-hurts-ja-wilson-finally-080815818.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A'ja Wilson, a 30-year-old basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces, has recently spoken about her decision to distance herself from the public eye. The four-time MVP, who has been averaging 26.2 points and 9.4 rebounds this season, explained that her withdrawal was necessary for her mental well-being. Wilson admitted that she was 'kind of hurt' by the negative attention surrounding her absence from Team USA's FIBA World Cup, which she missed out on. She revealed that she had been struggling mentally and decided to 'disconnect' from the outside world, feeling that this step was more significant than any physical break she could have taken. The Aces forward said that stepping away from the spotlight allowed her to focus on her role with the team and support her fellow players. Wilson is now in excellent form, averaging over 25 points per game, and is well-rested as she heads into the playoffs. Her parents will be present for the upcoming game against the Indiana Fever, where she is expected to continue her impressive performance and help guide the Aces to victory.",
  "summary": "A’ja Wilson has opened up on why she chose to stay away from the limelight of the outside world and how that has helped her this season. The 30-year-old has averaged 26.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}