In a moment that was meant to celebrate her own historic achievement, South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley took a powerful stand in defense of one of her most legendary players—A’ja Wilson. During the unveiling of her own statue in Columbia on Wednesday, Staley addressed recent comments that many interpreted as a slight toward Wilson’s legacy, using her platform to affirm the deeper meaning behind Wilson’s honor.
Both Staley and Wilson now have statues in Columbia, South Carolina—an unusual and prestigious recognition, particularly in the world of collegiate athletics. Wilson’s statue, erected in January 2021, commemorates her immense impact on the South Carolina women’s basketball program and the city she calls home. A Columbia native, Wilson is widely credited with helping put South Carolina women’s basketball on the national map. As the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2014, she chose to stay home, leading the Gamecocks to their first national title in 2017 and becoming one of the most decorated players in school history.
However, the decision to honor Wilson with a statue came under indirect scrutiny following remarks by UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. During the Huskies’ national championship celebration on April 7, Auriemma shared an anecdote from a gathering with his former players. He humorously mentioned that players with only one national title had to sit at the back of the bus. “Most other places, if you win one national championship, they build a statue to you outside the building. Here, they won’t even let you get to the front of the bus,” he quipped.
Although Auriemma did not mention Wilson or South Carolina by name, fans quickly drew connections and perceived his comments as a veiled jab at Wilson’s statue. Notably, despite UConn’s unmatched 12 national championships, there are no statues of Auriemma or any of his players outside the program’s home arena, Gampel Pavilion.
On Wednesday, Staley made her position crystal clear. She shared that she was initially hesitant to accept the honor of her own statue, believing that Wilson’s should stand alone. But after discussions with the University of South Carolina and city leaders, she agreed—ultimately deciding to accept for the sake of representation.
She then directly addressed the broader implications of Auriemma’s comments without naming him. “Contrary to the belief of one of my coaching colleagues, her statue wasn’t in response to winning a national championship. It was in response to being a winner at life,” Staley stated during the unveiling ceremony.
Staley went on to emphasize that Wilson’s statue is not just a monument to athletic achievement, but a tribute to character and community. “It’s a tribute to a hometown hero,” she said. “A symbol of what’s possible for the youth of Columbia when passion meets preparedness. A’ja Wilson represents excellence, perseverance and discipline. There’s no one more deserving, no better example for young people in this community.”
Wilson’s success has extended beyond college basketball. Since joining the WNBA, she has won two championships with the Las Vegas Aces and earned three league MVP titles. Her journey from Columbia to national stardom, both collegiate and professional, has served as an inspiration for countless young athletes.
In defending Wilson and affirming the deeper meaning behind the statue, Staley reminded everyone that legacy is about more than just wins. It’s about impact—on and off the court.