Women's Fastbreak On SI

Dawn Staley Jokes About Initial Opinion of A'ja Wilson's Game Before South Carolina

South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley wasn't sold on superstar A'ja Wilson after her first impression.
Grant Young|
Mar 4, 2018; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley celebrates with forward A'ja Wilson (22) after a win over the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs during the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Mar 4, 2018; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley celebrates with forward A'ja Wilson (22) after a win over the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs during the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

By the time her career is over, Las Vegas Aces superstar and 2024 WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson could go down as the best post player in the history of women's basketball.

Wilson would not have gotten to this point without Dawn Staley. Wilson spent four seasons playing for the legendary Gamecocks coach at South Carolina before becoming the No. 1 pick of the 2018 WNBA Draft.

Wilson having won a National Championship at South Carolina also adds to her impressive legacy. And this legacy is being immortalized on Sunday, February 2, as her No. 22 is being retired in the rafters of the Gamecocks' Colonial Life Arena.

Andscape's Sean Hurd wrote a January 29 article about this jersey retirement ceremony. At one point, Staley's initial reaction to Wilson before she signed to South Carolina was conveyed.

A’ja “was good at everything but basketball,” Staley joked in the article, recalling when Wilson attended Staley's local basketball camp before college.

“She was tall,” Staley added. “I don’t even think basketball was in the forefront of her mind.”

Of course, Wilson ultimately won Staley over enough so that the two teamed up at South Carolina — and the rest is history.

Later on in the article, Staley said, "When people have contributed to their university, their athletics department, their city, their state, and then nationally, it’s only fitting that we honor them. A’ja is probably the top of the top when it comes to what she’s meant to our program." 

Sunday, February 2 will be a special moment for Staley, Wilson, and the entire South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball program.

Published
Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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