South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley presents A'ja Wilson with community award

South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley is a legend in women's basketball. As one of the top players and coaches of all-time, Staley has several awards named after her. The Gamecocks' best player ever (and, potentially, the best women's basketball player of all-time) is A'ja Wilson, and she is no stranger to winning a bunch of awards.

However, on Wednesday, the duo had a special moment as Staley was able to present one of the awards that bears her name to her star pupil. Coach Staley announced the 2024 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award would belong to A'ja Wilson in a video presented to the WNBA star during a meeting with her Las Vegas Aces team.

The win was the first for Wilson, though, she is a deserving recipient. Wilson has been a champion for many causes during her career, including being a leading voice in the support of those with dyslexia, a fighter against bullying, and a pursuer of equality in sports. She previously won the WNBA Cares Community Assist Award back in 2019.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award has been given out by the WNBA since 2008 to highlight WNBA players who combine excellence on the court with leadership and service within their communities, something that Staley has done for years. Nominees are submitted by their WNBA teams, and the winner is selected by a committee each year. Wilson will receive a $10,000 check from the league to give to the charity of her choosing.

On the court this year, Wilson already led Team USA to their 8th gold medal in a row at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, and she is on pace to break the WNBA's all-time single-season records for points and rebounds. She is the runaway favorite to win her third WNBA MVP honor and has her Las Vegas Aces team in a position to be a contender to win their third WNBA Finals title in a row.