Columbia, South Carolina has been called home by many great athletes, from the Heisman winning running back George Rodgers to Professional Basketball Hall of Fame member Alex English.
In recent memory there is one athlete that sticks out amongst the rest, former women’s basketball forward A’ja Wilson.
On Feb. 2, Wilson's jersey was hung up into the rafters of Colonial Life Arena in front of a sold-out crowd, 11 years to the day of her official visit to the arena as a high school prospect during the 2013-2014 season.
"I'm super blessed just to be able to say that like my jersey is being in the rafters in my home, not a lot of people can say that.” Wilson said. “To be able to have everybody come out and just enjoy the moment and I can share the moment with everyone, it's going to be truly special."
Wilson becomes the fifth women's basketball player and second Gamecock player in the Dawn Staley era to have her jersey retired in as many years. Former guard and two-time SEC Player of the Year Tiffany Mitchell, who played for the Gamecocks from 2013-16, had her jersey retired at the start of the 2023-24 season.
Wilson had her jersey number retired before No. 2 South Carolina women’s basketball's matchup against the Auburn Tigers on Sunday. Head Coach Dawn Staley emphasized that no one will ever wear 22 again. Wilson, who is just 28, is coming off an Olympic gold medal in Paris, two WNBA titles and the last three seasons and is the reigning MVP in the WNBA.
“I'm happy that we're able to give her her flowers at such a young age to where she'll be able to smell them for a very very long time.” Staley said. “It was a really cool moment to be a part of.”
There's no place like home
The former Heathwood Hall star and South Carolina native committed to her hometown school on April 16, 2014 and came in as the program's first No. 1 overall prospect to join the team. After spending her freshman season behind then-Senior center Eliam Ibiam, Wilson rose to the starting lineup en-route to her first SEC Player of the Year and first team All-American honors.
Wilson made program history in 2017 when South Carolina won its first national championship after defeating Mississippi State. Wilson was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four for that year.
To go along with the national championship, Wilson also managed to claim several individual awards in her four years as a Gamecock.
She swept all National Player of the Year awards during her senior season while also claiming the SEC player of the Year three times. Wilson was also a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year and a four time All-American team member.
From local legend to global superstar
Wilson was selected by the Las Vegas Aces as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft and has added to her highly decorated basketball career in her seven year professional career.
She won two WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023, is a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and a two time Olympic gold medalist.
Even after Wilson's graduation, she still remains close to the program and to Staley, who coached her in the 2021 Tokoyo Olympics.
The success from Wilson doesn't just end on the basketball court. She was given the 2024 Dawn Staley Community Leadership award and on Tuesday revealed her own signature shoe, the A'One, with Nike.
Returning home to lead
Following the Gamecocks victory over the Tigers, freshman forward Joyce Edwards praised the experience of Wilson and how sharing her experience at South Carolina has helped inspire this year's team.
“She's the embodiment of who a lot of us want to be,” Edwards said. “So just learning from her, asking her questions, just absorbing all her wisdom, all her knowledge.”
Edwards is one of many key players who have committed to South Carolina since Wilson finished her career as a Gamecock, something Staley said Wilson has helped with.
South Carolina has seen dozens of star-studded players come through the program to help win two more national championships since Wilson graduated in 2018, but even seven years after Wilson last put on a Gamecock jersey, the program still holds the same standards.
“I beam garnet and black because that's our program, that's what we were built on, that's our culture,” Wilson said. “It's super cool just to see how everyone's just building and growing and we're just keeping the same culture through and through."
The Speech
Before the start of the game, Wilson delivered a speech where she first thanked her coaches, teammates and everyone else who was along for the journey.
“You pushed me to my best and the bonds we created here are unbreakable,” Wilson said. “I cherish every moment and every memory we made together.”
Wilson then took the time to thank all the fans who brought energy and passion every time her team took the floor.
“It's a privilege to be a Gamecock, to be a part of this community and one of the greatest honors of my life was representing garnet and black every night,” Wilson said.
Wilson said Staley has helped push her to chase her dreams without any fear.
“Thank you coach for seeing the light in me even when I couldn't see it in myself and for showing me that it's not about the destination but the journey and the people you meet along the way,” Wilson said.
She ended her speech thanking all those courtside who had impacted her life, her mom and her dad.
This was not the first time Wilson has been honored for her historic career as a Gamecock. In January of 2021, South Carolina unveiled a statue of Wilson outside of Colonial Life Arena.
However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited amount of fans were able to attend the unveiling. This was not the case on Sunday, with Staley commenting on how cool it was to share this moment with the fans with a sell out crowd of 18,000 in attendance creating a warm welcome for Wilson's return home.
“She got a chance to share with all the people who have cheered for her, who have impacted her who she's impacted, in a place she made an electrical place to play,” Staley said.