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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Gamecocks’ Wilson leads AP women’s preseason All-Americans

FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2016, file photo, Washington guard Kelsey Plum, left, drives around Southern California forward Temi Fagbenle, second from left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Seattle. Plum was selected to The Associated Press women's college basketball preseason All-America team Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2016, file photo, Washington guard Kelsey Plum, left, drives around Southern California forward Temi Fagbenle, second from left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Seattle. Plum was selected to The Associated Press women's college basketball preseason All-America team Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

A’ja Wilson admits that when she was young, playing basketball was the furthest thing from her mind.

Now South Carolina’s star is recognized as one of the best players in women’s college basketball as a member of The Associated Press All-America team that was announced Thursday.

“It’s unbelievable. I came from being a little girl who didn’t want to play the sport of basketball,” the 6-foot-5 junior forward said. “I didn’t want to deal with sweating or basketball running. Now, being one of the top five players in the country with such a great group of girls is pretty unbelievable.”

Wilson is joined on the All-America team by Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell, Notre Dame’s Brianna Turner, Baylor’s Nina Davis and Washington’s Kelsey Plum.

“It would be a lot of fun playing with those girls. I’ve been around them, played with and against them,” Wilson said. “I guarantee we wouldn’t lose a game.”