"She was like 'Why are you crying over him, he didn't want you"': A'Ja Wilson highlights how Dawn Staley helped her with "boy problems" in college
A'ja Wilson is the best, if not the greatest, player to ever play for South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. Wilson was instrumental in Staley's first national championship triumph in 2017.
Their relationship has grown deeper over the years, beyond the player-coach dynamic. The two often poke fun at each other on social media, showing their bond that extends beyond the court.
During Friday's episode of the 'Roommates Show' with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, Wilson recounted an instance where Dawn Staley helped her navigate a breakup during college. Wilson said (50:50):
"We really went back and forth, and also, she was kind of like my homegirl in college as well.
"So, I'd go talk to her when I was having boy problems and stuff, and she'd use that against me, like, 'Why are you crying over him? He didn't want you.' She would kind of make me feel really bad, but at the same time, I would check myself, 'Let me remember who I am — bump them, on to the next.'"
"So yeah, it wasn't always the best relationship," Wilson added. Sometimes I’d think, 'You could have bitten your tongue and not told me those things,' but hey, I love her honesty."
A'ja Wilson reveals she'd have followed Dawn Staley anywhere
Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was the No.1 recruit in the nation when she joined Dawn Staley's South Carolina in 2014.
During the Roommates Show podcast on Friday, the two-time WNBA champion reflected on her collegiate career and explained why she decided to play for the Gamecocks.
"[Dawn Staley] was the coach of our U18 team, and this was before I committed to South Carolina. We just became really cool — she really wanted the best out of me, and she kind of saved me from me in some cases," Wilson said.
"She saw potential, and I just always loved the loyalty she showed and the honesty she had with me. When it was time to go to college, she was just the best fit. I always say that Coach Staley could have been in Alaska, and I probably still would have gone to Alaska."
A'ja Wilson averaged 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game during her four years at South Carolina, leading the Gamecocks to the 2017 NCAA championships.
From the SEC Freshman of the Year award to three-time SEC Player of the Year and the Naismith College Player of the Year, Wilson's college career was decorated, thanks in large part to Staley's leadership.