South Carolina from Ajja Wilson retired, lifted into the ribs: “An honor that I can hardly put in words” – on3.com

Twenty minutes before canceling the game of South Carolina against anbun, A’ja wilson Exit from the Gamecocks player’s tunnel heading to the center of the court gave Dawn Staley A hug and proceed to the microphone, ready to turn to the crowd in front of the Jersey Retirement ceremony.

This was not Wilson’s first rodeo for her legacy with Gamecocks named after a physical object. But the circumstances surrounding her last dedication were much different.

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On January 18, 2021, Wilson’s statue outside the Colonial Life Arena was officially discovered. The state of South Carolina-and the country as a whole-it was still recovering from the pandemic of Kovid-19 at the time. Instead of talking to thousands of viewers, Wilson turned to a smaller group of friends and family members.

Nevertheless, the moment and everything it takes to get to this point, struck Wilson deep at this stage.

“I remember for the first time the President of the Hearing (University) (Harris) Pastids mentioned this in graduation. I didn’t think it was real; I sincerely thought it was a joke, “Wilson said that day. “And let’s see this to get together, it’s just surreal.”

Since then, they have changed a lot in the four years. Covid-19 no longer has the coming presence he has ever had in the United States. Gamecocks continued to win two national championships, while Wilson won two WNBA finals with ACES in Las Vegas.

During this period of time, Wilson’s influence – as a player, leader and author – is only increasing. And so the number of attendees for her Jersey Retirement ceremony at the Colonial Life Arena appeared.

Tickets for the South Carolina competition on February 2 against Obub sold out before the start of the season. Fans who hope garnet and black gear stood in front of the stadium hours before Bakshish. And the same fans, numbering nearly 18,000, erupted in strong cheers when Wilson came across the microphone.

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Once she got there, she admitted that the task of catching the moment was not easy.

“I am overwhelmed by gratitude and joy,” Wilson said. “In order to retire my T -shirt at the University of South Carolina, the place where my dreams started, it is an honor that I can hardly expose words.”