If you walk up to the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, you’ll see her. She’s cast in bronze, 11 feet of pure athletic poetry frozen in a jump shot. Most people see the A'ja Wilson South Carolina statue and think about the points. They think about the 2017 National Championship. But honestly? That’s just the surface.
To understand why a 29-year-old (as of 2026) has a statue while she’s still winning WNBA MVPs, you have to look at what she did for the dirt she grew up on. A'ja didn’t just play for South Carolina. She chose South Carolina when she could have gone anywhere. Every powerhouse in the country wanted her. Geno Auriemma wanted her at UConn. But she stayed home.
That one decision changed the trajectory of women's college basketball forever.
The Gamble That Built a Powerhouse
Before 2014, South Carolina was "good." Dawn Staley was building something, sure. They had won an SEC title. But they weren't the program. They weren't the destination. When the number one recruit in the nation—a local girl from Heathwood Hall—decided to stay in Columbia, it was a seismic shift.
It was a risk. People told her she was crazy. Why stay in South Carolina when you could go to a "proven" winner?
A'ja saw something others didn't. She saw a chance to be the foundation rather than just another brick in a wall someone else built. She finished her career with 2,389 points. That’s the school record. She also swatted 363 shots. But the numbers are kinda secondary to the culture. She gave little girls in Hopkins and Eastover a reason to believe that the center of the basketball universe could be right in their backyard.
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More Than a Gamecock: The Hattie Rakes Legacy
There’s a story A'ja tells that usually makes her get a bit choked up. It’s about her grandmother, Hattie Rakes.
Back in the day, Hattie couldn't even walk across the University of South Carolina campus because of segregation. She had to walk around it. Think about that for a second. In just two generations, the family went from being legally barred from the sidewalk to having a massive bronze monument of their daughter sitting right in the heart of the grounds.
That’s why the statue matters. It’s not about the 17.3 points per game. It’s about 15 feet of "we belong here."
A’ja’s Dominance by the Numbers
If you’re a stats person, her collegiate resume is basically a fever dream:
- Consensus National Player of the Year (2018): She swept every major award—Wooden, Naismith, Wade, you name it.
- Three-time SEC Player of the Year: Nobody else had ever done that three times in a row.
- First-Team All-American: Three times (2016, 2017, 2018).
- The 2017 Title: She was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
She wasn't just better than everyone else; she was relentless. Most stars have an "off" night where they drift. A'ja didn't drift. If her shot wasn't falling, she’d just grab 15 rebounds and block six shots out of pure spite.
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The Human Side: Dyslexia and "Dear Black Girls"
It’s easy to look at a 6'4" superstar and assume everything came easy. It didn't.
A'ja has been incredibly open about her struggle with dyslexia. In high school, she was called "lazy" by people who didn't get why she struggled with reading. It hurt. She dealt with real self-esteem issues, feeling like a "tall, freckle-faced teenager" who didn't fit the mold.
That's why she started the A'ja Wilson Foundation. She wanted to advocate for kids who learn differently. She even wrote a book, Dear Black Girls, which hit the New York Times best-seller list. She’s using her South Carolina platform to talk about things like anxiety and the pressure of being "on" all the time.
The 2025 Jersey Retirement and the "A'One"
Even as she dominates the WNBA with the Las Vegas Aces—recently becoming the first player to win four MVPs—her heart is still in Columbia. In February 2025, the school finally retired her No. 22 jersey. It was a massive deal. Coach Staley was there, obviously. They’re like family.
And she’s still giving back. Just this month (January 2026), she donated her signature Nike shoe, the "A'One," to Benedict College. That’s her dad’s alma mater. It’s an HBCU right in Columbia. She’s not just a brand; she’s an ecosystem for the city.
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What Most People Get Wrong
There's this weird misconception that South Carolina's current dynasty is solely because of Dawn Staley’s recruiting. Look, Dawn is the GOAT. No question. But A'ja Wilson was the proof of concept.
She proved that a "hometown hero" could win it all without leaving. Without her, do you get the Aliyah Bostons? Do you get the Raven Johnsons? Maybe. But A'ja made it cool to be a Gamecock. She turned a local program into a global brand.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Athletes
If you’re looking to follow the "A'ja Blueprint," here’s what actually matters:
- Invest where you are. You don't always have to go to the biggest name to become the biggest name.
- Own your "weaknesses." Her transparency about dyslexia turned a personal struggle into a source of power for thousands of kids.
- The "Second Mom" factor. Find a mentor like Dawn Staley. A'ja didn't just play for a coach; she built a lifelong partnership.
- Legacy over Likability. A'ja is loved now, but she had to be a "relentless" (as Georgia coach Joni Taylor put it) competitor first.
You can go see the statue, or you can watch her No. 22 hanging in the rafters. But the real A'ja Wilson South Carolina story is written in the kids playing on the courts in Columbia today who actually believe they can be the best in the world without ever leaving home.
Next Steps for Gamecock Fans:
Check out the A'ja Wilson Foundation website to see how they're supporting students with dyslexia. If you're in Columbia, make sure to visit the statue at the north entrance of Colonial Life Arena—it’s best viewed in the late afternoon sun when the bronze really glows.