This week marked a monumental occasion for South Carolina Athletics and the University of South Carolina as a statue of women’s basketball icon A’ja Wilson was erected in front of the Colonial Life Arena. This tribute celebrates the remarkable career of Hopkins, S.C., native A’ja Wilson, whose leadership propelled the Gamecocks to the 2017 NCAA National Championship, the 2015 NCAA Final Four, three SEC regular-season championships, and four SEC Tournament titles. For fans seeking A Ja Wilson Statue Photos, this unveiling provides a visual testament to her enduring legacy.
Aja Wilson Statue, January 2021
A Monument to Excellence: The A’ja Wilson Statue Unveiled
“A’ja Wilson’s achievements, both on and off the basketball court, make this statue incredibly well-deserved,” stated South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner. “She is an exceptional representative of Gamecock Athletics and our University. We are thrilled to honor her in this way. Our sincere gratitude goes to everyone who contributed to making this a reality, including our generous donors.”
The realization of this impressive bronze statue, standing over 11 feet tall upon a four-foot granite base, was made possible through the generous private donations from the late Dodie Anderson, Darius Rucker, and Dawn Staley. The artistic creation is attributed to Julie Rotblatt-Amrany of The Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany, based in Highwood, Ill., renowned for their expertise in athletic sculptures, including iconic figures like Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Scottie Pippen. The A’ja Wilson statue project has been in development for almost a year, with installation commencing on Thursday, January 14th.
More Than Bronze: The Statue’s Symbolic Significance
Wilson’s statue holds a distinguished position as one of only three on the University of South Carolina campus dedicated to a specific individual. Notably, she is the first woman among this esteemed group, joining Richard T. Greener, the university’s first African American faculty member, and Heisman Trophy recipient George Rogers. The concept of a statue for Wilson arose even before her graduation and her No. 1 overall selection by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Her Gamecock career, marked by unprecedented team success and individual accolades, rapidly propelled the statue project forward.
“A’ja was a transformative force within our program, our campus, and our community through her on-court brilliance and her exceptional character off the court,” remarked Coach Staley. “This statue in front of this arena stands as an equally powerful symbol. It allows every young person, and particularly young black girls, to envision what they can achieve through hard work, passion, and unwavering dedication.”
Wilson concluded her illustrious four-year career (2015-18) as the program’s first National Player of the Year, earning unanimous recognition from every awarding entity. She achieved South Carolina’s first four-time All-American status, securing first-team honors in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and became their first four-time First-Team All-SEC selection. Wilson made history as the first three-time SEC Player of the Year in league history (2016, 2017, 2018) and was the inaugural recipient of the Lisa Leslie Award in 2018.
Her impact continued seamlessly into the WNBA, where Wilson earned Rookie of the Year and All-Star honors in her debut season (2018). Just two years later, she was crowned WNBA MVP (2020). Throughout her basketball journey, Wilson has been a consistent presence with USA Basketball, contributing to gold medal victories at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Cup, 2014 FIBA U18 Americas Cup, 2015 FIBA U19 World Cup, and 2018 FIBA World Cup. She is currently a member of the USA Basketball National Team pool, vying for a spot on the 2021 Olympic Team.
Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, a small, invitation-only event was held on Monday, January 18th, at 12:45 p.m. to celebrate Wilson and the unveiling of her statue. Fans were able to view a livestream of the event at: https://youtu.be/dW8_dtWWRZ8. For those seeking a ja wilson statue photos, online sources and social media platforms are quickly becoming populated with images capturing this historic moment and the impressive artistry of the A’ja Wilson statue.
