Dawn Staley Defends A’ja Wilson’s Statue After Geno Auriemma’s Viral Remark
Dawn Staley, head coach of South Carolina women’s basketball, now shares a special distinction with her former star player, A’ja Wilson — both have statues honoring them in Columbia.
At the unveiling of her own statue on Wednesday, Staley took a moment to address and defend Wilson’s statue, which has come under renewed public discussion following recent comments by a fellow coaching legend.
Geno Auriemma’s Controversial Joke
During UConn’s national championship celebration on April 7, longtime Huskies coach Geno Auriemma made a quip while recounting a conversation with his former players. As he reflected on their championship totals, he joked:
“Most other places, if you win one national championship, they build a statue to you outside the building. Here, they won’t even let you get to the front of the bus.”
Although Auriemma didn’t mention Wilson or South Carolina directly, the comment quickly spread online, with Gamecock fans interpreting it as a veiled dig at Wilson, who earned her statue after leading USC to its first national title.
Notably, UConn, despite its 12 national championships, has no statues commemorating its players or Auriemma outside Gampel Pavilion.
Dawn Staley’s Firm Response
During her speech, Staley shared that she was initially hesitant to accept the honor of a statue. She believed Wilson’s tribute, unveiled in January 2021, should stand alone. However, after discussions with university and city officials, she agreed — citing the importance of representation.
Without naming Auriemma, Staley addressed the sentiment behind his remark:
“Contrary to the belief of one of my coaching colleagues, her statue wasn’t in response to winning a national championship. It was in response to being a winner at life.”
Staley emphasized that Wilson, a Columbia native, is more than a champion athlete — she’s a local role model. As the No. 1 recruit in 2014, Wilson chose to stay home, leading the Gamecocks to their first NCAA title in 2017 and leaving a legacy as one of the most celebrated athletes in school history.
Now a professional standout, A’ja Wilson has claimed two WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces and has been named league MVP three time.
“It’s a tribute to a hometown hero,” Staley said. “A symbol of what’s possible for the youth of Columbia, when passion meets preparedness. A’ja Wilson represents excellence, perseverance, and discipline. There’s no one more deserving, no better example for young people in this community.”
