A'ja Wilson is the greatest player ever to wear a South Carolina basketball uniform. With all due respect to fellow greats like Aliyah Boston, Tiffany Mitchell, Jocelyn Penn, Ty Harris, Shannon Johnson, Sheila Foster, Kamilla Cardoso, and others, the Columbia native earned her status as the GOAT and could be on her way to becoming the best women's basketball player of all-time.
Today, August 8th, is Wilson's 28th birthday. She will be celebrating in Paris, France by practicing with her United States Basketball Women's National Team as they prepare for their semifinal game at the 2024 Summer Olympics. They will take on Team Australia on Friday with a trip to the gold medal game (against the winner of Belgium and France) on the line.
For Wilson's birthday, let's take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about the top-5 moments of her career in garnet and black. But, first, because they aren't moments but are still worth mentioning, let's take a look at her statistical accomplishments as a Gamecock:
A'ja Wilson's Career Accomplishments
- She is South Carolina basketball's all-time leader in points, blocks, and free throws made
- She is ranked in the top-5 also in rebounds, field goals made, 20-point scoring games, and double-doubles
- Her 2017-2018 National Player of the Year campaign included the 3rd-most points, 2nd-most rebounds, and most blocked shots of any single season in Gamecock history; she was the only player in the country to rank in the top-35 in points, rebounds, and blocks (she was in the top-12 in all three categories)
- On her senior night against the LSU Tigers, Wilson had a 27-point, 24-rebound performance that was just the 4th 20-20 game in USC history
- In SEC competition, no Gamecock ever has scored more points or blocked more shots
- Wilson was just the 13th SEC player ever to log 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
- In the NCAA Tournament, Wilson owns career Carolina records for points, field goals made, free throws made, blocks, and steals
- Wilson owns 4 of the top-8 seasons in program history in blocks, including the top-3
- #22 posted the top-2 seasons ever in garnet and black in free throws made
- She owns the freshman Gamecock records for points
- At the time of her graduation, A'ja Wilson owned over 80 school records
Now, for the top-5 moments of A'ja Wilson's South Carolina basketball career: