A sweet moment between two of women’s basketball’s finest!
South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley recently called former player and WNBA star A’ja Wilson to let her know they will be retiring her school jersey. According to the Bleacher Report, Wilson is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. She chose to stay home for college, helping to turn the Gamecocks into the powerhouse team they became under the direction of Staley. Wilson was named the 2017 Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament when the Gamecocks took their first national title. Now, as the most successful player in the program’s history, she’ll have her number 22 jersey retired.
“Your jersey is going to be retired. It’s that time!” Staley told Wilson during a Facetime call.
“Everybody wants me to cry today! No Way!,” Wilson told Staley, visibly shocked.
Staley then panned the camera around the room as others cheered for Wilson. She encouraged her “to stop all that crying” and get herself together in preparation for the big event, reminding Wilson that her alma mater deeply loves her.
In 2021, Wilson received a statue outside of the Gamecocks arena. As a result of the mandatory five-year waiting period, she will just now have her jersey retired. The ceremony is set to take place on February 2, 2025, a nod to her jersey number. The honor is more than deserved.
Watch the heartwarming moment below.
Cover photo: Dawn Staley Tells A’ja Wilson Her SC Gamecocks Jersey Will Officially Be Retired in Heartwarming Call/Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces/X
