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Columbia, SC β** In a moment that once again proves why sheβs more than just a generational basketball talent, WNBA superstar and South Carolina legend Aβja Wilson sent a powerful and heartfelt message to the Gamecocks womenβs basketball program amid their upcoming recruitment push β and the message was clear: *βBe prepared.β*
The two-time WNBA MVP and cornerstone of the Las Vegas Aces dynasty has never hidden her love for her alma mater. A Columbia native and the face of South Carolinaβs first NCAA Womenβs Basketball National Championship in 2017, Wilson has remained closely tied to head coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks family ever since leaving college.
This latest message, delivered during a private team session and shared later through official channels, served as both encouragement and a challenge. Wilson emphasized the importance of readiness not just physically, but mentally and emotionally β for the next era of Gamecock greatness.
You donβt get this culture everywhere,β Wilson said. βWhat Coach Staley has built here is sacred, and to protect it, you have to prepare β every single day. The spotlight is heavy, but the legacy is worth it.β
Sources close to the program say the message hit home with both current players and top recruits. In particular, rising talents like five-star forward Joyce Edwards, who recently committed to South Carolina, have drawn inspiration from Wilsonβs guidance. Edwards even described a past halftime conversation with Aβja as βeye-openingβ during her recruitment process.
Wilsonβs ongoing mentorship and visibility have become an extension of South Carolinaβs recruiting pitch β proof that the bond between player and program doesnβt end at graduation. With her No. 22 jersey officially retired earlier this year, Wilsonβs legacy is now enshrined at Colonial Life Arena both in spirit and in the rafters.
As South Carolina gears up for another dominant run and pursues elite recruits across the nation, Wilsonβs words couldnβt be more timely. They serve as a reminder that joining the Gamecocks is about more than playing basketball β itβs about joining a sisterhood that demands excellence, resilience, and preparation.
In the ever-competitive world of womenβs college basketball, Aβja Wilsonβs message echoes far beyond Columbia. For future Gamecocks, the challenge is clear: *Be prepared β because greatness lives here.*
