Former Gamecock A'ja Wilson will officially see her jersey in the rafters at Colonial Life Arena

One of the most famous is not the most famous South Carolina women's basketball alumna is about to see her jersey officially retired this season at Colonial Life Arena. Forward A'ja Wilson, who is the reigning three-time MVP in the WNBA, a No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA by the Las Vegas Aces, and a two-time WNBA Champion, is about to be enshrined in South Carolina women's basketball history.

During the 2024-2025 season, the Gamecocks will retire Wilson's No. 22 jersey on Sunday, February 2nd at home against Auburn at Colonial Life Arena. Wilson is the fifth USC women's basketball player to have her jersey retired.

Wilson will no doubt go down in WNBA history as she has in South Carolina women's basketball history for all she has accomplished in the league. Before getting to the league, though, Wilson had one of the most decorated basketball careers by a Gamecocks ever.

Here is a list of all the accolades Wilson received while playing for head coach Dawn Staley at South Carolina:

• Program's first No. 1 overall recruit
• Program's first four-time All-American
• First ever three-time SEC Player of the Year
• National Player of the Year (2018)
• South Carolina's all-time leading scorer (2,389)
• Four-time First-Team All-SEC
• Two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year
• Holds 22 program records
• No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick

Wilson is already enshrined in South Carolina with an 11-foot statue of her built outside the Colonial Life Arena. It was announced at her 2018 graduation ceremony that due to her successful high school career in Columbia and continuing that career in her hometown, the university wanted to honor her contributions to the program and the university.

Not only did Wilson receive many awards and accolades while at South Carolina, but she also helped lead the Gamecocks to their first-ever SEC Championship (2015), their first-ever NCAA Final Four (2015), and their first-ever National Championship (2017). Wilson was able to bring a lot of attention to who South Carolina was in women's basketball, and since her time at USC, the program has grown immensely and become the premier women's basketball program in the country.

Wilson has patiently waited for the five-year waiting period for former athletes to have their jersey retired, and on 2'2 day, the former Gamecock will officially see her No. 22 jersey hanging from the rafters in Colonial Life Arena forever.