Wilson Named WNBA Rookie of the Year
Selection marks second-straight season a Gamecock has won the award.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the second time in as many seasons, a South Carolina alumna has been named WNBA Rookie of the Year after the league announced 2018 graduate A’ja Wilson picked up the award this season. Wilson follows in the footsteps of Allisha Gray, who was the league’s selection in 2017, and becomes the fourth Gamecock in the last three seasons to earn a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team as well.
After earning unanimous National Player of the Year honors in her final collegiate season at South Carolina, Wilson took the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces by storm. Leading all rookies in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots, she also ranked among the league’s top six in all three categories – 20.7 ppg (3rd), 8.0 rebounds (6th), 1.67 (6th). She became just the second rookie in WNBA history to average at least 20.0 points, joining Seimone Augustus (21.9 ppg in 2006).
A 2018 WNBA All-Star selection and No. 1 overall draft pick, Wilson swept all three WNBA Rookie of the Month awards in the season. She scored in double figures in every appearance, recording 30 or more points three times, including a career-high 35 points against the Indiana Fever on June 12. Wilson registered 10 double-doubles, highlighted by 25 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to go with six assists against the Seattle Storm on June 19. It was a rookie season arguably among the best in league history.
Wilson’s WNBA success came on the heels of a storied four-year career at South Carolina where she led the Gamecocks to two NCAA Final Fours, including the 2017 National Championship. She closed her career as the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,389 points) and third-ranked rebounder (1,195), becoming just the second Gamecock to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. The first three-time SEC Player of the Year in league history, Wilson was the Gamecocks’ first four-time All-American, including three first-team seasons, and the program’s first National Player of the Year – an award she collected from every media outlet and organization that bestowed the accolade.
With this selection, Wilson joins Gray as the Gamecocks first WNBA Rookies of the Year. Gray’s 2017 selection came after she was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft and went on to finish second among rookies in scoring (13.0 ppg) and rebounding (3.9 rpg).
Wilson’s WNBA All-Rookie selection makes her the fourth of the five Gamecocks drafted in the last three seasons to earn a spot on the squad. Tiffany Mitchell (2016) and Kaela Davis (2017) join Wilson and Gray on that list.
