“Dawn Staley Breaks Silence on Geno Auriemma’s Shocking Comments — Her Response Is Turning Heads!”
Dawn Staley Defends A’ja Wilson’s Statue After Geno Auriemma’s Comments
South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley now shares a rare honor with her former star player, A’ja Wilson — both have statues commemorating their legacies in Columbia, South Carolina.
During the unveiling of her own statue on Wednesday, Staley took a moment to address recent remarks that some interpreted as criticism of Wilson’s statue. The comments in question came from none other than UConn’s legendary coach, Geno Auriemma.
Auriemma’s Subtle Jab?
While celebrating UConn’s national championship on April 7, Auriemma told a story about ranking his former players by the number of titles they had won.
“Most other places, if you win one national championship, they build a statue to you outside the building,” Auriemma said. “Here, they won’t even let you get to the front of the bus.”
The clip quickly went viral. Though Auriemma didn’t mention Wilson or South Carolina directly, many Gamecock fans took the remark as a veiled jab at Wilson, whose statue was unveiled in January 2021.
Ironically, despite UConn’s 12 national titles, there are no statues of Auriemma or any of his players outside Gampel Pavilion, the team’s home arena.
Staley’s Powerful Response
Speaking candidly at her own statue unveiling, Staley revealed she was initially hesitant to accept the honor. She felt Wilson’s statue should remain unique.
“I didn’t want a statue. I believed A’ja’s statue should be the only one ever,” she said, noting she eventually agreed at the urging of USC and Columbia city leaders, for the sake of representation.
Without naming Auriemma, Staley issued a strong defense of Wilson’s honor:
“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.”
She went on to describe the statue as a tribute:
“It’s a tribute to a hometown hero,” she said, praising Wilson as “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.”
A’ja Wilson’s Lasting Legacy
A Columbia native, Wilson chose to stay home for college, becoming the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2014 and a transformational figure for South Carolina women’s basketball. She led the team to its first-ever national championship in 2017, and since turning pro, has won two WNBA titles with the Las Vegas Aces and earned three league MVP honors.
For Staley and many others, Wilson’s statue is not just a celebration of athletic achievement — it’s a beacon of hope, inspiration, and pride for an entire community.
