A'ja Wilson is known for dominating on the basketball court, but away from the arena, the WNBA superstar has been quietly building something just as personal: a growing home fragrance brand rooted in family, patience, and purpose.
Wilson recently offered an update on Burnt Wax Candle Co., the candle company she launched alongside her mother. What started as a passion project has evolved into a legitimate small business that mirrors many of the same principles that made her a four-time WNBA MVP—discipline, consistency, and belief in the process.
“The biggest lesson that I’ve carried from basketball to my small business is if you love it and that’s your passion, then no one can stop you,” Wilson said. She explained that the transition from athlete to entrepreneur hasn’t felt foreign. Instead, it has reinforced how similar the two worlds can be when it comes to putting in work without guarantees.
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Launching a business with a parent comes with its own challenges, but Wilson says that dynamic has ultimately strengthened both the company and their relationship. “It’s a lot going into business with a family member, let alone your mother,” she said. “But we have grown tremendously. I think our bond has grown only because through this business, Burnt Wax, we’re growing. We’re thriving.”
Burnt Wax Candle Co. Didn’t explode overnight, and Wilson is clear about that reality. She noted that small businesses often begin as ideas still being pieced together, never fully knowing what they might become. “You never imagine that it’ll be what it is today,” she said, reflecting on the company’s evolution.
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Wilson also pushed back on the notion that athletes operate in a completely different lane than traditional entrepreneurs. From her perspective, success in either space requires adaptability, accountability, and resilience. “Our worlds are so similar as to how we have to go about ourselves in order to be successful as small business owners,” she said.