by: Scott Mamosser
A’ja Wilson’s path to the WNBA Draft began four years ago when she entered the University of South Carolina as the National High School Player of the Year. Her illustrious career wearing the garnet and black of the Gamecocks came to a close on Monday evening, following a 94-65 loss to Connecticut at the regional final in Albany, N.Y., were she recorded a game-high 27 points and eight rebounds.
The three-time SEC Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 Final Four is expected to be the Las Vegas Aces’ No. 1 overall draft choice on April 12. At 6-foot-5, Wilson averaged 22.5 and 12 rebounds per game as a senior, some of the strongest numbers in Division I.
“I think I served my time for the University of South Carolina and the NCAA,” Wilson said following the loss. “I had a great four years, and making the decision to come here was my best decision. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Prior to the regional final, Hall of Fame Connecticut center Rebecca Lobo drew comparisons to herself and Wilson, explaining how they both built the foundation for their program’s first national title.
“Twenty years from now,” Lobo said,” A’ja will be remembered by everyone in South Carolina, no matter what she does from this point on, whether its Olympics or WNBA championships, as the player to give South Carolina its first national championships. She won’t understand that until later.”
The Hopkins native was the only South Carolina-born player on the Gamecocks roster this season and became the program’s career scoring leader. The national championship team was not short of talent. Allisha Gray of the Dallas Wings was named WNBA Rookie of the Year, and Kaela Davis accelerated in her first pro season, as well, but both of the Georgia natives transferred into the Gamecocks program from North Carolina and Georgia Tech. Alaina Coates sat out all of last season for the Chicago Sky with an injury. Even with all of the losses from the roster, Wilson still led the defending champions to a 29-7 record and the SEC tournament title, while the program led the nation in attendance.
“I don’t know exactly what I was thinking,” Wilson said of choosing to play for the Gamecocks. “Coach (Dawn) Staley was doing such a great job, and I wanted to be a part of it. I learned so much from her and my teammates over the course of the past four years. I have had blessing just to compete in the NCAAs. No one believed that we could do any of it, and just to show that it could be done, it’s been a blessing.”
There’s a good chance Wilson will soon be reunited with Staley, who also coaches the U.S. national team, if not for this September’s FIBA World Cup in Spain, but possibly the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
“It’s bittersweet, you have to let her spread her wings and fly in the WNBA and overseas,” Staley said of Wilson. “She’s done so much for our program, our state, our university, and all of the little girls that grow up looking like her; she was a poster child for inspiration and a beacon of hope. I want her to go to Las Vegas and do the same. A’ja was an integral part of taking our program to the next level. There won’t be a lot of A’ja Wilsons left in our game. I’m just really fortunate that I got a chance to coach her for four years, and knock on wood, for very few injuries.”
ESPN analyst Kara Lawson, who played in three Final Fours with Tennessee, also believes Wilson’s legacy is secure.
“She’s been one of the few players who have changed a program,” Lawson said. “There are only a few of them, at least at this level. I hope women’s basketball fans can celebrate one of the great players in the history of the game, and her story will only get better.”
