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"I felt dumb" - A'ja Wilson once shared dyslexia's impact on her social life and confidence
Coming out of the University of South Carolina, A'ja Wilson was regarded as one of the top WNBA Draft prospects of all time. Wilson built a legendary resume in her collegiate career, including three first-team All-American selections, a third-team All-American selection, four All-SEC selections, the AP Player of the Year award, the Wooden Award and a National Championship.
During her senior year at South Carolina, Wilson spoke to The Player's Tribune, recounting her challenges in the classroom as she struggled with dyslexia. Wilson said that she found school "stupid" and elaborated on how her struggles with dyslexia affected her academic self-confidence.
"The truth is, I had trouble with reading. And I was too embarrassed to read in front of the whole class, under pressure. I struggled when it came to anything related to English class, reading assignments, literature," she said.
A'ja Wilson's dyslexia presented challenges when it came to tests, particularly for books she was assigned, which began to affect her confidence.
"Once again, I felt dumb," Wilson added.
In the early years of high school, Wilson was unaware that she had dyslexia. She later recalled feeling a sense of relief upon diagnosis, as it finally explained her academic struggles despite all her hard work.
"In a way, it was a relief, I guess, to be able to put a name to my struggles after so many years. And it was a relief going forward, too, because eventually I was able to get the accommodations and resources that I needed to get along better in school," she said.
A'ja Wilson recalls meeting Dawn Staley at 13
While speaking to the Player's Tribune, A'ja Wilson recalled the first time she met her college head coach, Dawn Staley. Wilson met Staley around the time she was diagnosed with dyslexia, a period when she lost her passion for basketball.
"I was 13 when I met Dawn Staley. We shook hands at a basketball camp... She shook my hand, handed me a certificate and looked me in the eyes. 'Uh, I'm A'ja,' I said to her. I still remember what she said: 'I'm going to have to remember that.' It gives me chills to think about today," she said.
Wilson recalled paying little mind to Staley's comments at the time, saying:
"I was thinking, 'I don't know what you want to remember my name for. You'll probably never see me again. Did you see that kid who can dribble between his legs?'"
A'ja Wilson would reunite with Dawn Staley, committing to play under her at South Carolina roughly four years later in 2014. She would later be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Wilson has since gone on to win three WNBA Most Valuable Player awards, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and two WNBA championships.
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