COLUMBIA, S.C. — Basketball fans in Columbia are gearing up for a special treat as A'ja Wilson, the WNBA All-Star and former Gamecock legend, returns to her home turf. In less than 24 hours, Wilson will hit the court at Colonial Life Arena, a place where her bronze statue proudly stands.
"It's truly a blessing to be back here, to have my teammates scream on the bus when they saw my statue, that touched my heart. Columbia obviously raised me, so there will be a lot of people here who watched me grow up so I'm just happy to be back," Wilson said.
Wilson, now playing for the Las Vegas Aces, is back in Columbia with her team, gearing up for a preseason opener against the Puerto Rican National Team.
"I was a young recruit coming to these SC games when it was a little quiet, and now I saw people rushing down the seats for general admission. I see what they have now, and it's the same for the Aces. We are selling out. So, just the growth within these two fan bases has been so special," Wilson explained.
While Wilson prepares for the big game, local businesses are also gearing up for the influx of fans. According to Chris Kopel, manager of Hickory Tavern, they are expecting a surge in customers.
"I expect it to be just like a home game for the women's team. There will be people waiting at the door when we open because it's a one o'clock game and people will make their way over here once the game is over," said Kopel, a die-hard Gamecock fan.
Kopel emphasized the excitement of having Wilson back in town and expressed his dedication to supporting her, mentioning that he's taking time off work to watch the game.
"Having Asia back in town is just an unreal feeling to be able to experience because any other time I wouldn't be able to go to a WNBA game so I get to experience having her back in CLA one more time," Kopel said.
The Las Vegas Aces will play at Colonial Life Arena on Saturday, May 11, at 1 p.m. Fans are eagerly anticipating Wilson's return to her hometown court.