A’ja Wilson, a three-time WNBA MVP, had her No. 22 jersey retired on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena, the home court where she played during her college years at South Carolina. The arena already honors her legacy with a statue of Wilson, who is the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Over the weekend, Wilson spent time with her former coach Dawn Staley and the current Gamecocks team, who were playing against Auburn. She addressed the team at practice on Saturday and participated in a Q&A session alongside Staley. The two also sat courtside later that evening as South Carolina’s men’s team took on No. 13 Texas A&M.
Wilson’s recognition is well-deserved, as she was a standout player for Staley’s Gamecocks, earning three Southeastern Conference Player of the Year honors. Her most significant achievement came in 2017, when she helped lead South Carolina to its first-ever national championship.
Wilson also set career records at South Carolina for points (2,389) and blocks (363).
A’ja Wilson made history as South Carolina’s first-ever No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, selected by the Las Vegas Aces. Since joining the league, she has earned three MVP titles, including one this past season, and helped lead the Aces to two WNBA championships.
Wilson also played an important role on the U.S. Olympic team, contributing to their gold medal win in Paris this summer.
A’ja Wilson’s journey began just a short distance from South Carolina’s campus, and during her jersey retirement ceremony, Coach Dawn Staley reflected on that in a video shown to the crowd, saying, “Home is where your legacy began.”
As Wilson took the microphone, a fan yelled, “A’ja, we love you!” to which she laughed and responded with a simple, “Thank you.”
She expressed her gratitude to her teammates, coaches, and fans, saying, “It’s a privilege to be a Gamecock, to be a part of this community.”
Wilson became emotional when thanking her parents, saying, “I hope I make you proud.”
A banner with Wilson’s name, her No. 22 jersey, and South Carolina’s logo now hangs alongside the NCAA championship banner she helped win eight years ago.
As she left the court, Wilson was surrounded by current Gamecocks players wearing warm-up shirts with her number. She thanked everyone, saying, “Thank you all for believing in me and for making this moment possible.”