Dawn Staley has coached some of the finest talents in women’s college basketball during her tenure at South Carolina. One name that immediately comes to mind is A’ja Wilson, who enjoyed a memorable stint at Columbia that included the Gamecocks’ run to the 2017 national championship.
Long after heading to the WNBA, Wilson and Staley have maintained a strong relationship, showing glimpses of the camaraderie they share over the years.
An example of this was seen in October 2021, when Staley appeared on an episode of “Tea With A & Phee,” a podcast hosted by Wilson and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier.
During their interaction, Dawn Staley left Wilson red-faced by revealing a hilarious incident from her days at South Carolina when Wilson’s mother, Eva, informed Staley about a mysterious item she spotted in the trash can while visiting her daughter. “Eva is the funniest lady ever, right? So, Eva went to go visit A’ja in a room. She told me she saw something in the trash can.”
Wilson initially assumed it was a different story related to her mother and Staley but let out a loud “OH!” as soon as she knew where Dawn Staley was going with the story she was telling. “She texted me while she was there, something in the trash can,” Staley continued before yelling, “Trojan man!” “Oh my God! It wasn’t the actual thing, it was the wrapping. At least she was having safe! So, young people, watch what you put in your trash! Your parents might come visit you.”
Trojan Man refers to a popular advertising character used in commercials for Trojan condoms. He is depicted as a suave, confident figure who promotes safe sex and sexual health, often humorously highlighting the importance of protection during intimate encounters. Wilson, who seemed slightly embarrassed by Staley’s revelation, shared a lesson she learned from the hilarious turn of events. “Life is full of lessons and I’ve learned mine. Leave your college coach outside! Leave them out of stuff,” Wilson said.
A’ja Wilson details how Dawn Staley became her ‘second mom’
Before being selected first by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA draft, A’ja Wilson expressed her gratitude to Dawn Staley for the impact she had on her college career. Wilson shared how Staley helped her navigate her struggles with dyslexia, which had made her childhood particularly challenging. “Over the years, Coach Staley has become like my second mom,” Wilson wrote on The Players’ Tribune. “And she has helped me with so much on the basketball court that I don’t think I ever directly told her how important she has been in helping me deal with the things that aren’t related to basketball. Especially with dyslexia.”
Wilson detailed how, during her sophomore year, Dawn Staley encouraged her to start reading scripture in the locker room before games, which helped her overcome her fears. “It was definitely humiliating at first, but I kept at it. Just straight brute force, every time she asked. I don’t know if she thought it would help, or if it would make me play better, or what. But after a while, it really would make me feel better.”
Since entering the WNBA, A’ja Wilson has set numerous records, including breaking the single-season scoring record in 2024.
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Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro
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