When it comes to South Carolina basketball, A’ja Wilson is nothing short of royalty. Her impact on the Gamecocks’ program is immortalized on campus with a statue honoring her leadership in guiding South Carolina to the NCAA title in 2017.
Fresh off winning her third WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces and securing her fourth league MVP Award, Wilson recently returned to where it all began. On Saturday, she attended the South Carolina/Alabama football game, as covered by the SEC Network. Currently, South Carolina holds a 4-3 record this season and faced off against the storied Alabama program, ranked No. 4 with a 6-1 record.
A’ja Wilson’s journey to professional stardom began when she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Prior to that, she left an indelible mark on South Carolina basketball. Over her collegiate career, Wilson became a three-time SEC Player of the Year in 2016, 2017, and 2018. She set the all-time scoring record at South Carolina with 2,389 points and also holds the program record for most blocks with 363.
Wilson, along with head coach Dawn Staley, played a pivotal role in putting South Carolina women’s basketball on the national map. Their 2017 championship victory was just the beginning; under Staley’s leadership, the Gamecocks went on to win two more NCAA titles in 2022 and 2024. Earlier this year, South Carolina further honored Wilson by retiring her jersey, a testament to her lasting legacy.
### A’ja Wilson: The Beginning of a Pipeline to Success
Wilson’s ascendance has paved the way for several prominent South Carolina players to transition smoothly into the WNBA. Shortly after Wilson’s departure, Aliyah Boston followed in her footsteps by leading the Gamecocks to another national championship. In 2023, Boston was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever and earned the Rookie of the Year Award that season.
The following year, South Carolina continued their dominance by winning their third national championship with an impressive undefeated 38-0 record. That spring, Kamilla Cardoso was drafted by the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Draft.
Other Gamecocks who have made a name for themselves in the WNBA include Tiffany Mitchell, Zia Cooke, Allisha Gray, Te-Hina Paopao, and Tyasha Harris. However, it all started with A’ja Wilson’s trailblazing career — a true legend whose influence continues to inspire the next generation of South Carolina stars.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/south-carolina-football-news-aja-wilson-gamecocks-alabama