Gamecock great A’ja Wilson re-signs with WNBA Las Vegas Aces
Gamecocks great A’ja Wilson is staying in Las Vegas.
The former South Carolina women’s basketball star and Hopkins native was re-signed by the WNBA Las Vegas Aces, the team announced in a press release Wednesday.
“Aces fans have embraced me and this team since the day I was drafted, and the city has really become a second home for me,” Wilson said in the release. “I’m looking forward to working with Coach (Becky) Hammon, and excited about the future of our franchise heading into 2022.”
WNBA analyst Rachel Galligan reported Wilson, a restricted free agent, re-signed with the Aces for the maximum two-year, fully protected contract. Galligan reported Wilson will make $196,267 for the 2022 season and $202,155 in 2023.
Wilson was selected by the Aces with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft and was the league’s MVP in 2020. She won WNBA Rookie of the Year, been selected as a WNBA All-Star three times and has earned two All-WNBA accolades.
Over the summer, Wilson won her first gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Wilson played under the guidance of her former head coach at South Carolina, Dawn Staley, who led the U.S. Women’s National Team in the Olympics.
Wilson played under Staley at USC from 2014-18 and was a key factor in the Gamecocks’ 2017 national championship run.
This season will be Wilson’s first under new Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who was hired in December 2021 after working as an assistant for the NBA San Antonio Spurs the past eight seasons.
“A’ja is a generational talent both on and off the court, and I’m excited to have her back in the fold with the Aces,” Hammon said in the release. “She has been the leader of this team, and an integral part of the Las Vegas community since the day she was drafted, and I know our fans are ecstatic to once again have her at the forefront of our pursuit of a WNBA Championship.”
Wilson tweeted a message of excitement following Wednesday’s news.
“(Peace) out rookie contract,” Wilson tweeted with a peace sign emoji.
Wilson was the 2018 consensus National Player of the Year at South Carolina and is the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,389 points) and blocker (363). She has a statue outside of Colonial Life Arena, which was unveiled in January 2020.
Wilson attended Heathwood Hall in Columbia for high school and was named the 2014 National High School Player of the Year by WBCA, Naismith and Parade. She frequently visits Columbia and attended the Gamecocks’ last home game against Ole Miss on Jan. 27.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Gamecock great A’ja Wilson re-signs with WNBA Las Vegas Aces."
