We recently sat down with WNBA veteran A’ja Wilson and F1 Academy rookie Lisa Billard to learn more about the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) and their own personal strategies for rest and recovery.

TOGETHXR: Hi, Lisa! You've just signed with Gatorade, and you’re going to be part of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. How do you think that being a part of that will help you with your training and your performance? 

LISA BILLARD: For me, working with Gatorade and preparing for my season will be a good opportunity to understand better ways to manage travel and develop key habits, as well as nutrition and hydration, because it's very important as an athlete. 

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TOGETHXR: A’ja — as part of your work with the GSSI, you met with the F1 Academy drivers in Vegas to talk about the importance of performance supports like nutrition, recovery, and hydration. What's the biggest piece of advice you had for the drivers?

A’JA WILSON: I hope that they understood how serious you have to take it. Like, the same amount of time we put into our training and into our craft, we have to equally put into the recovery, nutrition, and hydration of it all. Coming from someone who didn't do that at the beginning of my career, I wish I could turn back the clock on it and really dive into it more. Who knows the type of athlete and the body that I would have today? Even though I'm grateful for it. But it makes that much of a difference when you actually take it seriously. So I hope that's a piece of advice taken, knowing that this is equally as important as what you do on the track. 

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TOGETHXR: How do you personally relax and refill your cup when you're not training? 

LISA: It might sound weird for a 16-year-old, but racing is everything to me, and I never really switch it off. I train very hard to reach my goals. For me, training is how I relax. When I'm not racing, I spend time with my family — but, to be completely honest, sport is really what I'm spending all my free time on. I love rock climbing or running whenever it's possible. When it's possible, I just go karting, and that's what makes me happy and relaxed. 

A’JA: Ooh, I'm a skincare girlie, so I love taking care of my skin — whether that's just a simple facial or a deep dive into microneedling and the whole shebang. I love movies and TV shows. Also, I like escape rooms. Escape rooms have become my love. I love thinking. I love turning my brain on (even though I should be resting it).

TOGETHXR: What do you hope that other young female athletes watching you learn about the importance of recovery and self-care?

LISA: I hope young drivers take inspiration from this partnership and recognize that nutrition, hydration, and recovery are key ingredients to performing at the highest level, no matter what series you are racing in.

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TOGETHXR: A’ja, was there a specific moment in your career when you realized you needed to step up your recovery routine? 

A’JA: Absolutely. I remember in AAU, I would play three games off of Wendy's, and be like, let's cook. My body's not like that anymore. I could never do that. The moment would have to be the Bubble. I think COVID really made me understand how important hydration and recovery are. In the bubble, we were playing every other day. It was a lot. In that moment, I said, “No, I have to get my rest. I have to make sure that I am getting a cold tub or literally replenishing everything that my body just gave.” What people don't understand is how much sweat we do lose and how we can really replenish that, obviously through Gatorade, which has been a staple of everyone's life growing up. So it's kind of cool to see it all come together now. That's late in my career, when you really think about it. 

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TOGETHXR: What kind of tools or routines have you developed to help you manage the mental side of athletics, like stress, sleep quality, and mental fatigue? 

A’JA: My biggest thing is just unplugging. I put my phone on D&D [do not disturb], and I kind of literally just shut everything off in my mind, my body, and I'm just in a good space. With my candle business, I'm quick to light a candle and get that aromatherapy. I'm also constantly in a cold tub or in the boots and just replenishing myself with any type of fuel that I can get that's good for me, whether that's Gatorade, whether that's the water now that we have with Gatorade, that's pretty good.

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TOGETHXR: What’s your advice for other young athletes? 

LISA: Do it if you are scared, do it if you’re tired. Don’t let anything stop you if you are passionate. 

A’JA: Don't just think about the wins and the losses. Enjoy the moment, because the moments go by so quickly that you kind of forget them, in a sense. Especially at a young age, when you're just trying to prove everybody right or wrong about you, you tend to miss out on the moment. Always embrace it and enjoy the moment.