A’ja Wilson’s pro career began with a winning bet.
In 2018, the W.N.B.A.’s Las Vegas Aces franchise was new to town. The team went all in on its No. 1 overall pick and drafted Ms. Wilson, the University of South Carolina center and 2017-18 college player of the year, for its debut season in the city.
They hit the jackpot. Ms. Wilson helped bring Vegas its first (and second) pro sports championships, as well as a fan base that has flocked to games as she’s racked up awards: Rookie of the Year, three-time league M.V.P., perennial All-Star, Olympic gold medalist. And she recently joined the exclusive club of W.N.B.A players to get their own signature sneaker: the A’One by Nike.
Initially, though, the lights of the city said to be the brightest spot on earth could have overwhelmed the rising talent from Columbia, S.C., who described herself in an interview as “inward” and a “homebody.” She’d visited as a kid with her parents — drawn by her father’s love of rodeo — but moving to Vegas was different. “I never would have imagined living there,” Ms. Wilson said.
Since her arrival, however, the 6-foot-4-inch self-described “Southern girl” has discovered a dimension that aligns with her down-to-earth nature. Understanding that the city has two sides is “the biggest thing that helped me feel at home,” she said, noting that the chaotic Strip and the calmer desert areas parallel Columbia’s vibrant downtown and quieter countryside.
Thanks to this familiar dichotomy, along with a community she describes as “full of love,” Vegas has won a place in her heart. “I’ve fallen in love with the city,” she said. Here are her five favorite places in her new hometown.
1. Barry’s Downtown Prime
Vegas has no shortage of steakhouses, but Barry’s Downtown Prime is a standout for the Aces star. Sure, it features tomahawk rib-eyes and custom tableside cocktails, but Barry’s also holds nostalgic appeal for Ms. Wilson. She initially visited for an event honoring the Aces’ staff and was taken with the ambience and the menu, which she described as “literally for anybody and everybody.” But, she said, the stellar hospitality made Barry’s a go-to for personal celebrations, like her mother’s birthday.
While you can spend your winnings enhancing a dry-aged steak with luxury “bumps” like shaved truffles, Ms. Wilson’s first recommendation is much less precious — Oreo ice cream cake. “It’s embarrassing how much I love sweets,” she said with a laugh.
2. Drai’s
Some milestones call for more than cake, so the Aces took their party to Drai’s after winning the franchise’s first title in 2022. When it comes to occasions like this, Ms. Wilson said the nightclub, located in the Cromwell hotel, “is honestly the epicenter. We know a lot of people are going to be there and they’re going to celebrate us.”
Drai’s offers three distinct experiences: poolside, nightclub and an after-hours spot that operates Thursday through Sunday from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. When not doing a victory lap, Ms. Wilson drops in for acts like Jeezy, a personal favorite and repeat performer at Drai’s.
3. Durango Casino & Resort
If the clubs and the on-court action become too chaotic, Ms. Wilson ventures to her “happy place”: Durango Casino & Resort, about 20 minutes from the Strip, where, she said, “the energy is just right.”
Durango offers gambling, luxury accommodations and concerts, as well as dining options that include upscale spots like Nicco’s for caviar or Wagyu, a 24-hour sports bar called the George, and Wax Rabbit, a speakeasy-style bar specializing in Mexican spirits. But Ms. Wilson prefers a more tranquil scene — an afternoon unwinding in a poolside cabana with friends and family.
For Ms. Wilson, the distance and relative calm of the resort are its selling points. “It’s one of the few spots in town where I can truly relax and still feel like I’m treating myself,” she said.
4. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
Family plays a critical role in Ms. Wilson’s off-court life, and her parents have their own favorites when they visit — like the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. “Every time they come, they just have to go there,” Ms. Wilson said.
The shopping center is home to more than 160 retailers, including luxury brands like Louis Vuitton (a favorite of Ms. Wilson’s). But it’s also an immersive experience in which visitors are transported from Sin City to ancient Rome. Guests can stroll three levels of faux-cobblestoned streets connected by giant spiral escalators, pop into storefronts framed by marble columns and catch theatrical fountain shows in piazza-inspired atriums.
For Ms. Wilson, who finds malls overwhelming at times, one design feature makes a big difference. The Forum’s ceiling is designed to give the illusion of an expansive open sky. “You lose track of time,” she said.
5. “Michael Jackson ONE” by Cirque du Soleil
As a celebrity, Ms. Wilson enjoys some exceptional experiences, but as a player, there’s one she usually misses out on — Aces in-game entertainment. In 2019, however, she was sidelined with an injury and had a chance to catch rehearsals for a halftime performance of “Michael Jackson ONE” by Cirque du Soleil.
“I was blown away at what they were doing just on our court,” she said. That teaser inspired her to take in the full production, which runs at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, also home to the Aces’ home arena.
As a fan of elite performers in any discipline, Ms. Wilson speaks of the show with great reverence — and also restraint. “I don’t want to give too much away because I really want people to go,” she said, but leaves no mystery about her review: “Just amazing — a 10-out-of-10 show.”
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