A’ja Wilson’s Gesture to South Carolina’s Final Four Rival is Causing a Stir

Breaking news from the NCAA Women’s Basketball scene: The defending national champion and No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks are set to return to the Final Four for the fourth consecutive season. This time, they’ll face off against No. 1 Texas in Tampa for a highly anticipated showdown.

Under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have become a powerhouse, claiming three NCAA titles in the last seven years. One of the key figures in this remarkable run is A’ja Wilson, whose legacy is firmly cemented as the star of South Carolina’s first national championship team in 2017. The Columbia native’s mark on the program remains untouchable.

However, fans were taken aback recently when they spotted Wilson interacting with the Longhorns ahead of the Final Four. In a move that raised eyebrows, the former Gamecocks star gifted Texas players her signature “A’One” Nike shoes in the debut “Pink A’ura” colorway—a move she did not extend to her own alma mater.

In a post Thursday morning, the Longhorns’ official social media account shared their gratitude: “The best night,” they wrote, adding, “Thank you, @aja22wilson.”

Wilson’s gesture has sparked a wave of reactions, especially among South Carolina fans. On social media, one fan exclaimed, “OH! I need Friday to be PERSONAL!” while another acknowledged the tough position Wilson was in, commenting, “I know it hurt A’ja to do this when SC in the Final 4 too.”

There was also some playful back-and-forth surrounding the situation, with one fan pointing out, “What’s wild is that South Carolina can’t do something like this because they aren’t a Nike school.” Another added, “Under Armour would have a fit!” And the frustration wasn’t lost on Gamecocks fans, as one pleaded directly to South Carolina Athletic Director JDonati_SC: “SC cannot wear our most famous women’s players shoe because we are with UA. Seeing Texas get that special treatment but not us burns a little.”

In an interesting twist, Texas is coached by Vic Schaefer, who was at the helm of Mississippi State when they lost to South Carolina and Wilson in the 2017 NCAA championship game.

Despite the playful banter and the occasional gripe from fans, many understood that this move was simply a matter of business and brand loyalty. But that didn’t stop the conversation from swirling around the intriguing connection between the Gamecocks legend and the Longhorns ahead of the all-SEC Final Four matchup set for Friday night at Amalie Arena.