South Carolina Basketball: Former Gamecock Aja Wilson nominated for multiple ESPY awards

What is there to say about Aja Wilson? Arguably the greatest player in the history of the South Carolina basketball program (along with Aliyah Boston), Wilson has become one of the greatest players in the world and is well on her way to entering the all-time conversation in the women’s game.

Wilson was the top recruit in the high school recruiting class of 2014 and was the best player in college basketball shortly after that. Wilson won the Naismith National Player of the Year award, won the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year award (2 times), was a four-time All-American, and picked up numerous other accolades while in Columbia.

Wilson was taken as the 1st-overall selection in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces and has won two MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, a WNBA championship, and has been an All-Star every year of her career. For good measure, she has also won two Olympic Gold Medals in 2018 and 2022.

Now, Wilson has the opportunity to add more to her trophy case.

ESPN’s ESPY Awards show is set to air on July 12th at 8:00 on ABC and ESPN, and earlier this week, the award nominations were released. Aja Wilson received three different nominations for her strong play on the court.

Wilson was nominated for the award Best Athlete, Women’s Sports along with skier Mikaela Shiffrin, soccer star Sophia Smith, and tennis player Iga Swiatek.

She also received a nomination for Best WNBA Player. She was nominated alongside Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm, New York Liberty), Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Candace Parker (Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces).

Her team, the Las Vegas Aces, also were nominated for the ESPY for Best Team.

Aja Wilson is no stranger to ESPY nominations. She was nominated for Best College Athlete in 2018 and Best WNBA Player in 2021. She will be looking for her first win at the sports award show.