David E. Klutho
South Carolina announced Tuesday it’s retiring the No. 22 jersey of legendary forward A’ja Wilson.
The school shared a video of head coach Dawn Staley making a call to Wilson with the news:
The Gamecocks will raise her jersey to the rafters of Colonial Life Arena before their home matchup with Auburn on Feb. 2.
Wilson already has a statue outside of the arena, which went up in 2021.
Her jersey would probably be retired by now were it not for the mandatory five-year waiting period. Four other players (Sheila Foster, Shannon Johnson, Tiffany Mitchell and Martha Parker) have their numbers retired.
Staley was in the process of turning South Carolina into a Final Four contender when Wilson signed in 2014. The 2013-14 squad reached the Sweet Sixteen and boasted Mitchell and Alaina Coates, both of whom went on to play in the WNBA.
But Wilson more than anybody else helped to usher in a new era for the Gamecocks. In four years, she averaged 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. She earned Associated Press All-American nods every season and was the national player of the year as a senior in 2017-18.
Wilson was also the Most Outstanding Player in the 2017 NCAA tournament as South Carolina lifted its first national title.
Her career was all the more special because she’s a native of Columbia, South Carolina. The local star staying home and turning their school into a powerhouse is something ripped straight from a Hollywood film.
Wilson is the greatest player in program history, so having her number retired is an honor that’s richly deserved.
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