When it comes to Halloween, WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson doesn’t just play along—she dominates. This year, the Las Vegas Aces forward decided to keep her annual costume game alive by going for a bold—and by bold, we mean bonkers—move: dressing up as the entire main cast of the 1997 animated classic Recess. You read that right. A’ja didn’t just pick one character; she said, “Why be one, when I can be all six?”
Wilson’s Instagram post sent fans into a frenzy as she unveiled six separate costumes, each nailing the distinct personalities of the Recess crew. Leading the pack was Wilson as the iconic troublemaker and schemer-in-chief, T.J. Detweiler. With his trademark red cap, white T-shirt, and jeans, Wilson channeled the mischievous charm of the elementary school legend who somehow convinced his friends to break 90% of playground rules. But she didn’t stop there—no, that would be too basic for a Halloween pro like A’ja.
She followed up with a spot-on impersonation of Mikey Blumberg, the gentle giant with a poetic soul. Brown pants, a blonde wig, and the kind of calm expression you’d expect from a kid who could recite Shakespeare while finishing off a tray of cafeteria mac and cheese.
Oh, but there’s more. A khaki shirt and a pair of glasses transported Wilson into the world of Gus Griswald, the awkward new kid with the most severe case of over-achiever meets underdog syndrome the playground has ever seen. Naturally, she also channeled her inner athlete (surprise!) to bring Vince LaSalle to life—complete with a basketball-ready look, because of course she did. Vince was the cool one with hoop dreams, after all.
Rounding out her homage to the Recess crew was Gretchen Grundler, nerdy to the core, and Ashley Spinelli, the pint-sized tough girl who’d probably knock you out if you looked at her funny. And yes, Wilson wore the essential orange beanie for Spinelli—because no one cuts corners when you’re cosplaying one of TV’s sassiest rebels.
A’ja’s Halloween Hall of Fame
If you’re surprised by Wilson’s Halloween creativity, you clearly haven’t been paying attention. She’s been doing this for a while now, turning Halloween into her personal NBA Finals of costumes. Last year, she transformed into the entire cast of Codename: Kids Next Door. One day she was rocking Nigel Uno’s black sunglasses, the next she was decked out in Kuki Sanban’s green sweater, complete with stuffed animals. Yes, she even donned the bowl cut of Wallabee Beetles. No one is safe from her full ensemble domination.
Oh, and don’t forget 2022’s masterpiece, where she morphed into every character from Scooby-Doo. From Fred’s overly confident blue ascot to Daphne’s fabulously impractical purple dress, Wilson embodied the essence of Mystery Inc.—and she even gave us Scooby himself.
Let’s be real—at this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if Wilson went full Thanos next year and just snapped her fingers, becoming the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe in one go. A girl can dream, right?
The Real MVP of Halloween
While some athletes post up at fancy parties in generic superhero costumes or, worse, just grab a pair of animal ears and call it a day, A’ja Wilson continues to set the bar astronomically high. She’s not just competing in the WNBA; she’s making a serious case for being the GOAT of Halloween too.
A’ja Wilson isn’t just a basketball player. She’s a Halloween legend, and at this rate, she might have to start handing out trophies for costume excellence—because who else can say they’ve been literally everyone from a Saturday morning cartoon lineup?
The question on everyone’s mind now is: What could possibly be next? Stay tuned, because whatever Wilson cooks up for Halloween 2025, it’s bound to be way bigger than a simple pumpkin spice latte and some candy corn.
