When discussing greats in the WNBA, one name simply cannot be missed. And that is none other than the former South Carolina Gamecock, A’ja Wilson. Under Dawn Staley, Wilson developed into one of the best players in college basketball and even led the Gamecocks to a national championship in 2017.
Since graduating, Wilson has been creating history in the WNBA. Now, as 2025 nears an end, Wilson has done it again. The Las Vegas Aces completed a sweep of the Phoenix Mercury to claim their third WNBA title in four years, and the center of that win is Wilson. Her performance earned her a historic fourth WNBA MVP, making her the first player in league history to do so.
Watching Wilson win, Staley had something to say about the prodigy she once trained.
Can Anyone Match A’ja Wilson’s Drive? Dawn Staley Breaks Down Her Legacy and Hints at Joyce Edwards
Dawn Staley couldn’t help but marvel at Wilson’s consistency and growth. “I want A’ja to continue to be exemplary of just great players,” Staley said. “You don’t often see great players get better before your very eyes. It usually takes a few years, but every year, A’ja gets better.” That is not an exaggeration either.
Over the past five seasons, Wilson has steadily elevated her game. In 2021, she averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game; those are already brilliant numbers. By 2024, those numbers had jumped to 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. And this season, she maintained her efficiency and averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
This year, Wilson did what she does best. She put up big numbers night after night, including a 36-point, 13-rebound game against Washington and a 34-point, nine-rebound performance at Atlanta. Even after a brutal 53-point loss to Minnesota, Staley noted, Wilson “acted” instead of sulking, leading the Aces on a 16-game winning streak that carried them to the championship.
However, Staley notes that it is not scoring that sets Wilson apart. “You really have to have it. It’s competitiveness, it’s a will. You have to be around it; you have to kind of grow into it. If you never experienced what it is to win, you’ll never know,” she said. Looking back, Wilson’s foundation in South Carolina made this rise almost inevitable.
Wilson set four single-game SEC freshman records as a freshman and earned SEC Freshman of the Year. By her senior year, she was the school’s all-time leading scorer and three-time SEC Player of the Year. “Once we’ve won one, it’s a little easier to win the next because you know what you need to succeed,” Staley said, describing the winning formula Wilson embodies.
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Amidst all the praises, Staley is not reminiscing or dwelling in some Wilson nostalgia. Instead, she is looking ahead. With Chloe Kitts and Ashylin Watkins out, the Gamecocks have 10 healthy players left. Kitts has been a reliable player for the last two years, and replacing her gameplay and size is not easy.
However, from Staley’s subtle “We need Joyce” chants, the sophomore who averaged 12.7 points and a 52.9% shooting rate might be replacing Kitts. Edwards has long been compared to Wilson.
In fact, Wilson sees a reflection of herself in Edwards. Wilson has previously praised Edwards’ “patience” and “IQ” and even noted the similarities in offensive footwork. “She’s going to be perfect,” said Wilson.
Edwards could anchor the Gamecocks’ frontcourt in Kitts’ absence and maybe even be the next Wilson. Staley’s endorsement is explicit: she sees the next chapter of Gamecock dominance in Edwards. And if history repeats itself, the same grit, drive, and mental strength that made Wilson a four-time MVP could soon be guiding another Gamecock to greatness.