Former South Carolina Gamecocks stalwart and now Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson once talked about how her time in Team USA with coach Dawn Staley helped her in college. In March 2016, an article by Mechelle Voepel was published in ESPN, which dived deep into the relationship Wilson had with her college basketball coach Staley, who also coached the Team USA U19 squad when Wilson was in her sophomore year of college hoops.
In one instance of the article, Wilson recalled the experience of winning the U19 world championship under the tutelage of coach Staley. For Wilson, the victory helped her translate it into success in her second season with the Gamecocks, with everything she learned and the new roles she faced. Wilson was named the tournament MVP, much to the delight of Staley.
“I think freshman year, I was on the outside looking in, and I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I was trying to just be a sponge. I’ll give a lot of credit to USA Basketball as far as prepping me for this year. I had to take on a whole other role there, and it really helped me understand basketball more and my place on the team,” Wilson was quoted as saying.
When asked about Staley, Wilson affirmed that they got closer due to national team duties.
“I got to form a different bond with Coach Staley there, and it’s really helped me out. It put me in more of a leadership position,” she said.
Wilson had a stellar four-year college basketball career with Staley and the Gamecocks.
This was capped off when the 2016-17 South Carolina squad won that year’s national championship after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs by 12 points, 67-55. In fact, Wilson was named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, as she put up 19.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.7 blocks per contest.
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A’ja Wilson details how hard-nosed coach Dawn Staley was
Whether it was with the South Carolina Gamecocks or the Team USA U19 squad, A’ja Wilson shared in the same ESPN article that coach Dawn Staley always pushed her beyond her limits. This may have had a huge effect on Wilson, given that she has since become a two-time WNBA champion and three-time regular-season MVP.
“She’s kicked me off the court at practice; she’s said I’ve been ‘average.’ She’s really gotten under my skin at times. That’s something that I appreciate, because it’s helped me realize I can’t slack off about anything,” Wilson said.
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