South Carolina women's basketball legend A'ja Wilson named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year
South Carolina women’s basketball legend A’ja Wilson is the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. USA Basketball announced the news on Tuesday afternoon. This is Wilson’s third time winning the honor.
During the middle of another WNBA MVP season last summer, Wilson and Team USA went to Paris, France and brought home an eighth gold medal in a row. Wilson averaged a double-double (18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds) with 2.7 blocks and 1.5 steals en route to an Olympic MVP.
During her South Carolina women’s basketball career, Wilson won a national championship (2016-2017) and swept the National Player of the Year awards during the 2017-2018 season. She will have her No. 22 jersey retired this weekend.
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From the South Carolina Athletics press release:
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball alumna A’ja Wilson was named 2024 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, the organization announced today. It marks the third time the 2018 Gamecock grad has earned the title.
Wilson was named MVP of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after posting 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds at the tournament – both the second-highest averages from an American at the Olympics. Her 2.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game also led the team, which made her just the second player in USA history to lead the team in four major statistical categories at an Olympic Games.
In her USA Basketball career, which dates back to 2013, Wilson has amassed seven international gold medals, including her two Olympic gold medals. She is one of six athletes all-time to compete on two USA U19 World Cup Teams (2013, 2015). Wilson was named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 2015 and 2022.
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At South Carolina, Wilson changed the trajectory of the program, becoming the first Gamecock to be named National Player of the Year, the first four-time All-American in program history and the first three-time SEC Player of the Year in league history. She led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Final Four (2015) and National Championship (2017) and left the program holding 86 school records, including 11 career marks.
Wilson went on to become the program’s first WNBA No. 1 overall draft pick when she was selected first by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA Draft, earning Rookie of the Year honors that season. The three-time WNBA MVP, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year is also a six-time WNBA All-Star and five-time All-WNBA selection. Her individual dominance also lifted her team to a pair of WNBA Championships (2022, 2023).
South Carolina will retire Wilson’s jersey in a pregame ceremony this Sunday (Feb. 2) prior to its noon tipoff against Auburn.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on the women’s basketball season.
