"This woman has been with me from Rock bottom": When A'ja Wilson opened up on her special bond with South Carolina HC Dawn Staley

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson is among the best players to emerge under coach Dawn Staley's leadership at the South Carolina Gamecocks. Even after graduating from South Carolina six years ago, their bond remains strong. Despite rising to heights in their respective fields, the former coach-player pair continue to talk about each other's impact on their lives and professional success.

Wilson shed light on what solidified her loyalty to Staley while speaking with Draymond Green on his podcast. In the video released on Feb. 1, 2024, Wilson recounts her high school days, sharing that Staley was not only one of the few coaches recruiting her but the only one who stood by her throughout her pre-college journey.

"In the AAU circuits we didn't have the big EYBL teams, we were just kind of team that was just making it," A'ja Wilson said (5:10). "We had fish fries, car washes, we were just trying to get money and we weren't the best team, we didn't have all the great talent. So, it was very scarce when coaches would come around."

"But in the early parts of my recruitment coach Staley was just always in the gym, just watching me," Wilson added. "It's like she knew that I had potential and was just waiting for me to figure it out and that loyalty, there was something that I really could never shake. Because this woman has been with me from rock bottom, in gym she was the only coach at a D1 level there."

A'ja Wilson also shared that she got the opportunity to be coached by Dawn Staley during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, where she learned about her honest and straightforward approach.

A'ja Wilson continues to help grow women's college basketball

A'ja Wilson's support for the Gamecocks, mentorship for its players and presence at South Carolina's March Madness games have helped bring significant attention to the women's college basketball space.

However, she was not in her usual Dawn Staley supporting gear on Dec. 29. The 2024 WNBA MVP was spotted cheering for the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Centers Watsco Center on Sunday when Haley Cavinder and Co. faced the Tar Heels.

Despite her stature in the WNBA, Wilson actively advocates for increased opportunities, visibility, growth and media coverage of women's basketball at all levels. She has also spoken about improved facilities and financial support for young players.