“This is where it all began.” Just last season, A’ja Wilson could not help but share what the University of South Carolina meant to her. And as her alma mater returns the favor, her night couldn’t have been more perfect. On the sidelines were not only her former head coach Dawn Staley and the entire USC roster but also friends and family. But there was one face that brought the Heat!

Her special day also put a lot of rumors about her love life to rest. Love was in the air in South Carolina, as Miami Heat and Team USA star Bam Adebayo made his presence known.

A’ja Wilson and Adebayo had been rumored to be dating from as far back as the pre-Olympics USMBNT practices in Las Vegas. Then, one photo from 9th July 2024 fueled speculation for two hundred and eight days about their relationship. The two were seen sitting courtside together on the WNBA star’s special day.

A’ja Wilson, while addressing the crowd, had an interesting shout-out to make as well. “What a blessing to have those most special to me courtside today…especially my favorite Olympian from out of town.” Apart from Adebayo, Wilson’s former teammate and USC alum Allisha Gray was also present to see the No. 22 jersey being raised into the rafters.

A’ja Wilson was smiling wide, teary-eyed, as she read out her address to the crowd. She left no one out, thanking every single person who made her dreams come true. “I wanna thank my coaches, teammates, and every person who was a part of this journey. You pushed me to my best. And the bonds we created here are unbreakable.” Wilson also shouted out her fans and supporters, saying that ‘it is a privilege to be a Gamecock.’ 

Dawn Staley, who held a huge impact on the development of the current MVP, had a special mention. “Thank you coach for seeing the light in me, even when I couldn’t see it in myself.” A’ja Wilson said. “And for showing me that it’s not about the destination, but the journey and the people you meet along the way.”

The legendary South Carolina coach had an important clarification to make before the event, though. According to the university, a jersey retirement only meant that the particular jersey is retired, not the number. Staley, however, did not believe anyone could ever wear it again. “Never,” she responded to a reporter asking if someone could wear Wilson’s number, “It’s retired. I can officially say that.” 

Everyone was excited for A’ja Wilson’s big day, but no one more so than her teammates!

Chelsea Gray and the Aces players put together a heartfelt video for A’ja Wilson’s special day

With A’ja Wilson’s jersey retiring in Columbia, South Carolina today, how could we not expect a response from one of the fun-filled teams in the WNBA to not show up? And clearly, her Aces teammates were all for it! On X, the Las Vegas Aces shared a video that melted every fan’s heart.

The video features her Las Vegas teammates showering the reigning MVP with praises. Her teammates had nothing but the highest of respect and love for the Aces star. They called her the ‘GOAT’, and pointed out that she had accomplished so much. What was really heartwarming, however, was Chelsea Gray’s reaction to her teammate’s success.

“A-rod, congratulations on going into the rafters. You deserve it. Man, I know coach Staley is going to be looking up at the rafters like ‘man, that’s my dog up there,’ so I’m just so excited for you.” said the three-time champion. Her chemistry with A’ja Wilson culminated in a championship for the pair, putting on a dominating performance in 2023.

A’ja Wilson’s legacy at South Carolina will never truly be matched, as her contributions to the program have been immense. Even though the appearance of Adebayo was surprising, the focus remained fully on Wilson and her greatness.