Who would win 1-on-1 basketball between Dawn Staley, A'ja Wilson? South Carolina players weigh in
COLUMBIA — Who would win in a 1-on-1 basketball game, Olympic Dawn Staley or Olympic A'ja Wilson? South Carolina women's basketball players weighed in.
In a video posted by the team's official account on X, formerly known as Twitter on Friday, the players were asked who would win in a matchup between Staley, the coach of the Gamecocks, when she was a player in the Olympics versus Wilson, now a star player for the USA team at the Paris Olympics.
This is the second Olympics for Wilson, who stands at 6-foot-4. Staley played in three Olympics in 1996, 2000 and 2004. When she was a point guard at Virginia and as a pro, Staley was listed at 5-6.
The video specified that Staley would get the ball first.
Here's what each South Carolina player said.
Players who voted for Staley: Sakima Walker, Te-Hina Paopao, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Adhel Tac, Maddy McDaniel
Players who voted for Wilson: Ashlyn Watkins, Chloe Kitts, Sania Feagin, Bree Hall, Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards
Players who refused to answer: Raven Johnson, Maryam Dauda
H̶o̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶
̶🐐̶ ̶v̶s̶ ̶🐐̶
A'One vs. Coach Bookie ✅
Who y'all got, FAMS? pic.twitter.com/CSDhUP23iw— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) August 2, 2024
Staley replied in comedic fashion, posting a video response to her shouting out each player who "had her back" and thanked each of the Gamecocks who said Staley would win. In a second video, she joked about each player who went back and forth but ultimately decided that Wilson would win, calling them "flip-floppers."
"Anyway, (Wilson) I'm sorry, you're going to win a lot of games and you're going to win a lot of games in Paris but this one, you wouldn't win, I love you anyway," Staley ended the video with.
Less than two hours after the videos were posted, Staley posted a picture of her and Wilson on FaceTime, with the caption "HER and she is HER said I was zero and she’s well A’One! I’ll take it."
HER and she is HER said I was zero and she’s well A’One! @_ajawilson22 I’ll take it 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/AlRzAODQl0
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) August 2, 2024
Wilson is averaging 27.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in the WNBA, leading the league in both categories. For Team USA through two games Wilson has scored 47 points and pulled down 26 rebounds. The U.S. is 2-0 in Pool C play and will play Germany on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Staley coached the U.S. women's Olympic team in Tokyo and is now on the selection committee for USA women's basketball. Staley has been all over Paris this week and involved in several aspects of the Olympic Games in general, including the opening ceremony.
DAWN IN PARIS: Dawn Staley Olympics update: Team USA 3x3 basketball, dinner with Wanda Sykes
Staley coached Wilson from 2014-18, before Wilson was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces with the first pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Together, the two brought South Carolina women's basketball its first national title in 2017.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women's basketball votes on Dawn Staley vs A'ja Wilson