After South Carolinaâs surprising 82â59 defeat to UConn in the 2025 NCAA Womenâs Basketball National Championship, Aâja Wilson, a star forward for the Las Vegas Aces and a proud alumna of South Carolina, shared her thoughts publicly. The loss ended South Carolinaâs incredible 43-game winning streak, and many fans and commentators described it as a rare letdown for head coach Dawn Staley, who has led the program to national prominence. Despite the magnitude of the defeat, Wilson approached the situation with humor, expressing relief that none of her teammates from UCLA would give her a hard time over the Gamecocksâ loss.
Wilsonâs respect and admiration for Staley remain as strong as ever. She has often spoken highly of her former coach, even referring to her as a âsecond mother.â During her jersey retirement ceremony at South Carolina, Wilson emotionally thanked Staley for shaping her both as an athlete and a person. Her words were filled with appreciation, signaling that no single gameâno matter how significantâcan tarnish Staleyâs legacy or the bond they share.
In the midst of the discussion surrounding the championship loss, Wilson also addressed the performance of UConnâs star, Paige Bueckers. She acknowledged what many already seeâBueckers is an elite talent with a deep understanding of her platform and privilege. Wilson has previously praised Bueckers for carrying herself with humility and grace, noting that she doesnât take her success for granted. Her comments reinforce the idea that true greatness in womenâs basketball is about character as much as it is about skill.