A'ja Wilson

Greatness takes a lot of time.

When I was growing up, the hardest part for me was that when I looked around I didn't see anyone who looked like me. If my school was 10% Black, it was probably 3% Black girls. All the teachers - shout-out to them - were white. Except one. We had one Black female teacher.

As Black women, there's so much pressure on us to be everything to everyone. We're expected to wear so many different hats, and to juggle so many different roles - and to do it all with a smile.

I was a really weird kid. My head was huge. I had a skinny body, long arms. My kneecaps were oddly big. I was awkward, quiet, shy. When I would smile, I would never really show my teeth.

Playing around some of the best ever to play has been a lot of fun, seeing their basketball IQ and their knowledge.

I was a kid who liked hanging out at home, watching TV, and having the occasional sleepover at a friend's. I wasn't trying to be outside shooting 1,000 free throws in the driveway before the sun came up every morning.