The spring news cycle continues to shine a bright light on South Carolina Gamecocks head basketball coach Dawn Staley. Following her team’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament title game, Staley has been the subject of numerous positive headlines.
Most recently, the mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, proclaimed May as “Dawn Staley Month,” honoring her achievements and impact on the community. Staley is also currently on a national tour promoting her newly released book, all while actively recruiting talent for her 2025-26 roster through the NCAA transfer portal.
In the latest news, Staley appears in a promotional video for one of her most decorated former players: A’ja Wilson. The three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player is launching her new signature shoe with Nike, which debuts Tuesday. The promotional video features a catchy montage that includes Wilson and a cameo from Staley, who shows off her dance moves in support of her former star.
From the playground to the playoffs, real ones know there’s only one A’ja.
The A'One drops May 6 in SNKRS. pic.twitter.com/Uxt1oLLb8M
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) May 3, 2025
At just 28 years old, Wilson has built an incredible basketball résumé. After being named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2017, she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces. Since then, she has remained with the franchise throughout her professional career.
Wilson is a six-time WNBA All-Star and a dominant presence on the court. The 6-foot-5 center has appeared in 227 career games, averaging 21.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Her new shoe, The A’One, will be available on Tuesday via Nike. Reflecting on her collaboration with the brand back in February, Wilson said: “My signature shoe is everything I need, engineered for my game and my style — and built to motivate the next generation to go big.”
Although Wilson couldn’t attend the ceremony in Columbia honoring Staley due to WNBA training camp obligations, she acknowledged the event throughout the day on social media and expressed her disappointment at not being there in person.
“It’s amazing. I hate that I’m missing it, but obviously I know she would cuss me out if I was there, not at training camp,” Wilson joked.
The Las Vegas Aces will open the 2025 WNBA regular season on May 17 with a road game against the New York Liberty. Their home opener is scheduled for May 23 against the Washington Mystics.
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