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.

No matter what, I'm gonna achieve all my goals and dreams.

Being taken first by Las Vegas was surreal. Then walking on stage and getting my jersey from WNBA President Lisa Borders, who happens to be a sorority sister. We both are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - which is the oldest African-American sorority dating back to 1908.

Josh Hart and I - we've been close to since we did the Wooden Awards together in college when both of our teams won the national championship. We've always been cool, but I know he always has my back and I always have his.

Our fans love us and love the game because it gives people the chance to come and have fun while watching great basketball.

My goal is to not just to be the best basketball player that I can be, but to also inspire the next generation that looks like me.