Dawn Staley, a coach who mentored A’ja Wilson during her formative years, has been her supporter right from the beginning. She won the 2017 NCAA championship and ended the season as the NCAA’s Most Outstanding Player. But the tale went on in the WNBA too, with the 6-foot-4 star dominating the big league, claiming her fourth MVP award in just eight years.
The 2014 first recruit made a massive difference in the South Carolina women’s basketball team. The team celebrated her with a statue at Colonial Life Arena in 2021 and retired her jersey in February 2015. Wilson just celebrated the South Carolina Gamecocks Hall of Fame Induction with HC Staley by her side.
And now, once again, the 55-year-old coach lauded her star player as the greatest WNBA player.
Dawn Staley Mentions A’ja Wilson As Greatest WNBA Player Of All-Time
The Columbia-born forward joined the league as the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft. The Aces’ selection was spot on as the former All-American remained their centerpiece since her arrival and led them to two WNBA championships with a Finals MVP title under her belt.
Wilson made history with a record fourth WNBA MVP award after a dominant 2025 season. While Coach Staley predicted the winner, she once again hyped her former player as the greatest WNBA player in the league. During the Gamecocks’ practice session, an interviewer asked the three-time NCAA Champion coach her views on Wilson being the most outstanding WNBA Player ever.
“Ever? Well, she’s got one more than everybody else, right? Umm, ever? She got an MVP for half of the seasons that she’s been in the league, I don’t think that’s ever been done… she’s the best in the world, for sure. She’s the very best in the world,” Staley said in the interview.
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
We are all witnessing greatness!
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 21, 2025
✔️ Back-to-Back @Kia MVP
✔️ First Player in League History to Be A 4x MVP
A’ja Wilson is DOMINANCE personified #KiaMVP | #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/FDihp9Z03t
While her MVP record is undeniable, the seven-time All-Star has also been very effective on both ends of the floor, leading the league in scoring twice and even winning the defensive player of the year award three times.
Las Vegas Aces HC Becky Hammon Calls A’ja Wilson Mt. Everest
While the Gamecocks’ HC called her former player the greatest of all-time, the Las Vegas Aces’ head coach, Becky Hammon, had another word for the 29-year-old forward. As there is Mount Rushmore, comprising four megastars of every sport, Hamoon called Wilson Mount Everest – the tallest peak on Earth.
“There’s no Mount Rushmore. You are the only one. You’re Everest,” Hammon said as the star forward received the award.
Like Staley, Hammon also supported and backed the former champion to win the MVP award for her extraordinary season, which carried the Aces to a second-place finish. She will be looking to get more from her MVP now that the WNBA semifinal series has levelled with the Indiana Fever.