COLUMBIA, S.C. — Three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson’s South Carolina No. 22 jersey was raised to the rafters Sunday at Colonial Life Arena, her college home court that already features a statue of the program’s all-time leading scorer outside the main entrance.
Wilson spent the weekend around coach Dawn Staley and the current group of Gamecocks, who beat Auburn 83-66 for the program’s 56th consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season victory as they improved to 21-1 overall and 9-0 league play this season. Wilson spoke to the players at practice Saturday and had a question-and-answer session alongside Staley before both sat courtside that night as the South Carolina men’s basketball team hosted No. 13 Texas A&M.
It was a fitting honor for Wilson, the 6-foot-5 prep wonder from South Carolina who became a three-time SEC player of the year for Staley’s Gamecocks. The pinnacle came in 2017, when Wilson helped the program to its first national title.
Wilson also became South Carolina’s career leader in points (2,389) and blocks (363), and then the Gamecocks’ first No. 1 WNBA draft pick when she was chosen by the Las Vegas Aces. She has won three league MVP awards, including this past season, and a pair of WNBA championships with the Aces.
Wilson also was part of the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in Paris last summer.