A’ja Wilson and Jordan Chiles Receive TIME Women of the Year Honors

WNBA star A’ja Wilson and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles have been named to TIME’s 2025 Women of the Year list, celebrating their achievements on and off the court. The two athletes, who share a deep respect for one another, are featured on the cover of the annual issue, which recognizes 13 trailblazing women shaping a more equitable future.

Wilson, a three-time WNBA MVP and back-to-back champion with the Las Vegas Aces, has dominated women’s basketball while also advocating for gender and racial equity in sports. This year, she made history by becoming the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a single season and released her best-selling book, Dear Black Girls. Wilson also unveiled her new A’One sneaker with Nike, making her the first Black WNBA player in over a decade to have a signature shoe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TIME (@time)

Chiles, known for her viral routines and unwavering determination, helped Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics. She made headlines for her Beyoncé-inspired floor routine, which initially earned her a bronze medal before being controversially rescinded. While unable to speak about the case, Chiles has continued to inspire young gymnasts and advocates for increased diversity in the sport. Her memoir, I’m That Girl, is set for release in March.

In their TIME interview, the two athletes opened up about the pressures of being in the spotlight, navigating criticism, and the importance of using their platforms to uplift others. Wilson reflected on the challenges of being a Black woman in the WNBA, while Chiles emphasized the need for representation in gymnastics.

“You work so hard, but you still have to work 10 times harder just to be seen,” Wilson shared. “A lot of people don’t want to see me at the top, but I worked my butt off to get here.”

Both Wilson and Chiles will be honored at the TIME Women of the Year Gala on Feb. 25 in Los Angeles, alongside other recipients who include actor and producer Nicole Kidman, artist Laufey, actor Anna Sawai, reproductive rights activist Amanda Zurawski, Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Gambian women’s rights activist Fatou Baldeh, activist and author Raquel Willis, actor and breast cancer awareness advocate Olivia Munn, co-founder and CEO of Bobbie Laura Modi, conservationist Purnima Devi Barman, and Gisèle Pelicot, a voice for survivors of sexual violence.