A Special Honor for the Basketball Legend
A’ja Wilson is a true basketball icon, and her legacy was solidified even further on Sunday when South Carolina raised her No. 22 jersey into the rafters at Colonial Life Arena.
Wilson has excelled at every level of the game, leading the Gamecocks to an NCAA championship in 2017 while earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Since then, she has built an extraordinary career, winning three WNBA MVP awards, two championships with the Las Vegas Aces, six All-Star selections, and two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year titles. She has also claimed two Olympic gold medals with Team USA.
With a résumé like hers, it was only a matter of time before South Carolina retired her number. She already has a statue outside the arena, but seeing her banner rise inside the stadium was an emotional moment.
The current Gamecocks team showed their appreciation for Wilson, wearing custom warm-up t-shirts to celebrate the occasion.
South Carolina picked the perfect day—Feb. 2—to honor their legend by making it official: No other Gamecock will ever wear Wilson’s No. 22 again. A truly special tribute to a basketball great.
