WNBA powerhouse A'ja Wilson, fresh off being named TIME Athlete of the Year, is looking beyond the court, expressing excitement about the prospect of starting a family with her partner, NBA star Bam Adebayo.

The Las Vegas Aces forward, who clinched her second WNBA championship in 2023, shared her long-term aspirations during her recent interview for the TIME recognition, indicating that building a family is a mutual dream for the couple.

“That is always a dream,” Wilson told TIME. “This is my life partner. Honestly, what on earth was my world before you? That’s how much he’s impacted my life, my family’s life.”

Wilson’s remarks shed light on the strong bond she shares with the Miami Heat center, and how integrated Adebayo has become within her close-knit family.

The connection is particularly evident among Wilson’s younger relatives. She humorously recounted moments that illustrate Adebayo’s popularity within her family circle. Wilson noted that her younger cousin, Roscoe, sometimes calls and asks for Adebayo, prompting Wilson to jokingly introduce herself as the "blood daughter."

Wilson also described feeling playfully sidelined in her own family’s communication when sharing news with her mother, Eva.

“I’ll text her mom some piece of info. ‘Bam already told me,’ Eva replies,” Wilson shared. “’I didn’t know I was outside the group chat,’ says Wilson. ‘I thought we are all in this to-ge-ther.’”

Even her preteen nephew, who Wilson says acts indifferent toward "Aunt A'ja," reportedly lights up around "Uncle Bam," a dynamic Wilson jokes about.

“I’m like, ‘You don’t know him,’” Wilson said of her nephew's enthusiasm for Adebayo. “‘He just got here.’”

The comments from one of the WNBA’s most decorated players offer a glimpse into the personal joy and familial future she is building with Adebayo, continuing a strong year for Wilson both on and off the court.