A'ja Wilson returns to South Carolina with Aces: What Dawn Staley revealed and an emotional thank you

COLUMBIA — When South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley and assistant Lisa Boyer watched A'ja Wilson practice on Friday, it was different. Staley said it was almost like an out-of-body experience.

The two sat a few rows behind the court, silently watching the greatest player to ever come through their program lead her WNBA team back on the court where she led the Gamecocks for them.

"Look at her, we had a chance to coach her," Staley said of her thoughts watching practice. "(I'm) watching the best player in the world work."

On Saturday, the Las Vegas Aces center played a WNBA preseason game against Team Puerto and while it was the same court fans used to cheer her on donning garnet and black, it was a different Wilson.

"(Fans) haven't really seen her up close in seven years, she's got muscles in her legs and her arms now," Staley said while Wilson flexed her bicep.

Wilson, a member of South Carolina's 2017 national championship team, wasn't just physically stronger on Saturday, she was mentally different.

Since graduating, she wrote a book, won two MVP awards and two WNBA championships and on Saturday she announced her Nike signature shoe. She started a foundation and she now talks about things she couldn't imagine discussing her freshman year in college, like her dyslexia.

"It's truly special to see a program that has watched me grow come back and show them I'm a big girl now, I'm an adult now," Wilson said postgame.

Staley believed there's a reason Wilson maintains so much success, how she was able to go through such rigorous programs with ease.

"I think what was really super special about her for me is she found herself very early in life," Staley said.

She continued, saying her WNBA MVPs, her best-selling book, all circle back to always knowing who she was.

"(WIlson) had it all together and if not, she found out the way to get it together and she was unafraid to ask," Staley said. "When you're able to figure out who you are, it doesn't matter ... you are able to work on your craft and be the best at your craft like (Wilson)."

Aces coach Becky Hammon made a point before the game that it really mattered Saturday because it was the only preseason game for her team. Yes, a homecoming for Wilson but the only chance for her team to play five-on-five, to get calls from real refs and it mattered what her team looked like on Saturday.

It quickly turned from goofiness and laughter to a serious showcase of Aces basketball.

Applause for Wilson drowned the announcer's voice during the starting lineup, and fans stood up for practically any chance she touched the ball. Wilson started the game rocky, 1-for-7, missing a few early layups but then she erupted into the player Gamecocks fans are used to seeing.

With under a minute left in the first quarter, she muscled her way through two defenders for the and-one layup, yelling to the crowd in celebration. By the seven-minute mark of the third quarter, Wilson had a double-double, with a much more electric second half. Wilson finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds and two assists in the Aces' 102-50 win over Puerto Rico.

Attendance was 13,507 for the preseason game. Staley sat courtside with Aces president Nikki Fargas and Boyer was a few seats down, sitting next to Wilson's parents. At the end of the game, Wilson thanked the crowd before having to pause, fighting back tears.

The Aces official season kicks off on Tuesday and while some will say it's a theme of "three-peat" Wilson explained that isn't where her mind is at.

"As I've gone through my career as a professional, (my goal) it's just be better than I was last year," Wilson said. "Do whatever I can to be different."

REQUIRED READING: How WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, A'ja Wilson scheduled preseason game vs Puerto Rico at South Carolina

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: A'ja Wilson at South Carolina includes Dawn Staley, emotional thank you