A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston cemented South Carolina as a national powerhouse, each leading the Gamecocks to an NCAA Championship and earning multiple National Player of the Year honors during their respective tenures.

As the only two players in program history to be selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft, their combined dominance in the paint redefined the standard of excellence. Take a look back at Boston and Wilson’s runs at South Carolina.

A’ja Wilson (2014-2018)

A’ja Wilson #22 of the South Carolina Gamecocks holds the NCAA trophy and celebrates with her team after winning the championship game against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs of the 2017 NCAA Women’s Final Four

A’ja Wilson’s collegiate career at South Carolina was lamented with accolades, including being a 4x First Team All-SEC selection and a 3x SEC Player of the Year from 2016 to 2018. During that same period, she was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team three times and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 and 2018.

In 2017, Wilson led the program to the NCAA Championship and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in the win over Mississippi State. By 2018, she received the Naismith College Player of the Year, the AP National Player of the Year, and the John R. Wooden Award. 

Wilson’s No. 22 jersey was subsequently retired by the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2025.

Collegiate performance spotlight:

2017 Sweet 16: 24 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL

2017 National Championship:  23 PTS, 10 REB, 4 BLK

2018 Round of 32: 25 PTS, 11 REB, 3 BLK

2018 Sweet 16: 20 PTS, 13 REB, 3 BLK

Aliyah Boston (2019-2023)

Aliyah Boston #4 of the South Carolina Gamecocks holds a national champions sign after defeating the UConn Huskies 64-49 during the 2022 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game

Aliyah Boston’s career at South Carolina was marked by consistent statistical production and defensive output. She hit the ground running as she posted the first triple-double by a freshman in program history and the first by any NCAA Division I player in her debut with the Gamecocks in 2019.

In 2022, Boston was the recipient of the John R. Wooden Award and the AP Player of the Year award. During that same postseason, she led the program to the 2022 NCAA Championship and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after South Carolina’s win over Connecticut.

From 2020 to 2023, she was a 4x AP All-American, a 4x First-team All-SEC selection, and a 4x SEC All-Defensive Team member.

Collegiate performance spotlight:

2022 Sweet 16: 28 PTS, 22 REB, 2 AST

2022 Final Four:  23 PTS, 18 REB, 4 AST

2022 National Championship: 11 PTS, 16 REB, 3 AST

2023 Elite Eight: 22 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST