Standing at center court, A’ja Wilson stood with her parents at her side as they raised her number 22 to the rafters as fans gave a rousing ovation for Las Vegas Aces star, A’ja Wilson.
A’ja Wilson shook as the tears rolled down her face.
Per South Carolina athletic department, just because the jersey is retired does not mean that the number is.
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South Carolina coach Dawn Staley made it very clear that no one will wear number 22 ever again in the South Carolina program.
During the ceremony, Wilson said, “South Carolina shaped me, not just as an athlete but as a person.”
“As I look in the rafters and see my jersey, I am reminded how important it is to chase your dreams without fear,” Wilson continued.
In her four years at South Carolina, A’ja Wilson was able to build quite a résumé.
She was the only player in their program’s history to be named an All-American all four years of her colligate career and the unanimous national player of the year in 2018.
Wilson reacts to her jersey in the rafters https://x.com/SECNetwork/status/1886099924556665079
In 2015, Wilson helped guide the Gamecocks to their first women’s Final Four and brought South Carolina their first national championship.
“It’s a privilege to be a Gamecock, to be a part of this community,” Wilson said.
She continued “Thank you all for believing in me and for making this moment possible.”
A’ja Wilson also became the first player in the SEC to win player of the year three times. Wilson is also the program’s leading scorer with 2,389 points and 363 blocks over her four-year career.
Coach Staley said, “What she means to our program is legendary.”
Staley continued, “You think of legendary as what they do on the court, but the magic of A’ja is all the other stuff. It’s OK to come to a local college, university, and take on the pressures. It’s a pressure thing because you are doing it in front of all of the people that know you. You only want to do well in front of them… Because of A’ja, we continue to get the top talent. And our fans, they create an experience that if you don’t come here, you feel like you’re missing out.”
Not only did the Gamecocks honor one of the program’s most beloved players, but they also got a 83-66 win against Auburn to celebrate the moment. It was the team’s 70th home win.
